JP2016145703A - Information providing method, server, and information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing method capable of providing information more suitable to a user when providing the user with information on one or more food materials stored in a refrigerator.SOLUTION: An information providing method for providing a user with information on one or more articles stored in a refrigerator having a sensor for identifying a user includes: a reception step for receiving, from the refrigerator, a signal including an identification result on a user identified by the sensor; an extraction step for referring to schedule information corresponding to the user based on the identification result on the user, from a memory that stores a plurality of users' schedule information and extracting a scheduled future event; a determination step for determining an article corresponding to the event; a generation step for generating information on one or more articles stored in the refrigerator based on the determined article; and a transmission step for transmitting a signal to cause an instrument that the user uses to output the generated information to the instrument.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present disclosure relates to providing information about one or more items stored in a refrigerator to a user.

  There is a refrigerator equipped with a display on the front of the refrigerator. On the display, for example, stock information of food stored in the refrigerator is displayed.

  In such a refrigerator, a technique for providing appropriate information to the user by changing the display of the inventory information according to the user's preference, constitution and health condition has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). .

JP 2004-85173 A

  However, further improvements are demanded in the above conventional technique.

  Therefore, the present disclosure provides an information providing method that can provide information more suitable for the user when providing the user with information regarding one or more ingredients stored in the refrigerator.

  An information providing method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is an information providing method for providing information on one or more items stored in a refrigerator having a sensor for identifying a user to the user, the information being identified by the sensor. A reception step of receiving a signal including an identification result from the refrigerator via a network, and among schedule information of a plurality of users stored in a memory, refer to schedule information corresponding to the user based on the identification result of the user An extraction step for extracting a scheduled future event; a determination step for determining an article corresponding to the event; and a storage in the refrigerator stored in the memory based on the determined article. A student who generates information on one or more items to be provided to the user from information on one or more items Comprising a step, a transmitting step of transmitting via the network the generated the information signal to be output to the device which the user uses to the device, the.

  Note that these comprehensive or specific modes may be realized by a recording medium such as a system, an apparatus, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable CD-ROM. The system, the apparatus, the integrated circuit, and the computer program And any combination of recording media.

  The information providing method according to an aspect of the present disclosure can provide information more suitable for the user when providing the user with information on one or more ingredients stored in the refrigerator.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a use case of the information providing system according to the first embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information providing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of inventory information according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of article information in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of schedule information in the first embodiment FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of information in the information providing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of event extraction processing in the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the article determination process in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of information provision in the first embodiment FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of warning information according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an overall image of the service providing system in the second embodiment. FIG. 12B shows another example of the data center operating company in Embodiment 2. FIG. 12C shows another example of the data center operating company in the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing service type 1 (in-house data center type) in the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing service type 2 (IaaS usage type) in the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a service type 3 (PaaS usage type) in the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing service type 4 (SaaS usage type) in the second embodiment.

(Knowledge that became the basis of the present invention)
In the above conventional technique, the display of inventory information is changed according to the user's preference, constitution and health condition. However, even if there is no change in the user's preference, constitution and health condition, information suitable for the user may change depending on the user's action schedule.

  Therefore, an information providing method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is an information providing method that provides a user with information on one or more items stored in a refrigerator having a sensor that identifies the user, the information being identified by the sensor. A receiving step for receiving a signal including a user identification result from the refrigerator via a network, and schedule information corresponding to the user based on the user identification result among a plurality of user schedule information stored in a memory The extraction step of extracting a scheduled future event, a determination step of determining an article corresponding to the event, and a storage in the refrigerator stored in the memory based on the determined article Information on one or more articles to be provided to the user from among information on the one or more articles being Comprising a generation step of, a transmission step of transmitting via the network the generated the information signal to be output to the device which the user uses to the device, the.

  According to this, based on the article corresponding to the event extracted with reference to the schedule information corresponding to the user, by the output from the device that the user uses information on one or more articles stored in the refrigerator, Can be provided to the user. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with information related to an article suitable for the user's action schedule.

  Further, for example, in the determining step, an article predetermined as an article that adversely affects the event may be determined as an article corresponding to the event.

  According to this, it is possible to provide the user with information on one or more items stored in the refrigerator based on the items that adversely affect the event. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the user from taking out articles that adversely affect the event from the refrigerator.

  Further, for example, the event may be an event for the user to meet a person, and an article that adversely affects the event may be an article that has a smell after eating the article.

  According to this, when the event for a user meeting with a person is scheduled, the articles | goods with which smell remains after a meal can be determined. Therefore, information can be provided to the user based on an article that has a smell after eating. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from ingesting an article that has a smell after eating before an event for meeting a person.

  In addition, for example, the information providing method further includes a calculation step of calculating a difference time between the current date and time and the start date and time of the event, and the determination step has a predetermined duration as a time during which a smell remains after eating. An article having a duration greater than the difference time may be determined as an article corresponding to the event.

  According to this, it is possible to determine the article corresponding to the event in consideration of the duration in which the smell remains after eating and the difference time until the start date and time of the event. Accordingly, it is possible to determine an article that remains smelly until the event start date and time as an article corresponding to the event, and not to determine an article that disappears by the event start date and time as an article corresponding to the event. As a result, articles that adversely affect the event can be appropriately determined.

  In addition, for example, in the generating step, one or more items that provide the user with information on an item different from the determined item among information on one or more items stored in the refrigerator stored in the memory. You may produce | generate as information regarding articles | goods.

  According to this, it is possible to provide the user with information regarding an article different from the article that adversely affects the event. Therefore, if an article is taken out from the refrigerator based on information provided by the user, it is possible to suppress taking out an article that adversely affects the event.

  Further, for example, in the generating step, one or more of providing information about the same article as the determined article among information of one or more articles stored in the refrigerator stored in the memory to the user It may be generated as information related to the article.

  According to this, it is possible to provide the user with information related to the same article that adversely affects the event. Therefore, the user can recognize an article that adversely affects the event. Therefore, when taking out the article from the refrigerator based on the provided information, the user can suppress taking out the article that adversely affects the event.

  In addition, for example, the information providing method further includes a determination step of determining whether the user is a person who prepares another person's meal based on the identification result of the user. When it is determined that the person prepares a meal, the event may be extracted with reference to the schedule information of the user and the schedule information of the other person.

  According to this, when a user is a person who prepares another person's meal, an event can be extracted by referring to other person's schedule information in addition to the user's schedule information. Therefore, it is possible to prevent another person who has ingested a meal prepared by the user from ingesting an article that adversely affects the event.

  Further, for example, in the extraction step, an event scheduled within a predetermined period from the current date and time may be extracted as the scheduled future event.

