JP2017076230A - Information processing apparatus, information processing system, information providing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus that facilitates determination, from a plurality of candidates of recommendation information that is information to be recommended to a user of an information terminal, of the recommendation information to be provided to the information terminal.SOLUTION: There is provided an information processing apparatus providing an information terminal connected via a network with information according to a user of the information terminal, the information processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of information providing parts that acquire information on predetermined fields and store the acquired information in a storage part, and provide information on the predetermined fields on the basis the information stored in the storage part; a first management part that manages setting information in which a plurality of pieces of recommendation information to be the candidates of recommendation information to be recommended to the user of the information terminal, and exclusive information that is information for identifying, of the plurality of recommendation information, recommendation information that is not simultaneously available, are stored in association with each other; and a recommendation information providing part that determines the recommendation information to be recommended to the user of the information terminal on the basis of the exclusive information, out of the plurality of pieces of recommendation information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information providing method, and a program.

  An energy management system that collects detection information on the amount of electricity, gas, water, etc. used in each household and provides each household with energy information in a predetermined format (for example, today's usage, this month's usage, etc.) HEMS (Home Energy Management System) is known.

  In addition, an energy management system is known in which priority is calculated for each consumer in accordance with a demand response signal that requires the community to reduce power, and energy consumption of the consumer is controlled based on the calculated priority. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  A service that collects information in multiple fields and provides recommended information, etc., that is recommended to information terminal users to information terminals based on the collected information. A provision system is conceivable.

  However, as the number of fields in which information is collected increases, the number of recommended information candidates that are recommended information to the information terminal also increases, so the information providing system (information processing apparatus) can select a plurality of recommended information candidates. Therefore, it is difficult to determine recommended information recommended for users of information terminals.

  An embodiment of the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and the recommendation provided to the information terminal from among a plurality of candidates for recommendation information that is information recommended to the user of the information terminal. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that makes it easy to determine information.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that provides information corresponding to a user of the information terminal to an information terminal connected via a network. A plurality of information providing units that acquire information on a predetermined field, store the information in a storage unit, and provide the information on the predetermined field based on the information stored in the storage unit; and a user of the information terminal Setting information in which a plurality of pieces of recommended information that are candidates for recommended information that is recommended information and exclusive information that is information for identifying recommended information that cannot be used simultaneously among the plurality of pieces of recommended information are stored in association with each other. And a recommended information providing unit that determines the recommended information recommended to the user of the information terminal based on the exclusive information from the plurality of recommended information.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, information processing that makes it easy to determine the recommended information to be provided to the information terminal from among a plurality of recommended information candidates that are information recommended to the user of the information terminal. An apparatus can be provided.

It is a figure showing an outline of an information processing system concerning one embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the hardware of the computer which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the service provision system which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the information provision application which concerns on one Embodiment, and a recommendation management part. It is a figure (1) which shows the example of the collection information concerning one embodiment. It is a figure (2) which shows the example of the collection information concerning one embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the recommendation setting information which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the other information which the service provision system which concerns on one Embodiment manages. It is a function block diagram of the information terminal which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of a process of the recommendation provision part which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the extraction process of the recommendation which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the narrowing-down process of the recommendation which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the extraction process of the recommendation which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and a provision process. It is a figure which shows the example of the provision information which the intercom which concerns on 1st Embodiment displays. It is a figure which shows the example of the provision information which PC, tablet terminal, etc. which concern on 1st Embodiment display. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the information provision application which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and a recommendation management part. It is a figure which shows the example of the log information which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and recommendation setting information. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the extraction process of the recommendation which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the recommendation setting information which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an information processing system according to an embodiment. The information processing system 100 includes, for example, a service providing system 110 connected to a network 140 such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network), an external system 120, and an information terminal 130.

  The service providing system 110 acquires information in a plurality of fields from the external system 120 or the like, and uses the acquired information to provide various information and services to the user of the information terminal 130, or a plurality of information A system including a processing device.

  For example, the service providing system 110 distributes apartment information, city information, and the like to condominium residents. Alternatively, the service providing system 110 may be a system that provides services to users other than residents of condominiums, for example, users of town associations, shopping streets, companies, and the like.

  For example, the service providing system 110 uses the information acquisition unit 111 to acquire detection information such as energy information and environmental information, information on the surrounding area, and the like from the external system 120 connected via the network 140. The acquired information is stored in the information storage unit 114. In addition, the service providing system 110 authenticates the user information terminal 130 using the access control unit 112 and provides various information using the information providing unit 113 to the information terminal 130 that is permitted to be authenticated. To do.

  The information providing unit 113 includes, for example, an energy information providing unit 113a, an environment information providing unit 113b, an apartment information providing unit 113c, a commercial information providing unit 113d, a medical information providing unit 113e, an event information providing unit 113f, and the like.

  The energy information providing unit 113a provides, for example, energy information related to usage, charges, etc. of electricity, gas, water, etc. of the user's residence. The environment information providing unit 113b provides, for example, environment information regarding the weather, temperature, and the like of the area where the user lives. For example, the condominium information providing unit 113c provides condominium information on shared facilities, management associations, and the like to condominium residents.

  The commercial information providing unit 113d provides, for example, information regarding the area where the user lives, commercial facilities such as the nearest station, and commercial information regarding product information. The medical information providing unit 113e provides, for example, medical information related to medical care in the area where the user resides. The event information providing unit 113f provides event information regarding various events held in a region where the user resides.

  The energy information, the environment information, the apartment information, the commercial information, the medical information, the event information, and the like are examples of provided information in a plurality of fields provided by the service providing system 110.

  In addition, the service providing system 110 according to the present embodiment includes a recommendation providing unit 115. The recommendation providing unit 115 recommends recommended information (hereinafter referred to as a recommendation), which is information recommended to the user of the information terminal 130 based on information in a plurality of fields stored in the information storage unit 114 by the information providing unit 113. Provide to the information terminal 130.