  According to this, it is possible to extract events scheduled within a predetermined period from the current date and time. Therefore, it is possible to extract an event that has a large influence due to the ingestion of an article, and it is possible to provide the user with information about the article suitable for the user's action schedule more appropriately.

  In addition, for example, the device used by the user is the refrigerator, and the transmitting step transmits a signal for displaying the generated information on a display included in the refrigerator to the refrigerator via the network. Good.

  According to this, based on the article corresponding to the event extracted with reference to the schedule information corresponding to the user, the information on the one or more articles stored in the refrigerator is displayed on the display provided in the refrigerator. Can be provided. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with information related to an article suitable for the user's action schedule.

  In addition, for example, the device used by the user is the refrigerator, and the transmitting step transmits a signal for outputting the generated information to an audio output unit included in the refrigerator to the refrigerator via the network. May be.

  According to this, based on the article corresponding to the event extracted by referring to the schedule information corresponding to the user, the audio output from the audio output unit provided in the refrigerator includes information on one or more articles stored in the refrigerator. Can be provided to the user. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with information related to an article suitable for the user's action schedule.

  Further, for example, the device used by the user is a mobile terminal, and the transmitting step transmits a signal for displaying the generated information on a display included in the mobile terminal to the mobile terminal via the network. May be.

  According to this, based on the article corresponding to the event extracted with reference to the schedule information corresponding to the user, information on one or more articles stored in the refrigerator is displayed on the display provided in the mobile terminal, Can be provided to the user. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with information related to an article suitable for the user's action schedule.

  In addition, for example, the device used by the user is a mobile terminal, and in the transmission step, a signal that causes the audio output unit included in the mobile terminal to output the generated information to the mobile terminal via the network. You may send it.

  According to this, based on the article corresponding to the event extracted with reference to the schedule information corresponding to the user, the audio from the audio output unit provided in the portable terminal includes information on one or more articles stored in the refrigerator. The output can be provided to the user. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with information related to an article suitable for the user's action schedule.

  In addition, for example, reception of a signal including the identification result of the user, extraction of the future event, determination of the article, generation of information about the one or more articles, and the generated information to the device used by the user At least one of the transmission of signals to be output may be performed by a processor.

  A recording medium according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium that records a program that provides a user with information about one or more items stored in a refrigerator having a sensor that identifies the user. The program includes a reception step of receiving a signal including a user identification result identified by the sensor on the computer from the refrigerator via a network, and the user among schedule information of a plurality of users stored in a memory. An extraction step of extracting a scheduled future event with reference to schedule information corresponding to the user based on the identification result of the step, a determination step of determining an article corresponding to the event, and the determined article Based on one or more stored in the refrigerator stored in the memory A generating step for generating information on one or more articles to be provided to the user from information relating to the article, and a signal for outputting the generated information to a device used by the user to the device via the network A transmission step of transmitting.

  According to this, based on the article corresponding to the event extracted with reference to the schedule information corresponding to the user, by the output from the device that the user uses information on one or more articles stored in the refrigerator, Can be provided to the user. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with information related to an article suitable for the user's action schedule.

  The server which concerns on 1 aspect of this indication is a server which provides a user with the information regarding the 1 or more articles | goods stored in the refrigerator which has a sensor which identifies a user, Comprising: The identification result of the user identified by the said sensor is included. A receiving unit that receives a signal from the refrigerator via a network, a schedule information of a plurality of users, a memory that stores information on one or more items stored in the refrigerator, and a plurality of users stored in the memory Among the schedule information, an event extracting unit that extracts the scheduled future event with reference to the schedule information corresponding to the user based on the identification result of the user, and an article that determines the article corresponding to the event Based on the determined part and the determined article, stored in the refrigerator stored in the memory An information generation unit that generates information on one or more articles to be provided to the user from among the information on the one or more articles that are provided, and a signal that causes the apparatus used by the user to output the generated information And a transmitting unit for transmitting via the network.

  According to this, based on the article corresponding to the event extracted with reference to the schedule information corresponding to the user, by the output from the device that the user uses information on one or more articles stored in the refrigerator, Can be provided to the user. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with information related to an article suitable for the user's action schedule.

  For example, at least one of the reception unit, the event extraction unit, the article determination unit, the information generation unit, and the transmission unit may include a processor.

  An information providing system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a refrigerator and a server that is connected to the refrigerator via a network. The refrigerator includes a sensor that identifies a user, and an identification result of the user identified by the sensor. A transmission unit that transmits a signal including the signal to the server via the network, the server receiving a signal including the identification result of the user identified by the sensor from the refrigerator via the network, and a plurality of reception units A memory for storing user schedule information and information on one or more items stored in the refrigerator, and among the plurality of user schedule information stored in the memory, the user is notified based on the identification result of the user. Event that extracts the scheduled future event by referring to the corresponding schedule information The extraction unit, the item determination unit that determines the item corresponding to the event, and the information on one or more items stored in the refrigerator stored in the memory based on the determined item An information generation unit that generates information on one or more articles to be provided to a user, and a transmission unit that transmits a signal for outputting the generated information to a device used by the user to the device via the network. Prepare.

  According to this, based on the article corresponding to the event extracted with reference to the schedule information corresponding to the user, by the output from the device that the user uses information on one or more articles stored in the refrigerator, Can be provided to the user. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with information related to an article suitable for the user's action schedule.

  Note that these comprehensive or specific modes may be realized by a recording medium such as a system, an apparatus, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable CD-ROM. The system, the apparatus, the integrated circuit, and the computer program And any combination of recording media.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  It should be noted that each of the embodiments described below shows a comprehensive or specific example. Numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of components, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. In addition, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept are described as optional constituent elements.

(Embodiment 1)
[Use cases of information provision system]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a use case of the information providing system 10 according to the first embodiment. The information providing system 10 includes a refrigerator 100 and a server 200. For example, the refrigerator 100 and the server 200 are connected via a network. The network may be a wired network or a wireless network.

  The refrigerator 100 stores articles to be ingested by the user 99. Here, the article is, for example, a food (including food and cooked food), a seasoning, a beverage, and a medicine.

  The refrigerator 100 includes a sensor 101 and a display 102. The sensor 101 is used to identify the user 99. In the present embodiment, the sensor 101 is, for example, a camera that captures an image of the user 99 that exists in the vicinity of the refrigerator 100. The display 102 is used to provide information related to one or more items stored in the refrigerator 100. In the present embodiment, display 102 is a touch screen.

  The server 200 is a cloud server, for example. Server 200 receives the identification result of user 99 from refrigerator 100. Then, the server 200 transmits information on one or more items stored in the refrigerator 100 to the refrigerator 100 based on the identification result.