  For example, it is assumed that the recommendation providing unit 115 specifies that the amount of electricity used by the air conditioner is increasing in the user's residence based on the information stored in the information storage unit 114 by the energy information providing unit 113a. Moreover, the recommendation provision part 115 shall specify that the local temperature is not especially high based on the information which the environmental information provision part 113b memorize | stored in the information storage part 114. FIG. In such a case, the recommendation providing unit 115 provides a recommendation message (an example of a recommendation) such as “Would you like to stop the air conditioner and open the window?” To the information terminal 130 of the user.

  Further, as another example, the recommendation providing unit 115 determines whether or not the PM2.5 of a region (particle diameter is approximately 2.5 μm or less) based on the information stored in the information storage unit 114 by the environmental information providing unit 113b. ) That the measured value is high. In addition, the recommendation providing unit 115 specifies the product information of the mask corresponding to PM2.5 based on the information stored in the information storage unit 114 by the commercial information providing unit 113d. In such a case, the recommendation providing unit 115 recommends to the user's information terminal 130, for example, a recommendation message such as “Because there are many PM2.5, it is recommended to wear a PM2.5 compatible mask when going out”. At the same time, for example, product information of a PM2.5 compatible mask is provided.

  As described above, the recommendation providing unit 115 combines various information items stored in the information storage unit 114 by the information providing unit 113 and provides various information according to the user of the information terminal 130 at an appropriate timing. To do.

  The external system 120 is, for example, an information processing system that provides a cloud service, a server device, or the like. In the example of FIG. 1, the detection information management system 121, the information provision system 122, the charging system 123, the web crawler system 124, and the like. included.

  The detection information management system 121 is an information processing apparatus that collects detection information detected by various detection apparatuses and provides the collected detection information to the service providing system 110 or the like, or a system that includes a plurality of information processing apparatuses. The detection information management system 121 includes, for example, an energy information management system that collects and provides detection information such as usage of electricity, gas, and water from a plurality of residences such as apartments, and detection of temperature, humidity, air, etc. An environmental information management system that collects and provides information is included.

  The information providing system 122 is an information processing apparatus that collects various information and provides the collected information to the service providing system 110 or the like, or a system including a plurality of information processing apparatuses. The information providing system 122 includes, for example, an information providing system that provides information on local commercial facilities, medical institutions, events, and the like, an information providing system that provides weather forecasts, news, trends, product information, and the like. .

  The billing system 123 is a system including an information processing apparatus that performs payment of a usage fee of a user who uses the service providing system 110, for example, credit card settlement, bank withdrawal, or a plurality of information processing apparatuses.

  The web crawler system 124 is an information processing apparatus that periodically acquires information such as texts and images on the web and automatically creates a database, or a system that includes a plurality of information processing apparatuses. The information providing unit 113 of the service providing system 110 may not only receive information provided from the information providing system 122 but may also collect information autonomously using the web crawler system 124, for example.

  For example, the event information providing unit 113f uses the web crawler system 124 to collect various information related to the event, and extracts information that is close to the region, the date of the event, and the like from the information, and the information storage unit 114 May be stored as event information.

  Note that at least a part of the external system 120 may be included in the service providing system 110. For example, the service providing system 110 may have functions such as the web crawler system 124 and the detection information management system 121.

  The information terminal 130 is a terminal device for a user to use the service providing system 110, and includes, for example, a PC (Personal Computer) 131, a tablet terminal 132, a smartphone 133, an interphone 134, and the like.

  The PC 131, the tablet terminal 132, and the smartphone 133 are general-purpose information terminals 130 that are connected to the network 140 and can communicate with the service providing system 110. The interphone 134 is an information terminal 130 provided in a residence such as a condominium, for example, and includes a display input device, a communication device, and the like.

  In the above configuration, the user of the service providing system 110 requests the service providing system 110 to acquire information using, for example, a web browser of the information terminal 130.

  In the service providing system 110, the access control unit 112 authenticates the request information received from the information terminal 130, and the information providing unit 113 displays the requested information according to the request information permitted to be authenticated. Provide to the terminal 130.

  Furthermore, the service providing system 110 provides recommendations to the information terminal 130 (recommended information) recommended to the user of the information terminal 130 based on information of a plurality of fields stored in the information storage unit 114 by the information providing unit 113. To do. For example, the service providing system 110 stores a plurality of recommended candidates recommended to the user of the information terminal 130 in advance, and determines a recommendation to be provided to the information terminal 130 from the plurality of candidates.

  The system configuration in FIG. 1 is an example. For example, the information providing unit 113 may provide information in various fields other than the field information shown in FIG. The service providing system 110 may provide information based on information managed in the service providing system 110 or information acquired from the information terminal 130 or the like. Furthermore, the information providing unit 113 may be realized by a plurality of information processing apparatuses.

<Hardware configuration>
The hardware configuration of the service providing system 110 and the external system 120 according to the present embodiment includes an information processing apparatus having a general computer configuration or a combination of information processing apparatuses. The hardware configuration of the information terminal 130 includes a general computer configuration. Here, a typical hardware configuration example of a computer will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a computer according to an embodiment. The computer 200 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 202, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 203, a storage unit 204, a network I / F (Interface) unit 205, an input unit 206, and a display unit. 207, an external I / F unit 208, a bus 209, and the like.

  The CPU 201 is an arithmetic device that implements each function of the computer 200 by reading a program, data, and the like stored in the ROM 203, the storage unit 204, and the like onto the RAM 202 and executing processing. The RAM 202 is a volatile memory used as a work area for the CPU 201. The ROM 203 is a non-volatile memory that retains programs and data even when the power is turned off, and is configured by, for example, a flash ROM. The storage unit 204 is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores, for example, an OS (Operation System), applications, various data, and the like.

  The network I / F unit 205 is a communication interface such as a wired / wireless LAN for connecting the computer 200 to the network 140 and transmitting / receiving data to / from other computers, electronic devices, and the like.

  The input unit 206 is an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel that accepts an input for operating the computer 200. The display unit 207 is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays processing results of the computer 200 and the like. Note that the input unit 206 or the display unit 207 may be provided outside the computer 200. Further, the input unit 206 and the display unit 207 may be an integrated display input unit such as a touch panel display, for example.

  The external I / F unit 208 is an interface for connecting an external device to the computer 200. The external device includes, for example, a recording medium 210 such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a memory card, an optical disk, and various electronic devices.

  The bus 209 is commonly connected to each of the above components, and transmits an address signal, a data signal, various control signals, and the like.

<Functional configuration>
Next, the functional configuration of the service providing system 110 will be described.

(Functional configuration of service providing system)
FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the service providing system according to the first embodiment. The service providing system 110 realizes an application (plug-in) 310, a platform 320, a storage unit 330, a framework 340, and the like, for example, by executing a predetermined program by the computer 200 shown in FIG.

  The application 310 includes a plurality of application programs (hereinafter referred to as applications) that operate on the platform 320 using the framework 340. The application 310 according to the present embodiment has, for example, a plug-in configuration corresponding to the framework 340. For example, the plug-in does not operate alone, but implements a predetermined function by being incorporated into the framework 340 as necessary.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the application 310 includes an energy information providing application 351a, an environment information providing application 351b, an apartment information providing application 351c, and the like. Further, the service providing system 110 can incorporate another information providing application 351x that operates on the platform 320 by using the framework 340. In the following description, when an arbitrary application is indicated among the energy information providing application 351a, the environment information providing application 351b, the apartment information providing application 351c, and the other information providing application 351x, “information providing application (information providing Part) 351 ".

  The energy information providing application 351a implements a web service corresponding to the energy information providing unit 113a in FIG. For example, the energy information providing application 351a acquires information on energy such as electricity, gas, and water from the detection information management system 121 and stores the information in the collected information storage unit 385. In addition, the energy information providing application 351a provides the information terminal 130 of the user with provision information regarding the usage amount of electricity, gas, water, and the like based on the information regarding energy stored in the collected information storage unit 385.

  The environment information providing application 351b implements a web service corresponding to the environment information providing unit 113b of FIG. For example, the environment information provision application 351b acquires information on the environment such as temperature, humidity, and weather from the detection information management system 121 and the information provision system 122 and stores the information in the collected information storage unit 385. Further, the environment information providing application 351b provides the user information terminal 130 with environment-related provision information such as temperature, humidity, and weather based on the environment-related information stored in the collected information storage unit 385.

  The apartment information providing application 351c implements a web service corresponding to, for example, the apartment information providing unit 113c in FIG. For example, the apartment information provision application 351c acquires information on the apartment from, for example, the information provision system 122 and stores the information in the collected information storage unit 385. Further, the apartment information providing application 351c provides the information related to the apartment to the information terminal 130 of the user based on the information related to the apartment stored in the collected information storage unit 385.

  The framework 340 provides an API (Application Programming Interface) for the application 310 to use the platform 320 and a semi-completed program. The semi-completed program provided by the framework 340 has a structure and functions common to the information providing application 351 that provides information in the service providing system 110, and incorporates various information providing applications 351 created as plug-ins. be able to.

  By using the framework 340, the developer of the application 310 can easily develop the information providing application 351, and the service providing system 110 can easily manage the plurality of information providing applications 351 by a common procedure. become able to.

  The platform 320 includes, for example, an authentication unit 361, an account information management unit 362, a contract management unit 363, a service management unit 364, a plug-in management unit 365, a communication unit 366, an external system linkage unit 367, a data access unit 368, a recommendation management unit. 369, a log management unit 370, and the like.

  The authentication unit 361 authenticates the information terminal 130 using the service providing system 110 based on the account information of the user of the service providing system 110 managed by the account information management unit 362. The authentication unit 361 corresponds to, for example, the access control unit 112 in FIG.

  The account information management unit 362 stores account management information such as an account ID and password for identifying the user of the information terminal 130 in the account management information storage unit 381 of the log management unit and manages it. The account management information will be described later.

  The contract management unit (second management unit) 363 specifies information (for example, service ID, Application ID etc. are managed. For example, the contract management unit stores the contract management information stored in association with the account ID of the user of the information terminal 130, the service ID, and the billing destination information of the usage fee, in the storage unit 330. Store in 382 and manage. The contract management information will be described later.

  The service management unit 364 associates and manages a service ID that is identification information for identifying a service provided by the service providing system 110 and an application ID that is identification information for identifying the information providing application 351 corresponding to the service ID. . In the present embodiment, a combination of a plurality of information providing applications 351 included in the service providing system 110 is referred to as a service.

  For example, the service providing system 110 provides a service (service A) that combines an energy information providing application 351a, an environment information providing application 351b, and an apartment information providing application 351c to residents of an apartment. On the other hand, the service providing system 110 provides a service (service B) in which the energy information providing application 351a and the environment information providing application 351b are combined for general users who are not residents of the apartment.

  As described above, the service providing system 110 provides various services by combining one or more information providing applications 351 according to the needs of the user.

  The service management unit 364 stores the service management information stored in association with the service ID for identifying the service and the application ID for identifying the information providing application 351 that can be used with the service ID, in the storage unit 330. The information is stored in the unit 383 and managed. The service management information will be described later.

  The plug-in management unit 365 manages information on the application (plug-in) 310 installed in the service providing system 110. For example, the plug-in management unit 365 stores the plug-in management information in which the application ID of the installed information providing application 351 and the information of each information providing application 351 are stored in association with each other. It is stored in the storage unit 384 and managed. The plug-in management information will be described later.

  The communication unit 366 connects the service providing system 110 to the network 140 using, for example, the network I / F unit 205 of FIG. 2 and performs communication with the external system 120, the information terminal 130, and the like.

  The external system cooperation unit 367 acquires predetermined information from the external system 120 or the like via the communication unit 366 in response to a request from the application 310 or the like. The external system cooperation unit 367 corresponds to, for example, the information acquisition unit 111 in FIG.

  For example, in response to a request from the application 310, the data access unit 368 performs processing such as writing and reading of data to and from each storage unit of the storage unit 330.