  The information related to one or more articles stored in the refrigerator 100 may be information indicating only one or more articles, for example. For example, when one or more articles are a plurality of articles, the information regarding the one or more articles may be information indicating at least one of the plurality of articles. Further, for example, the information related to one or more articles may be information indicating an inventory amount of the one or more articles. Further, for example, the information related to one or more items may be information indicating a recipe for cooking using the one or more items.

  In the present embodiment, a case will be described as an example where the information related to one or more items is information indicating at least one item among a plurality of items and the inventory amount thereof. The user 99 can quickly take out a desired article from the refrigerator 100 by checking the information displayed on the display 102 and the information indicating the stock quantity before opening the door of the refrigerator 100.

[Functional configuration of information provision system]
Next, the functional configuration of the information providing system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information providing system 10 according to the first embodiment.

[Functional configuration of refrigerator]
The refrigerator 100 includes an identification unit 110, a display unit 120, and a communication unit 130.

  The identification unit 110 is realized by the sensor 101, a processor, a memory, and the like, for example. The identification unit 110 identifies a user. Specifically, the identification unit 110 detects a face area in the image of the user 99 captured by the sensor 101. Then, the identification unit 110 extracts a feature amount from the detected face area. Further, the identification unit 110 identifies the identifier of the user 99 by matching the extracted feature amount with a plurality of feature amounts held in advance in association with the identifiers of the plurality of users.

  The display unit 120 is an example of an information providing unit, and is realized by, for example, the display 102 and a digital signal processor. The display unit 120 provides the user 99 with information on one or more items stored in the refrigerator 100 by displaying the display information received from the server 200 on the display 102.

  The communication unit 130 is realized by, for example, a network adapter. The communication unit 130 communicates with the server 200. The communication unit 130 includes, for example, a reception unit (not shown) and a transmission unit (not shown). Specifically, the transmission unit of the communication unit 130 transmits a signal including the identification result (for example, identifier) of the user 99 by the identification unit 110 to the server 200. Further, the receiving unit of the communication unit 130 receives a signal for causing the display 102 to display display information from the server 200.

[Server function configuration]
The server 200 includes a storage unit 210, an event extraction unit 220, an article determination unit 230, an information generation unit 240, and a communication unit 250.

  The storage unit 210 is realized by a memory, for example. The memory includes, for example, a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. The storage unit 210 stores inventory information 211, user information 212, and article information 213.

  The inventory information 211 is information indicating the articles stored in the refrigerator 100 and their quantities (that is, inventory quantities). An example of the inventory information 211 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The user information 212 is information regarding a plurality of users corresponding to the refrigerator 100. In the present embodiment, the user information 212 includes information indicating whether each of a plurality of users is a person who prepares another person's meal. An example of the user information 212 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The article information 213 is information regarding the article. In the present embodiment, the article information 213 includes information indicating an article that has a smell after eating. An example of the article information 213 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The event extraction unit 220 is realized by, for example, a processor and a memory. The event extraction unit 220 refers to the schedule information 300 corresponding to the user 99 based on the identification result of the user 99 and extracts a scheduled future event. Future events are events after the current date and time.

  In this description, events (events), promises (appointments), and tasks (tasks) are not distinguished, and are all called events.

  For example, the event extraction unit 220 extracts an event scheduled within a predetermined period from the current date and time as a scheduled future event. The predetermined period may be determined empirically or experimentally, for example. Note that the predetermined period may change according to the current time. The predetermined period may be, for example, half a day when the current time is in the morning and one day when the current time is in the afternoon.

  The content of the extracted event need not be particularly limited. For example, the event may be an event for the user 99 to meet a person. Further, for example, the event may be a test (for example, academic achievement test, employment test, etc.).

  The schedule information 300 is information indicating the date and contents of a scheduled event. For example, the schedule information 300 is calendar data managed by a personal calendar application or the like. For the schedule information 300, for example, a file format such as iCalendar or vCalendar is applied. An example of the schedule information 300 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The article determination unit 230 is realized by, for example, a processor and a memory. The article determination unit 230 determines an article corresponding to the event extracted by the event extraction unit 220. Specifically, the article determination unit 230 refers to, for example, the article information 213 and determines an article that is predetermined as an article that adversely affects the event. An article that adversely affects an event is, for example, an article that remains odorous after eating the article.

  The information generation unit 240 is realized by, for example, a processor and a memory. The information generation unit 240 generates display information related to one or more articles stored in the refrigerator 100 based on the articles determined by the article determination unit 230. Specifically, for example, the information generation unit 240 generates, as display information, information related to an article different from the article determined by the article determination unit 230 among one or more articles stored in the refrigerator 100. That is, the display information does not include information regarding the article determined by the article determination unit 230.

  The communication unit 250 is realized by, for example, a network adapter. Communication unit 250 communicates with refrigerator 100. The communication unit 250 includes, for example, a reception unit (not shown) and a transmission unit (not shown). Specifically, the receiving unit of communication unit 250 receives a signal including the identification result of user 99 by identifying unit 110 of refrigerator 100 from refrigerator 100. Furthermore, the transmission unit of the communication unit 250 transmits a signal for causing the refrigerator 100 to output the display information generated by the information generation unit 240.

  Furthermore, the receiving unit of the communication unit 250 receives the schedule information 300 corresponding to the identification result of the user 99. For example, the communication unit 250 receives a signal including the schedule information 300 via a network from a web server (not shown) that provides a calendar application. The schedule information 300 included in the received signal is stored in the storage unit 210, for example. Or the communication part 250 receives the signal containing the schedule information 300 of the some user who uses the refrigerator 100 from a web server for every fixed period, The several schedule information 300 contained in the received signal in the memory | storage part 210 You may comprise so that it may memorize | store.

[Specific examples of various information]
Here, specific examples of various types of information used in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the inventory information 211 in the first embodiment. The inventory information 211 includes information indicating an article stored in the refrigerator 100 and information indicating an inventory amount of the article. According to the stock information 211 in FIG. 3, for example, it is understood that the stock amount of milk is 1 and the stock amount of eggs is 8.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user information 212 in the first embodiment. The user information 212 includes information indicating a user corresponding to the refrigerator 100 and information indicating whether the user is a person who prepares another person's meal (hereinafter referred to as a cook). According to the user information 212 in FIG. 4, it can be seen that the users A and C are not cooks, and the users B and D are cooks.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the article information 213 in the first embodiment. The article information 213 indicates an article that adversely affects the event. Specifically, the article information 213 includes information indicating an article in which an odor remains after eating and information indicating a duration of the odor. According to the article information 213 in FIG. 5, it can be seen that, for example, kimchi has a smell for 6 hours after eating.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the schedule information 300 in the first embodiment. The schedule information 300 includes information indicating the start date / time and end date / time of the event, and information indicating the content of the event. According to FIG. 6, for example, it is understood that a date with X is scheduled for 15:00 to 17:00 on January 25, 2015.