  The recommendation management unit 369 is information recommended to the user of the information terminal 130 based on information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by one or more information providing applications 351 that can be used by the user of the information terminal 130. Manages recommendations (recommended information). The recommendation management unit 369 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The log management unit (third management unit) 370 stores, in the log information storage unit 388 of the storage unit 330, log information in which various events (events) occurring in the service providing system 110 are recorded in time series. ,to manage. The log information includes, for example, an operation log in which an operation of a user of the information terminal 130 is recorded, an access log in which an external access history is recorded, a debug log in which debugging information is recorded, and a use used for providing a recommendation. A person's action history is included.

  The storage unit 330 is realized by, for example, the storage unit 204 in FIG. 2, the RAM 202, and a program that operates on the CPU 201 in FIG. 2. The storage unit 330 includes, for example, an account management information storage unit 381, a contract management information storage unit 382, a service management information storage unit 383, a plug-in management information storage unit 384, a collection information storage unit 385, a recommendation setting information storage unit 386, a feedback An information storage unit 387, a log information storage unit 388, and the like are included.

  The account management information storage unit 381 stores account management information described later. The contract management information storage unit 382 stores contract management information described later. The service management information storage unit 383 stores service management information described later. The plug-in management information storage unit 384 stores plug-in management information described later.

  The collected information storage unit 385 stores collected information of a plurality of fields collected by the plurality of information providing applications 351. Collected information in a plurality of fields includes, for example, energy information, environment information, weather forecast information, and the like described later. The recommendation setting information storage unit 386 stores recommendation setting information described later.

  The feedback information storage unit 387 stores feedback information indicating the reaction of the user of the information terminal 130 to the recommendation provided to the information terminal 130 by the recommendation management unit 369 (for example, referring to or ignoring the recommendation). For example, the recommendation management unit 369 extracts the feedback information from the log information (such as an action history) stored in the log information storage unit 388 and stores the extracted information in the feedback information storage unit 387.

  The log information storage unit 388 stores log information in which various events that have occurred in the service providing system 110 are recorded in time series.

  The platform 320 includes a function common to a plurality of information providing applications 351 included in the application 310, a basic function used from the plurality of information providing applications 351, or the like. Functions of each unit included in the platform 320 are disclosed to the application 310 via the framework 340. In other words, the application 310 can use functions of each unit included in the platform 320 within a range provided by the framework 340.

  Note that the configurations of the application 310, the platform 320, the storage unit 330, and the framework 340 of the service providing system 110 illustrated in FIG. 3 are merely examples, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. For example, the service providing system 110 does not necessarily have a hierarchical configuration as shown in FIG.

  Next, functional configurations of the information providing application 351 and the recommendation management unit 369 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information providing application and the recommendation management unit according to the embodiment.

(Functional configuration of information providing application)
Each information provision application 351 includes, for example, an information collection unit 401, an information management unit 402, a provision information provision unit 403, and the like.

  The information collection unit 401 collects information on a field corresponding to the information providing application 351 from the external system 120 via the external system cooperation unit 367 and stores the information in the collection information storage unit 385.

  The information management unit 402 manages information collected by the information collection unit 401 and stored in the collected information storage unit 385.

  The provided information providing unit 403 is a predetermined information based on information collected by the information collecting unit 401 and stored in the collected information storage unit 385, information created by the information management unit 402 and stored in the collected information storage unit 385, and the like. The provision information of the field is provided to the information terminal 130.

  For example, the information collection unit 401 of the energy information providing application 351a uses the external system cooperation unit 367 to acquire energy information from the detection information management system 121 every predetermined time (for example, every 30 minutes), and collect information storage Store in the unit 385.

  5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating examples of collected information according to an embodiment.

  FIG. 5A shows an example of energy information 501 every 30 minutes stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by the information collecting unit 401 of the energy information providing application 351a. In the example of FIG. 5 (A), the energy information 501 every 30 minutes includes, as items, “account ID”, “measurement date”, “measurement time”, “electricity consumption”, “gas usage”, “ Water usage "is included.

  “Account ID” is identification information for identifying the user of the information terminal 130. “Measurement date” is information indicating a date when energy information is measured. “Measurement time” is information indicating the time when energy information is measured. In the example of FIG. 5A, information indicating a time zone of 30 minutes such as “15: 30-15: 59” is stored.

  “Electricity usage” is information indicating the usage of electricity in the user's residence. “Gas consumption” is information indicating the gas usage in the user's residence. “Water usage” is information indicating the usage of water in the user's residence.

  In the energy information 501 every 30 minutes, for example, such energy information is sequentially stored every 30 minutes as shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 5A shows only information of one account ID “aaa”, but energy information corresponding to each user's residence is similarly stored in the energy information 501 every 30 minutes. It will be done.

  The data format such as the amount of electricity used, the amount of gas used, and the amount of water used may be any format, but as an example, an example of data on the amount of electricity used (every 30 minutes) is shown in FIG. .

  FIG. 5B is an example of the data 502 of electricity usage at the measurement time “15: 30-15: 50” of the energy information 501 every 30 minutes shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 5B, the data 502 of electricity usage includes items “measurement time”, “time”, “main circuit”, “branch circuit 1 (air conditioner)”, “branch circuit 2 (living room). ) "," Branch circuit 3 (kitchen) "," branch circuit 4 (bedroom) ", and the like.

  The “measurement time” corresponds to the “measurement time” of the energy information 501 every 30 minutes shown in FIG.

  “Time” is information indicating, for example, the time when the detection information management system 121 collects data on the amount of electricity used from the user's residence. In the example of FIG. 5B, an example is shown in which the detection information management system 121 acquires data on the amount of electricity used at 5-minute intervals from the user's residence.

  The “main circuit” is data indicating the amount of electricity used in the electric system (main circuit) of the entire user's residence. In addition, the data which show the usage-amount of electricity are represented by units, such as a kilowatt hour (kWh) or a watt hour (Wh), for example.

  “Branch circuit 1 (air conditioner)” is data on the amount of electricity used corresponding to a branch circuit (breaker or the like) that supplies power to the outlet of the air conditioner in the user's residence. “Branch circuit 2 (living)” is data on the amount of electricity used corresponding to the branch circuit supplying power to the outlet, lighting, etc. in the living room of the user. The “branch circuit 3 (kitchen)” is data on the amount of electricity used corresponding to the branch circuit supplying power to the outlet, lighting, etc. of the kitchen in the user's residence. The “branch circuit 4 (bedroom)” is data on the amount of electricity used corresponding to the branch circuit supplying power to the outlet, lighting, etc. of the bedroom in the user's residence.

  Note that the number of branch circuit items illustrated in FIG. 5B is an example, and the electricity usage data 502 may include more branch circuit items.

  By using the electricity usage data 502 as shown in FIG. 5B, the recommendation management unit 369, for example, grasps the electricity usage in the user's residence at intervals of 5 minutes for each branch circuit, An appropriate recommendation can be provided to the information terminal 130 of the user.

  On the other hand, since the energy information 501 every 30 minutes has a large amount of data, it is not suitable for storing it in the collected information storage unit 385 for a long period of time.

  Therefore, the information management unit 402 of the energy information providing application 351a creates energy information for every hour, every day, and every month based on the energy information 501 every 30 minutes stored in the collected information storage unit 385. And stored in the collected information storage unit 385. Further, the information management unit 402 of the energy information providing application 351a deletes energy information that has passed a predetermined storage period from the collected information storage unit 385.

  The provided information providing unit 403 of the energy information providing application 351a uses the energy information created by the information managing unit 402, for example, to provide provided information indicating the transition of the amount of electricity used every hour, every day, every month, etc. Can be provided to the information terminal 130.

  FIG. 6A shows an example of environment information 601 stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by the information collection unit 401 of the environment information providing application 351b. In the example of FIG. 6A, the environment information 601 includes, as items, “measurement device ID”, “measurement date”, “measurement time”, “temperature”, “humidity”, “PM2.5”, “radiation”. ”,“ Atmospheric pressure ”,“ pollen ”and the like are included.

  The “measurement device ID” is identification information for identifying a measurement device that is installed in, for example, a town and measures environmental information. “Measurement date” is information indicating a date when environmental information is measured. “Measurement time” is information indicating the time when the environmental information is measured. In the example of FIG. 5A, information indicating a time zone of 30 minutes such as “15: 30-15: 59” is stored. “Temperature”, “humidity”, “PM2.5”, “radiation”, “atmospheric pressure”, and “pollen” are respectively measured by the measurement device for temperature, humidity, PM2.5, radiation, atmospheric pressure, and pollen. It is the measured value of the measurement item. Note that the measurement items illustrated in FIG. 6A are merely examples. For example, the environment information 601 may include various information such as wind direction, wind speed, illuminance, and precipitation.

  The information collection unit 401 of the environment information providing application 351b acquires not only the environment information 601 acquired from the detection information management system 121 but also information such as weather forecast from the information providing system 122 and stores it in the collected information storage unit 385. can do.

  FIG. 6B shows an example of weather forecast information (every day) 602 stored in the collection information storage unit 385 by the information collection unit 401 of the environment information provision application 351b. In the example of FIG. 6B, the weather forecast information (every day) 602 includes, as items, “location”, “date”, “weather”, “wind direction”, “wind speed”, “precipitation”, “precipitation” "Probability", "Minimum temperature", "Maximum temperature", "Humidity", etc. are included.

  “Location” is information indicating an area corresponding to the weather forecast, and corresponds to, for example, an area where the service providing system 110 provides a service. “Date” is information indicating a date corresponding to the weather forecast. “Weather”, “wind direction”, “wind speed”, “precipitation amount”, “precipitation probability”, “minimum temperature”, “maximum temperature”, “humidity”, and the like are examples of information included in the weather forecast.

  FIG. 6C shows an example of weather forecast information (every hour) 603 stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by the information collection unit 401 of the environment information providing application 351b. In the example of FIG. 6C, the weather forecast information (every hour) 603 includes, as items, “location”, “date”, “time”, “weather”, “atmospheric pressure”, “precipitation”, “ “Wind direction”, “wind speed”, “temperature”, “humidity”, “cloud cover” and the like are included.

  “Location” is information indicating an area corresponding to the weather forecast. “Date” and “Time” are information indicating the date and time corresponding to the weather forecast, respectively. “Weather”, “atmospheric pressure”, “precipitation”, “wind direction”, “wind speed”, “temperature”, “humidity”, “cloud cover”, and the like are examples of information included in the weather forecast. The cloud amount is, for example, information indicating the cloud amount as a numerical value in nine steps from 0 (small) to 9 (large).

  For example, by using information as shown in FIG. 6, the recommendation management unit 369 can grasp the environment in the area where the user's residence is located and can provide an appropriate recommendation to the information terminal 130 of the user.

(Function configuration of the recommendation management department)
For example, the recommendation management unit 369 includes a setting information management unit 410 and a recommendation provision unit 420.

  The setting information management unit (first management unit) 412 stores recommendation setting information storing a plurality of recommendation candidates, which is information recommended to the user of the information terminal 130, in the recommendation setting information storage unit 386. to manage.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of recommendation setting information according to an embodiment. The recommendation setting information 701 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes items such as “recommendation ID”, “recommendation (message)”, “exclusive information”, “priority information”, “display condition”, and “application ID” as items. .

  “Recommendation ID” is identification information for identifying a recommendation. “Recommendation (message)” is a candidate for a recommendation (for example, a message or the like) provided to the information terminal 130 by the recommendation providing unit 420. A recommendation (message) is an example of a recommendation. The recommendation may be, for example, an image (including a still image and a moving image), sound, and the like.

  The “exclusive information” is information for identifying a recommendation that cannot be used at the same time among a plurality of recommendations included in the recommendation setting information 701. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a plurality of recommendations having the same “exclusive information” cannot be simultaneously provided to the information terminal 130.