[Operation of information provision system]
Next, the operation of the information providing system 10 configured as described above will be described.

  First, the flow of information in the information providing system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of information in the information providing system 10 according to the first embodiment.

  The identification unit 110 of the refrigerator 100 identifies the user 99 (S102). A signal including the identification result of the user 99 by the identification unit 110 (for example, the identifier of the user 99) is transmitted from the refrigerator 100 to the server 200 by the communication unit 130 via the network.

  Communication unit 250 receives a signal including the identification result received from refrigerator 100. Thereby, the server 200 obtains a user identification result included in the received signal.

  The event extraction unit 220 of the server 200 is scheduled based on the identification result received from the refrigerator 100 with reference to the schedule information 300 corresponding to the user 99 among the plurality of user schedule information stored in the storage unit 210. A future event is extracted (S104). Details of the event extraction process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The article determination unit 230 of the server 200 determines an article corresponding to the extracted event (S106). Details of the article determination process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The information generation unit 240 of the server 200 generates display information corresponding to information on one or more articles provided to the user 99 based on the determined articles (S108). A signal for displaying the generated display information on the display 102 of the refrigerator 100 is transmitted from the server 200 to the refrigerator 100 by the communication unit 250 via the network. The signal for displaying the generated display information on the display 102 of the refrigerator 100 includes, for example, the generated display information and control information for causing the display 102 to display the display information.

  The communication unit 130 of the refrigerator 100 receives a signal to be displayed on the display 102 of the refrigerator 100 from the server 200.

  The display unit 120 of the refrigerator 100 displays display information on the display 102 in accordance with the control information included in the signal received from the server 200 (S110). As a result, information on one or more articles stored in the refrigerator 100 is displayed on the display 102 and provided to the user 99.

  Next, details of the event extraction process in step S104 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the event extraction process in the first embodiment.

  The event extraction unit 220 determines whether the user 99 is a person who prepares another person's meal based on the identification result of the user 99 (S202). Specifically, the event extraction unit 220 refers to the user information 212 based on the identification result of the user 99 and determines whether or not the user 99 is a person who prepares another person's meal.

  For example, when the user identification result indicates “A”, the event extraction unit 220 refers to the user information 212 illustrated in FIG. 4 and determines that the user 99 is not a person who prepares another person's meal. For example, when the user identification result indicates “B”, the event extraction unit 220 refers to the user information 212 illustrated in FIG. 4 and determines that the user 99 is a person who prepares another person's meal.

  Here, when it is determined that the user 99 is a person who prepares another person's meal (Yes in S202), the event extraction unit 220 refers to the schedule information 300 of the user 99 and the schedule information 300 of the other person, A scheduled future event of the user 99 and the other person is extracted (S204). The other person is a person who eats a meal prepared by the user 99, for example. For example, when the user identification result indicates “B”, the other persons are the users A, C, and D shown in FIG.

  For example, when the identification result of the user 99 is B, the event extraction unit 220 acquires the schedule information 300 of the users A to D included in the user information 212 via the communication unit 250. And the event extraction part 220 extracts the event for the user A, B, C, or D to meet a person from the acquired schedule information 300. FIG. More specifically, the event extraction unit 220 searches the schedule information 300 by using, for example, a keyword (for example, a date, a meeting, a meeting, a business meeting, a handshake meeting, etc.) indicating an event for meeting a person. Extract events to meet people.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the user 99 is not a person who prepares another person's meal (No in S202), the event extraction unit 220 refers to the schedule information 300 of the user 99 and extracts a scheduled future event. (S206). For example, when the identification result of the user 99 is “A”, the event extraction unit 220 acquires the schedule information 300 of the user A via the communication unit 250. Then, the event extraction unit 220 extracts, from the acquired schedule information 300, events that are scheduled for a date and time later than the current date and time, which are events for the user A to meet a person.

  Next, details of the article determination process in step S106 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the article determination process in the first embodiment.

  The article determination unit 230 calculates a difference time between the current date and time and the start date and time of the event (S302). For example, when a plurality of events are extracted in step S104, the article determination unit 230 calculates a difference time between the start date and time of the nearest future event and the current date and time. Specifically, when the current date and time is 6:00 on January 25, 2015, and a plurality of events included in the schedule information 300 shown in FIG. The difference time (5 hours) between the start date of “date” (11:00 on January 25, 2015) and the current date (January 25, 2015 at 6:00) is calculated.

  The article determination unit 230 selects one unselected article among the plurality of articles (S304). For example, the article determination unit 230 selects one of a plurality of articles indicated by the article information 213 illustrated in FIG.

  The article determination unit 230 acquires a predetermined duration as a time during which the odor remains after eating the selected article (S306). For example, the article determination unit 230 acquires 6 hours as the duration of the selected kimchi.

  The article determination unit 230 determines whether or not the duration acquired in step S304 is greater than the difference time calculated in step S302 (S308). For example, when Kimchi is selected, the article determination unit 230 determines that the duration (6 hours) is greater than the difference time (5 hours). For example, when Kusa is selected, the article determination unit 230 determines that the duration (3 hours) is smaller than the difference time (5 hours).

  Here, when the duration is longer than the difference time (Yes in S308), the article determination unit 230 determines the selected article as an article corresponding to the event (S310). On the other hand, when the duration is equal to or shorter than the difference time (No in S308), the article determination unit 230 does not determine the selected article as the article corresponding to the event.

  The article determination unit 230 determines whether all of the plurality of articles indicated by the article information 213 illustrated in FIG. 5 have been selected (S312). If all the articles have been selected (Yes in S312), the article determination process is terminated. If any article has not been selected (No in S312), the process returns to Step S304.

  In this manner, the article determination unit 230 determines an article having a duration that is predetermined as a time during which odors remain after meal and has a duration that is greater than the difference time, as an article corresponding to the event. For example, when the difference time is 5 hours, only kimchi having a duration of 6 hours among kimchi, kusa, and gyoza is determined as an article corresponding to the event.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of information provision in the first embodiment. In FIG. 10, a plurality of articles stored in the refrigerator 100 and the inventory amount are displayed on the display 102. In the above example, the kimchi stored in the refrigerator 100 is determined as an article corresponding to the event, so the kimchi is not displayed on the display 102. In other words, the user 99 is provided with information related to an article different from the determined article among the one or more articles stored in the refrigerator 100.

  Information on a plurality of articles stored in the refrigerator 100 is stored in the storage unit 210 as inventory information 211. Therefore, the information generation unit 240 can specify an article different from the article determined by the article determination unit 230 from the information of one or more articles stored in the refrigerator 100 with reference to the inventory information 211.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, among the plurality of articles stored in the refrigerator 100, articles different from the articles corresponding to the event and the inventory amount thereof are displayed on the display 102, but are limited to this. is not.

  For example, among the one or more items stored in the refrigerator 100, the same item as the item corresponding to the event may be displayed on the display 102 as display information regarding the item.

  At this time, information (warning information) indicating that there is a possibility of affecting the event if an article corresponding to the event is ingested may be included in the display information.

  Moreover, the information (warning information) indicating that there is a possibility of affecting the event if ingested may be, for example, information providing content that it is better not to eat the article.

  Information on a plurality of articles stored in the refrigerator 100 is stored in the storage unit 210 as inventory information 211. Therefore, the information generation unit 240 can specify the same article as the article determined by the article determination unit 230 from the information of one or more articles stored in the refrigerator 100 with reference to the inventory information 211.

  In this case, for example, the information generation unit 240 of the server 200 generates display information including information on the same article as the article determined by the article determination unit 230 among the information on the plurality of articles stored in the refrigerator 100. That's fine.

  Alternatively, for example, the information generation unit 240 of the server 200 affects information on the same item as the item determined by the item determination unit 230 among the information on the plurality of items stored in the refrigerator 100 and the event if ingested. Display information including information (warning information) indicating that there is a possibility of exerting may be generated.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of information (warning information) indicating that there is a possibility of affecting an event if ingested. This information preferably includes, for example, content indicating the time at which the event is scheduled, the name of the event, and how the event is affected. Here, the warning information includes a description of “18:00” as the scheduled time of the event, “conference” as the name of the event, and “smell remains” as the content indicating how the event is affected. Is displayed. In each of the above embodiments, the identification unit 110 detects a face area in the image of the user 99 photographed by the sensor 101, and extracts a feature amount from the detected face area. Further, the identification unit 110 has been described as specifying the identifier of the user 99 by matching the extracted feature quantity with a plurality of feature quantities stored in advance in association with the identifiers of the plurality of users.

  However, it is not limited to this. For example, the identification unit 110 may detect a region such as the user's fingerprint or pupil included in the image of the user 99 photographed by the sensor 101 and extract a feature amount from the detected region.

  Further, the sensor 101 may detect the voice of the user 99, for example. In this case, the sensor 101 has a microphone or the like. In this case, the sensor 101 detects the voice of the user 99 included in the information collected by the microphone. The identification unit 110 extracts a feature amount from the audio information detected by the sensor 101.

  In short, the identification unit 110 may have any specific configuration as long as it has a configuration capable of identifying the user 99 in front of the refrigerator 100.

[effect]
As described above, according to the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment, one or more items stored in the refrigerator based on the article corresponding to the event extracted with reference to the schedule information corresponding to the user. Information about the article can be provided to the user. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with information related to an article suitable for the user's action schedule.

  Moreover, according to the information provision system 10 which concerns on this Embodiment, the information regarding the 1 or more articles | goods stored in the refrigerator can be provided to a user based on the articles | goods which have a bad influence on an event. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the user from taking out articles that adversely affect the event from the refrigerator.

  Moreover, according to the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment, when an event for a user to meet a person is scheduled, it is possible to determine an article that remains smelly after eating. Therefore, information can be provided to the user based on an article that has a smell after eating. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from ingesting an article that has a smell after eating before an event for meeting a person.

  Further, according to the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to determine an article corresponding to an event in consideration of a duration in which an odor remains after eating and a difference time until the start date and time of the event. . Accordingly, it is possible to determine an article that remains smelly until the event start date and time as an article corresponding to the event, and not to determine an article that disappears by the event start date and time as an article corresponding to the event. As a result, articles that adversely affect the event can be appropriately determined.

  Further, according to the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the user with information related to an article different from the article that adversely affects the event. Therefore, when taking out articles from the refrigerator based on information provided by the user, it is possible to suppress taking out articles that adversely affect the event.

  Further, according to the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment, when a user is a person who prepares another person's meal, an event is extracted by referring to the schedule information of the other person in addition to the schedule information of the user. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to prevent another person who has ingested a meal prepared by the user from ingesting an article that adversely affects the event.

  Further, according to the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to extract events scheduled within a predetermined period from the current date and time. Therefore, it is possible to extract an event that has a large influence due to the ingestion of an article, and it is possible to provide the user with information about the article suitable for the user's action schedule more appropriately.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, the second embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 12A to 16. In the present embodiment, a service providing system that provides services including provision of information related to articles in a refrigerator will be described.

[Overview of services provided]
FIG. 12A shows an overall image of the service providing system in the second embodiment.

  The group 1000 is, for example, a company, an organization, a household, etc., and its size is not limited. Group 1000 includes device A, device B, and home gateway 1020 included in a plurality of devices 1010. For example, the device A is the refrigerator in each of the above embodiments. The plurality of devices 1010 include devices that can be connected to the Internet (for example, smartphones, PCs, TVs, and the like) and devices that cannot be connected to the Internet themselves (for example, lighting, washing machines, and the like). Even if the device itself cannot be connected to the Internet, there may be a device that can be connected to the Internet via the home gateway 1020. The group 1000 includes a user 990 </ b> A who uses a plurality of devices 1010.

  The data center operating company 1100 has a cloud server 1110. The cloud server 1110 is a virtualization server that cooperates with various devices via the Internet. For example, the cloud server 1110 is a server in each of the above embodiments. The cloud server 1110 mainly manages huge data (big data) that is difficult to handle with a normal database management tool or the like. The data center operating company 1100 performs data management, management of the cloud server 1110, operation of the data center that performs them. Details of services performed by the data center operating company 1100 will be described later. Here, the data center operating company 1100 is not limited to a company that performs only data management, operation of the cloud server 1110, or the like. For example, when a device manufacturer that develops and manufactures one of a plurality of devices 1010 also performs data management, management of the cloud server 1110, etc., the device manufacturer corresponds to the data center operating company 1100 (FIG. 12B). The data center operating company 1100 is not limited to one company. For example, when the device manufacturer and another management company jointly or share the data management and the operation of the cloud server 1110, both or one of them corresponds to the data center operating company 1100 (FIG. 12C). .

  The service provider 1200 has a server 1210. The server 1210 referred to here includes, for example, a memory in a personal PC regardless of the scale. In some cases, the service provider does not have the server 1210.

  In the above service, the home gateway 1020 is not essential. For example, when the cloud server 1110 performs all data management, the home gateway 1020 is unnecessary. In addition, there may be no device that cannot be connected to the Internet by itself, as in the case where every device in the home is connected to the Internet.