  In the example of FIG. 7, “recommend (message)” of the recommendation IDs “R10001”, “R10002”, and “R10003” is the same content in another expression, and the “display condition” is The same. For example, since it is not desirable to display a plurality of such recommendations having substantially the same contents on the information terminal 130, in the present embodiment, the same “exclusive information” is assigned and managed as one exclusive group. As a result, the recommendation IDs “R10001”, “R10002”, and “Recommendation (message)” of “R10003” are not displayed on the information terminal 130 at the same time.

  In FIG. 7, the recommendation ID “1004” is a recommendation for the electric usage of the air conditioner, similarly to the recommendation IDs “R10001”, “R10002”, and “R10003”, and the setting value of the display condition is different. As described above, it is desirable that the same “exclusive information” and the different “priority information” be assigned to a plurality of recommendations with different importance and urgency in a recommendation related to one topic.

  Furthermore, since the recommendation setting information 701 includes a plurality of recommendations having different display conditions, for example, there may be a plurality of recommendations that are not desired to be displayed at the same time, such as recommendations with logically contradictory contents. In such a case, the same “exclusive information” is assigned to a plurality of recommendations that are not desired to be displayed at the same time, so that they are not displayed on the information terminal 130 at the same time.

  “Priority information” is information for identifying priorities of a plurality of recommendations included in the recommendation setting information 701. In the example of FIG. 7, the smaller the value, the higher the priority. Thereby, in this embodiment, when there are a plurality of recommendation candidates to be provided to the information terminal 130, the information terminal 130 is provided to the information terminal 130 in order from a recommendation with a higher priority (recommendation with a smaller value of “priority information”). Can do.

  The “display condition” is information relating to a condition for displaying each recommendation. “Application ID” is an application ID of the information providing application 351 corresponding to each display condition. For example, in the recommendation corresponding to the recommendation ID “R10005”, the information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by the information providing application 351 having the application ID “AP001” is displayed according to the display condition “total power> target value × 50%”. If you meet, you will be a candidate for the recommendation provided.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the description of the functional configuration of the recommendation management unit 369 is continued.

  The recommendation providing unit (recommended information providing unit) 420 uses the information terminal 130 based on the exclusive information and priority information stored in the recommendation setting information 701 from among the plurality of recommendations stored in the recommendation setting information 701. Determine recommended information to recommend. In addition, the recommendation providing unit 420 provides the determined recommended information to the information terminal 130 via the information providing application 351, for example. The recommendation providing unit 420 includes, for example, an extracting unit 421, a narrowing unit 422, a sorting unit 423, and the like.

  The extraction unit 421 extracts a recommendation satisfying the “display condition” for the information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by the predetermined information providing application 351 from the plurality of recommendations stored in the recommendation setting information 701.

  The predetermined information provision application 351 is, for example, one or more information provisions that can be used by the user of the information terminal 130 such as the information provision application 351 included in the service contracted by the user of the information terminal 130 Application 351.

  The narrowing-down unit 422 performs a narrowing-down process of narrowing down a plurality of recommendations having one exclusive information to one recommendation having one exclusive information based on the priority information. For example, the narrowing-down unit 422 has one exclusive information among recommended information having the highest priority among a plurality of recommendations having one exclusive information included in the recommendations extracted by the extracting unit 421. Select one recommendation. For example, when there are a plurality of pieces of recommended information having the highest priority, the narrowing unit 422 selects one piece of exclusive information at random from a plurality of pieces of recommended information having the highest priority.

  The sorting unit 423 sorts (rearranges) a plurality of recommendations included in the candidate list including the plurality of recommendations extracted by the extraction unit 421 and narrowed down by the narrowing-down unit 422. For example, the sorting unit 423 rearranges, for example, a plurality of recommendations included in the candidate list in descending order of priority. As a result, the recommendation providing unit 420 can easily provide the information terminal 130 with a predetermined number of recommendations with high priority among the plurality of recommendations included in the candidate list.

  Preferably, the recommendation providing unit 420 rearranges, for example, a plurality of recommendations having the same priority among the recommendations in which the plurality of recommendations included in the candidate list are rearranged in descending order of priority. Thereby, the recommendation provision part 420 can reduce that the same recommendation is continuously displayed on the information terminal 130.

  The recommendation providing unit 420 provides a predetermined number of recommendations to the information terminal 130 via the information providing application 351 from among the plurality of recommendations rearranged by the sorting unit 423, for example.

(Examples of other information managed by the service providing system)
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of other information managed by the service providing system according to the embodiment.

  FIG. 8A is an example of account management information 801 that the account information management unit 362 stores and manages in the account management information storage unit 381. In the example of FIG. 8A, the account management information 801 includes items such as “account ID”, “password”, “last name”, “first name”, and “mail address” as items.

  “Account ID” is identification information that is registered in the service providing system 110 and identifies the user of the information terminal 130. “Password” is an example of authentication information corresponding to an account ID. “Last name” and “First name” are the user's last name and first name. “Mail address” is the user's mail address.

  For example, the service providing system 110 can display the name of the user in the provided information provided to the information terminal 130 or the recommendation using “first name” and “first name”. Further, the service providing system 110 may notify a predetermined message to the “mail address” when there is no response to an important recommendation provided to the information terminal 130.

  FIG. 8B is an example of contract management information 802 that the contract management unit 363 stores and manages in the contract management information storage unit 382. In the example of FIG. 8B, the contract management information 802 includes items such as “account ID”, “service ID”, and “billing destination information” as items.

  The “account ID” corresponds to the “account ID” in FIG.

  “Service ID” is identification information for identifying a service that can be used by each account ID. “Billing destination information” is information indicating a billing destination of a user's usage fee.

  FIG. 8C is an example of service management information 803 that the service management unit 364 stores and manages in the service management information storage unit 383. In the example of FIG. 8C, the service management information 803 includes information such as “service ID”, “service name”, and “available application ID” as items.

  The “service ID” corresponds to the “service ID” in FIG. “Service name” is information indicating the name of the service. The “available application ID” is the application ID of the information providing application 351 that can be used with the “service ID”. For example, a user who contracts a service “A course” corresponding to the service ID “SV0001” can use the information providing application 351 corresponding to the application IDs “AP001”, “AP002”, and “AP003”. .