  Next, the flow of information in the service will be described.

  First, the device A or device B of the group 1000 transmits each log information to the cloud server 1110 of the data center operating company 1100. The cloud server 1110 accumulates log information of the device A or the device B ((a) in FIG. 12A). Here, the log information is information indicating, for example, driving conditions, operation date / time, operation mode, position, and the like of the plurality of devices 1010. For example, TV viewing history, recorder recording reservation information, washing machine operation date / time, amount of laundry, refrigerator opening / closing date / time, number of times of opening / closing, etc. This information. Log information may be provided directly to the cloud server 1110 from a plurality of devices 1010 themselves via the Internet. In addition, log information may be once accumulated from a plurality of devices 1010 in the home gateway 1020 and provided from the home gateway 1020 to the cloud server 1110.

  Next, the cloud server 1110 of the data center operating company 1100 provides the collected log information to the service provider 1200 in a certain unit. Here, it may be a unit in which information collected by the data center operating company can be organized and provided to the service provider 1200, or a unit requested by the service provider 1200. Although described as a fixed unit, it may not be fixed, and the amount of information to be provided may change depending on the situation. The log information is stored in the server 1210 held by the service provider 1200 as necessary ((b) of FIG. 12A). Then, the service provider 1200 organizes the log information into information suitable for the service provided to the user, and provides the information to the user. The providing user may be a user 990A who uses a plurality of devices 1010 or an external user 990B. The service providing method for the user may be provided directly to the user from, for example, a service provider ((e) and (f) in FIG. 12A). The service providing method to the user may be provided to the user via the cloud server 1110 of the data center operating company 1100 again ((c) and (d) in FIG. 12A). Further, the cloud server 1110 of the data center operating company 1100 may organize the log information into information suitable for the service provided to the user and provide the information to the service provider 1200.

  Note that the user 990A and the user 990B may be different or the same.

  The technology described in the above aspect can be realized, for example, in the following types of cloud services. However, the type in which the technique described in the above embodiment is realized is not limited to this.

[Service type 1: In-house data center type]
FIG. 13 shows service type 1 (in-house data center type). This type is a type in which the service provider 1200 acquires information from the group 1000 and provides a service to the user. In this type, the service provider 1200 has a function of a data center operating company. That is, the service provider has a cloud server 1110 that manages big data. Therefore, there is no data center operating company.

  In this type, the service provider 1200 operates and manages the data center 903 (cloud server 1110). The service provider 1200 manages the OS 902 and the application 901. The service provider 1200 provides the service 904 using the OS 902 and the application 901 managed by the service provider 1200.

[Service type 2: IaaS usage type]
FIG. 14 shows service type 2 (IaaS usage type). Here, IaaS is an abbreviation for infrastructure as a service, and is a cloud service provision model that provides a base for constructing and operating a computer system as a service via the Internet.

  In this type, the data center operating company 1100 operates and manages the data center 903 (cloud server 1110). The service provider 1200 manages the OS 902 and the application 901. The service provider 1200 provides the service 904 using the OS 902 and the application 901 managed by the service provider 1200.

[Service type 3: PaaS usage type]
FIG. 15 shows service type 3 (PaaS usage type). Here, PaaS is an abbreviation for Platform as a Service, and is a cloud service provision model that provides a platform serving as a foundation for constructing and operating software as a service via the Internet.

  In this type, the data center operating company 1100 manages the OS 902 and operates and manages the data center 903 (cloud server 1110). Further, the service provider 1200 manages the application 901. The service provider 1200 provides the service 904 using the OS 902 managed by the data center operating company and the application 901 managed by the service provider 1200.

[Service type 4: SaaS usage type]
FIG. 16 shows service type 4 (SaaS usage type). Here, SaaS is an abbreviation for software as a service. For example, a function that allows applications provided by a platform provider who owns a data center (cloud server) to be used via a network such as the Internet by a company / individual (user) who does not have a data center (cloud server). This is a cloud service provision model.

  In this type, the data center operating company 1100 manages the application 901, manages the OS 902, and operates and manages the data center 903 (cloud server 1110). The service provider 1200 provides the service 904 using the OS 902 and the application 901 managed by the data center operating company 1100.

  In any of the above types, it is assumed that the service provider 1200 performs a service providing action. Further, for example, the service provider or the data center operating company may develop an OS, an application, a big data database, or the like, or may be outsourced to a third party.

(Other embodiments)
As described above, the information providing system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure has been described based on the embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment. Unless it deviates from the gist of the present disclosure, various modifications conceived by those skilled in the art have been made in the present embodiment, and forms constructed by combining components in different embodiments are also applicable to one or more of the present disclosure. It may be included within the scope of the embodiments.

  In each of the above embodiments, an image is used for user identification, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a thermal image may be used for user identification, and a user may be identified by performing face detection processing, face extraction processing, face identification processing, or the like on the thermal image. Further, for example, the user's fingerprint or voice, information input by the user, or information of a device carried by the user may be used for user identification. In this case, the sensor is not limited to the camera, and may be a fingerprint sensor, a microphone, an IC tag reader, a wireless communication module, or an input device. Furthermore, for example, a user-specific button (such as an electronic button) may be provided in a refrigerator or the like, and the user may be identified in accordance with an electronic button input.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the description has been made centering on an example in which provision of information on the determined article to the user is prohibited. However, the user may determine that the decided article is an article that adversely affects the event. The information may be provided in a recognizable manner.

  In each of the above embodiments, an article that has an adverse effect on an event is determined as an article corresponding to the event, but an article that has a positive influence on the event may be determined. In this case, information regarding the determined article may be preferentially provided to the user. For example, when an article having a positive effect on an event is determined, information regarding the article may be preferentially provided to the user. Providing information preferentially includes providing only the information and providing the information listed in a higher rank than other information.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, an example is described in which an article that has a smell after meal is determined as an article corresponding to an event for meeting a person. However, a combination of an event and an article is not limited to this.

  For example, the event may be an event with tension (for example, academic achievement test, employment test, piano recital, etc.). In this case, as an article corresponding to the event, an article (for example, a food containing serotonin or liptophan) having an effect of relieving tension may be determined. Thereby, since the information provision system can preferentially provide the user with information related to an article having an effect of relieving tension, it can be expected that the tension is eased in the event.

  Further, for example, the event may be an event accompanied by a meal (for example, dinner at a restaurant, attendance at a reception, etc.). In this case, a food with good stomach may be determined as an article corresponding to the event. Thereby, since provision of the information regarding food with good stomach can be prohibited, it can be prevented that the user becomes full before the event.

  Further, for example, the event may be an event scheduled in the early morning of the next day. In this case, food corresponding to an alcoholic beverage and a snack may be determined as an article corresponding to the event. Thereby, since provision of the information regarding the food equivalent to an alcoholic beverage and a knob can be prohibited, it can suppress falling behind and being late for an early morning event.

  In addition, arrangement | positioning of each component in each said embodiment is an example, and which component is contained in which apparatus is not limited to embodiment. For example, the refrigerator may include server components. That is, the refrigerator may include an event extraction unit, an article determination unit, and an information generation unit. In this case, the server may not be included in the information providing system. Further, the display unit may be included in a device (for example, a smartphone, a tablet computer, etc.) different from the refrigerator. In this case, the refrigerator may not include the display unit and the display. The storage unit of the server may store schedule information. In this case, the server does not have to receive schedule information via the communication unit.

  The inventory information, user information, article information, and schedule information illustrated in each of the above embodiments are examples, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inventory information may further include information indicating a room (for example, a refrigerator room, a freezer room, a vegetable room, etc.) in which articles are stored.

  In each of the above embodiments, it is determined whether or not the user is a person who prepares another person's meal using the user information. However, the user information may not be used. For example, it may be determined whether the user is a person who prepares another person's meal based on the opening / closing frequency of the user's refrigerator. In this case, the refrigerator or server may hold the opening / closing history of the refrigerator by each user.

  In each of the above embodiments, display information is displayed to provide information to the user. However, provision of information is not limited to this. For example, the information may be provided to the user by voice. In this case, the information providing system may include an audio output unit instead of the display unit. The audio output unit is, for example, a speaker.

  For example, when the refrigerator 100 includes an audio output unit (not shown), the information generation unit 240 of the server 200 may generate audio information regarding one or more items based on the determined items.

  For example, the communication unit 250 of the server 200 transmits a signal that causes the audio output unit of the refrigerator 100 to output the audio information generated by the information generation unit 240 of the server 200 to the refrigerator 100 via the network. The signal for outputting the generated audio information to the audio output unit of the refrigerator 100 includes, for example, control information for causing the audio output unit to output the generated audio information and audio information.

  The communication unit 130 of the refrigerator 100 receives a signal to be output from the server 200 to the audio output unit.

  The audio output unit of the refrigerator 100 outputs audio information according to control information included in the signal received from the server 200. Thereby, the information regarding the 1 or more articles | goods stored in the refrigerator 100 is provided to the user 99 by outputting as an audio | voice from an audio | voice output part.

  In addition, for example, when a device used by a user connects to the server 200 via a network, the communication unit 250 uses the display information or voice information generated by the information generation unit 240 of the server 200 (the device that the user uses). A signal to be output to a device (not shown) may be transmitted to a device used by the user.

  The device used by the user may be a mobile terminal (not shown) such as a mobile phone used by the user or a watch worn by the user. Note that the devices used by the user include the refrigerator 100.

  For example, when the mobile terminal includes a display (not shown), the communication unit 250 transmits a signal for displaying the display information generated by the information generation unit 240 of the server 200 on the display of the mobile terminal to the mobile terminal via the network. May be transmitted.

  The signal for outputting the generated display information to the display (not shown) of the mobile terminal includes, for example, the generated display information and control information for causing the display to output the display information.

  The communication unit of the mobile terminal receives a signal to be output from the server 200 to the display.

  The display of the portable terminal displays the display information on the display according to the control information included in the signal received from the server 200. Thereby, the information regarding one or more articles | goods stored in the refrigerator 100 is displayed on the display of a portable terminal, and is provided to the user 99.

  Alternatively, for example, when the mobile terminal includes an audio output unit (not shown), a signal for outputting the audio information generated by the information generation unit 240 of the server 200 to the audio output unit of the mobile terminal is transmitted to the mobile terminal via the network. May be transmitted.

  The signal for outputting the generated audio information to the audio output unit of the mobile terminal includes, for example, the generated audio information and control information for causing the audio output unit to output the audio information.

  The communication unit of the mobile terminal receives a signal to be output from the server 200 to the audio output unit.

  The audio output unit of the mobile terminal outputs audio information according to control information included in the signal received from the server 200. Thereby, the information regarding one or more articles | goods stored in the refrigerator 100 is provided to the user 99 by outputting as an audio | voice from the audio | voice output part of a portable terminal.

  In each of the above embodiments, the processing is completed by providing information on one or more items stored in the refrigerator. However, information useful for the extracted event may be further provided. For example, the information providing system may provide information for suppressing an odor when an article that remains odorous after a determined meal is taken out of a refrigerator.

  In each of the above embodiments, the event extraction does not consider what kind of person the user meets with, but the event may be extracted according to the person meeting the user. For example, only events for meeting people who need to pay attention are extracted, and events for meeting people who do not need attention need not be extracted. In this case, information for determining whether or not it is necessary to pay attention may be stored in the storage unit of the server, for example. At this time, for example, when a person name included in the user's schedule information includes a person name stored in a database (not shown), provision of information regarding an article that remains odory after eating may be prohibited. On the other hand, according to the title given to the person name included in the user's schedule information, provision of information related to an article that remains odory after eating may be prohibited. As honorific titles, for example, “sama” “san” “teacher” “professor” “doctor” “minister” “director” “managing” “managing” “president” and the like. This prohibits provision of information related to articles that remain odorous after meals only for an event for meeting a person who needs to pay attention, and makes it possible to provide information more appropriately.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the event extraction does not consider what kind of place the event is, but the event may be extracted depending on the location. For example, only an event for meeting a person in a narrow place (for example, a conference room) may be extracted, and an event for meeting a person in a wide place (for example, a baseball field) may not be extracted. In this case, information indicating the size of the place may be stored in the storage unit of the server, for example. Thus, only for an event for meeting a person in a narrow place, provision of information on an article that has a smell after eating is prohibited, and information can be provided more appropriately.

  In each of the above embodiments, the user's event is extracted with reference to the user's schedule information. However, the user's event may be extracted with reference to another person's schedule information. For example, an event for the other person to meet the user may be extracted with reference to the schedule information of the other person who shares the schedule with the user. As a result, even when there is an event registration omission in the user's schedule information, it is possible to appropriately extract events related to the user.

  In addition, when the event name included in the user's schedule information matches an event name stored in a database (not shown), provision of information regarding an article that remains odory after eating may be prohibited. Event names stored in a database (not shown) include, for example, dating, interviews, briefings, business meetings, meetings, meetings, ceremonies and other important parties, soccer, baseball, ballroom dance, chorus A schedule that is assumed to be close, a schedule to utter, and the like may be included.