  The service ID is an example of information that identifies one or more information providing applications 351 that can be used with the user's account ID. For example, the contract management information 802 may store combinations of available application IDs instead of service IDs.

  FIG. 8D is an example of plug-in management information 804 that the plug-in management unit 365 stores and manages in the plug-in management information storage unit 384. In the example of FIG. 7D, the plug-in management information 804 includes information such as “application ID”, “application (plug-in)”, “dependent application”, and “exclusive application”.

  The “application ID” is identification information for identifying the information providing application 351. “App (plug-in)” is information indicating the information providing application 351. In the example of FIG. 7D, for example, it is indicated that the information providing application 351 corresponding to the application ID “AP0001” is the energy information providing application 351a.

  The “depending application” information is information indicating another information providing application 351 necessary for the service providing system 110 to provide a recommendation corresponding to the information providing application 351, for example.

  The information of “exclusive applications” is information indicating other information providing applications 351 that cannot be installed together with the information providing application 351 in the service providing system 110, for example.

  For example, the plug-in management unit 365 manages the installation of a new information providing application 351 (plug-in) based on the information on the “dependent application” and the “application in an exclusive relationship”. For example, it is not possible to add (install) an application (for example, another information providing application 351) stored in the “application having an exclusive relationship” to the service providing system 110.

  With the above-described configuration, the service providing system 110, for example, recommends that information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by one or more information providing applications 351 that can be used by the user of the information terminal 130 satisfies the “display condition”. Can be provided to the information terminal 130.

(Functional configuration of information terminal)
FIG. 9 is a functional configuration diagram of an information terminal according to an embodiment. The information terminal 130 realizes a communication unit 901, a display control unit 902, an input reception unit 903, and the like by executing a predetermined program by the computer 200 shown in FIG.

  The communication unit 901 uses the network I / F unit 205 in FIG. 2 to connect the information terminal 130 to the network 140 and communicate with the service providing system 110 or the like.

  The display control unit 902 displays provided information, recommendations, and the like provided from the service providing system 110 on, for example, the display unit 207 in FIG.

  The input receiving unit 903 receives a user input operation to the information terminal 130 using, for example, the input unit 206 of FIG.

<Process flow>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of processing of the recommendation providing unit according to the embodiment.

  In step S <b> 1001, when the recommendation providing process is started, the extraction unit 421 extracts a recommendation whose information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by the predetermined information providing application 351 satisfies the “display condition” of the recommendation setting information 701. (Extraction process) An example of the extraction process will be described later.

  In step S1002, the narrowing-down unit 422 narrows down the extracted recommendations so that there is only one recommendation having the same exclusive information among the plurality of recommendations extracted by the extraction unit 421 (squeezing process). An example of the narrowing process will be described later.

  In step S1003, the sorting unit 423 rearranges the plurality of recommendations extracted by the extraction unit 421 and narrowed down by the narrowing-down unit 422 in descending order of priority.

  Preferably, the sorting unit 423 randomly rearranges a plurality of recommendations having the same priority among the plurality of recommendations rearranged in descending order of priority.

  In step S <b> 1004, the recommendation providing unit 420 provides a predetermined number of recommendations to the information terminal 130 via the information providing application 351 from among the plurality of recommendations rearranged by the sorting unit 423.

  Through the above processing, the service providing system 110 recommends to the user of the information terminal 130 from among a plurality of recommendation candidates based on the information of one or more fields collected by the one or more information providing applications 351. Recommendations can be easily determined.

  Next, a specific example of the information providing method by the service providing system 110 will be described.

[First Embodiment]
(Recommendation extraction process)
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of recommendation extraction processing according to the first embodiment. Note that the recommendation extraction process shown in FIG. 11 is an example of the extraction process shown in step S1001 of FIG.

  In step S <b> 1101, when the extraction unit 421 of the recommendation providing unit 420 receives a recommendation acquisition request from the information providing application 351, the extraction unit 421 executes processing subsequent to step S <b> 1102. It is assumed that the recommendation acquisition request includes, for example, the account ID of the user of the information terminal 130 that is the provision target of the recommendation.

  In step S1102, the extraction unit 421 identifies the application IDs of one or more information providing applications 351 that can be used by the user of the information terminal 130 based on the account ID included in the recommendation acquisition request.

  For example, the extraction unit 421 acquires a service ID corresponding to the account ID of the user of the information terminal 130 based on the contract management information 802 shown in FIG. Since the service ID is associated with the usable application ID by the service management information 803, the extraction unit 421 uses the acquired service ID to identify the application of the information providing application 351 that can be used by the user of the information terminal 130. ID can be specified.

  As an example, in the contract management information 802 shown in FIG. 8B, it is assumed that the account ID of the user of the information terminal 130 is “bbb”. In this case, the extraction unit 421 acquires the service ID “sv0002” corresponding to the account ID “bbb” from the contract management information 802. The service ID “sv0002” is associated with the application IDs “AP001” and “AP002” by the service management information 803 shown in FIG. Therefore, based on the acquired service ID “sv0002”, the extraction unit 421 can specify that the application IDs available to the user of the information terminal 130 are “AP001” and “AP002”.

  In step S1103, the extraction unit 421 performs confirmation (processing) in step S1104 for the Nth recommendation of the recommendation setting information 701. Note that N is a natural number equal to or greater than 1, and the initial value is 1.

  In step S1104, the extraction unit 421 determines whether the Nth recommendation can be used with one or more application IDs specified in step S1102. For example, in the recommendation setting information 701 illustrated in FIG. 7, if the “application ID” of the Nth recommendation includes an application ID that is different from one or more identified application IDs, the extraction unit 421 It can be determined that the recommendation is not available. On the other hand, when the “application ID” of the Nth recommendation does not include an application different from the one or more specified application IDs, the extraction unit 421 determines that the Nth recommendation is available. Can do.