  Moreover, when the name of the place included in the user's schedule information includes the name of the place stored in a database (not shown), provision of information related to an article that remains odory after eating may be prohibited. The name of the place may be a name set in advance by the user, or may include, for example, a name that is generally regarded as a high-quality place.

  Note that one aspect of the present disclosure is not limited to such an information providing system, but may be an information providing method using a characteristic component included in the information providing system as a step. Further, an aspect of the present disclosure may be a computer program that causes a computer to execute each characteristic step included in the information providing method. One embodiment of the present disclosure may be a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium in which such a computer program is recorded.

  In each of the above embodiments, each component may be configured by dedicated hardware or may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. Here, the software that realizes the information providing system of each of the above embodiments is the following program.

  That is, this program is an information providing method for providing a user with information related to one or more items stored in a refrigerator to a computer, based on an identification step for identifying the user and the identification result of the user. An extraction step for extracting a scheduled future event with reference to the schedule information corresponding to the user, a determination step for determining an article corresponding to the event, and the refrigerator based on the determined article An information providing method including a generating step of generating information on one or more stored articles and a providing step of providing the generated information to the user is executed.

  The information providing method according to the present disclosure is useful in an inventory management system or the like that provides inventory information of articles stored in a refrigerator to a user.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information provision system 100 Refrigerator 101 Sensor 102 Display 110 Identification part 120 Display part 130 Communication part 200, 1210 Server 210 Storage part 211 Inventory information 212 User information 213 Article information 220 Event extraction part 230 Article determination part 240 Information generation part 250 Communication part 300 Schedule information

Claims (17)

An information providing method for providing a user with information on one or more items stored in a refrigerator having a sensor for identifying the user,
A reception step of receiving a signal including the identification result of the user identified by the sensor from the refrigerator via a network;
An extraction step of extracting a scheduled future event with reference to the schedule information corresponding to the user based on the identification result of the user among the schedule information of the plurality of users stored in the memory;
A determining step for determining an article corresponding to the event;
Based on the determined article, a generation step of generating information on one or more articles to be provided to the user from information on the one or more articles stored in the refrigerator stored in the memory;
A transmission step of transmitting a signal for outputting the generated information to a device used by the user to the device via the network. In the determination step,
Determining an article predetermined as an article that adversely affects the event as an article corresponding to the event;
The information providing method according to claim 1. The event is an event for the user to meet a person,
An article that adversely affects the event is an article that remains odorous after eating the article,
The information providing method according to claim 2. The information providing method further includes:
A calculation step of calculating a difference time between the current date and time and the start date and time of the event,
In the determination step,
Determining an article having a duration that is predetermined as a period of time during which odors remain after meal and having a duration greater than the difference time as an article corresponding to the event;
The information providing method according to claim 3. In the generating step,
Generating information on an article different from the determined article among information on one or more articles stored in the refrigerator stored in the memory as information on one or more articles provided to the user,
The information providing method according to any one of claims 2 to 4. In the generating step,
Generating information on the same article as the determined article among information on one or more articles stored in the refrigerator stored in the memory as information on one or more articles provided to the user,
The information providing method according to any one of claims 2 to 4. The information providing method further includes:
Determining whether the user is a person who prepares another person's meal based on the identification result of the user,
In the extraction step,
When it is determined that the user is a person who prepares another person's meal, the event is extracted with reference to the schedule information of the user and the schedule information of the other person.
The information providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. In the extraction step, an event scheduled within a predetermined period from the current date and time is extracted as the scheduled future event.
The information provision method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The device used by the user is the refrigerator,
The transmitting step includes
The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein a signal for displaying the generated information on a display included in the refrigerator is transmitted to the refrigerator via the network. The device used by the user is the refrigerator,
The transmitting step includes
The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein a signal for outputting the generated information to an audio output unit included in the refrigerator is transmitted to the refrigerator via the network. The device used by the user is a mobile terminal,
The transmitting step includes
The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein a signal for displaying the generated information on a display included in the mobile terminal is transmitted to the mobile terminal via the network. The device used by the user is a mobile terminal,
The transmitting step includes
The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein a signal for outputting the generated information to an audio output unit included in the mobile terminal is transmitted to the mobile terminal via the network. Reception of a signal including the identification result of the user, extraction of the future event, determination of the article, generation of information on the one or more articles, and output of the generated information to a device used by the user The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmissions is performed by a processor. A computer-readable non-transitory recording medium recording a program for providing information about one or more items stored in a refrigerator having a sensor for identifying the user to the user,
The program receives a signal including a user identification result identified by the sensor from a computer via the network,
An extraction step of extracting a scheduled future event with reference to the schedule information corresponding to the user based on the identification result of the user among the schedule information of the plurality of users stored in the memory;
A determining step for determining an article corresponding to the event;
Based on the determined article, a generation step of generating information on one or more articles to be provided to the user from information on the one or more articles stored in the refrigerator stored in the memory;
A transmission step of transmitting a signal to the device used by the user to output the generated information to the device via the network;
A computer-readable non-transitory recording medium. A server that provides a user with information about one or more items stored in a refrigerator having a sensor that identifies the user,
A receiving unit that receives a signal including the identification result of the user identified by the sensor from the refrigerator via a network;
A memory for storing schedule information of a plurality of users and information on one or more items stored in the refrigerator;
An event extraction unit that extracts a scheduled future event by referring to schedule information corresponding to the user based on the identification result of the user among the schedule information of the plurality of users stored in the memory;
An article determination unit for determining an article corresponding to the event;
An information generating unit that generates information on one or more articles to be provided to the user from information on the one or more articles stored in the refrigerator stored in the memory based on the determined articles;
A transmission unit that transmits a signal that causes the device used by the user to output the generated information to the device via the network. The server according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the reception unit, the event extraction unit, the article determination unit, the information generation unit, and the transmission unit includes a processor. An information providing system,
A refrigerator, and a server connected to the refrigerator via a network,
The refrigerator is
A sensor that identifies the user;
A transmission unit that transmits a signal including the identification result of the user identified by the sensor to the server via the network;
The server
A receiving unit that receives a signal including the identification result of the user identified by the sensor from the refrigerator via a network;
A memory for storing schedule information of a plurality of users and information on one or more items stored in the refrigerator;
An event extraction unit that extracts a scheduled future event by referring to schedule information corresponding to the user based on the identification result of the user among the schedule information of the plurality of users stored in the memory;
An article determination unit for determining an article corresponding to the event;
An information generating unit that generates information on one or more articles to be provided to the user from information on the one or more articles stored in the refrigerator stored in the memory based on the determined articles;
A transmission unit configured to transmit a signal that causes the device used by the user to output the generated information to the device via the network.

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