  If the Nth recommendation is not usable with the one or more application IDs identified in step S1102, the extraction unit 421 shifts the processing to step S1107. On the other hand, when the Nth recommendation is available with one or more application IDs identified in step S1102, the extraction unit 421 shifts the processing to step S1105.

  Note that the processing in step S1104 is not essential. For example, the process of step S1104 may be omitted, and the determination of step S1105 may be performed for each recommendation candidate.

  When the process proceeds to step S1105, the extraction unit 421 displays the information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by the information providing application 351 corresponding to the one or more application IDs specified in step S1102, and the display condition of the Nth recommendation It is determined whether or not the above is satisfied.

  For example, it is assumed that application IDs that can be used by the user of the information terminal 130 are “AP001” and “AP002”. In this case, the information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by the energy information providing application 351a corresponding to the application ID “AP001” corresponds to, for example, the energy information 501 illustrated in FIG. The information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by the environment information providing application 351b corresponding to the application ID “AP002” corresponds to, for example, the environment information 601 and the weather forecast information 602 and 603 shown in FIG.

  The extracting unit 421 determines whether or not these pieces of information satisfy the display condition of the recommendation setting information 701 illustrated in FIG.

  If the display condition for the Nth recommendation is not satisfied, the extraction unit 421 shifts the processing to step S1107. On the other hand, when the display condition for the Nth recommendation is satisfied, the extraction unit 421 shifts the processing to step S1106.

  In step S1106, the extraction unit 421 stores the Nth recommendation (or recommendation ID) in the first candidate list of recommendations. It is assumed that the first recommendation candidate list is stored in a predetermined storage area such as the RAM 202 and the storage unit 204 in FIG.

  In step S1107, the extraction unit 421 determines whether or not the confirmation in step S1104 has been confirmed for all the recommendations in the recommendation setting information 701. For example, the extraction unit 421 determines whether or not the value of N has reached the total number of recommended data stored in the recommendation setting information 701.

  If all the recommendations of the recommendation setting information 701 have not been confirmed in step S1104, the extraction unit 421 adds 1 to N in step S1108, and shifts the processing to step S1103. On the other hand, when all the recommendations in the recommendation setting information 701 have been confirmed in step S1104, the extraction unit 421 ends the process.

  As a result of the above processing, the extraction unit 421 selects a recommendation that satisfies the display condition of the recommendation setting information 701 based on the information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by the information providing application 351 that can be used by the user of the information terminal 130. One candidate list can be extracted.

(Recommendation narrowing down process)
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a recommendation narrowing process according to the first embodiment. The recommendation narrowing process shown in FIG. 12 is an example of the narrowing process shown in step S1002 of FIG.

  In step S1201, the narrowing-down unit 422 of the recommendation providing unit 420 rearranges, for example, the first candidate list storing the recommendations extracted by the extraction unit 421 by the process of FIG. 11 at random. This process is an example of a process for preventing the same recommendation from being selected every time from among a plurality of recommendations having an exclusive relationship, and is not essential.

  In step S1202, the narrowing-down unit 422 performs the following confirmation (processing) for the Mth recommendation stored in the first candidate list. Note that M is a natural number of 1 or more, and the initial value is 1.

  In step S1203, the narrowing unit 422 determines whether a recommendation having the same exclusive information as the Mth recommendation is stored in the second candidate list that stores the narrowed recommendation. It is assumed that the second candidate list storing the recommended recommendations is stored in a predetermined storage area such as the RAM 202 or the storage unit 204 in FIG.

  When there is no recommendation having the same exclusive information as the Mth recommendation in the second candidate list, the narrowing-down unit 422 shifts the process to step S1204. On the other hand, when there is a recommendation having the same exclusion information as the Mth recommendation in the second candidate list, the narrowing-down unit 422 shifts the processing to step S1205.

  In step S1204, the narrowing-down unit 422 stores the Mth recommendation in the second candidate list.

  On the other hand, in step S1205, the narrowing-down unit 422 compares the priority information of the Mth recommendation with the priority information of the recommendation having the same exclusive information stored in the second candidate list. Determine whether the priority of is high.

  When the priority of the Mth recommendation is not higher (same or lower) than the priority of the recommendation having the same exclusive information stored in the second candidate list, the narrowing unit 422 performs the process in step S1207. To migrate. On the other hand, when the priority of the Mth recommendation is higher than the priority of the recommendation having the same exclusive information stored in the second candidate list, the narrowing unit 422 shifts the processing to step S1206.

  Note that the processing in step S1205 is not essential. For example, if the process in step S1205 is omitted and it is determined in S1203 that the second candidate list includes a recommendation having the same exclusive information as the Mth recommendation, the process in S1206 is performed. May be.

  In step S1206, the narrowing-down unit 422 stores the Mth recommendation in the second candidate list instead of the recommendation having the same exclusive information stored in the second candidate list. For example, the narrowing-down unit 422 deletes the recommendation having the same exclusive information stored in the second candidate list, and stores the Mth recommendation in the second candidate list.

  In step S1207, the narrowing-down unit 422 determines whether the above confirmation has been made for all the recommendations included in the first candidate list. For example, the narrowing-down unit 422 determines whether or not the value of M has reached the total number of recommended data stored in the first candidate list.

  When the above confirmation is not performed for all the recommendations stored in the first candidate list, the narrowing unit 422 adds 1 to M in step S1208, and shifts the processing to step S1202. On the other hand, when the above confirmation is made for all the recommendations stored in the first candidate list, the narrowing-down unit 422 shifts the processing to step S1209.

  In step S1209, the narrowing unit 422, for example, deletes the first candidate list and ends the process.

  With the above processing, the narrowing-down unit 422 narrows down a plurality of recommendations having one exclusive information included in the first candidate list into one recommendation, and the second candidate not including a recommendation having the same exclusive information A list can be created.

(Recommendation extraction and provision processing)
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of recommendation extraction processing and provision processing according to the first embodiment. Note that the processing in steps S1301 and S1302 in FIG. 13 is an example of the rearrangement processing shown in step S1003 in FIG.

  In step S1301, the sorting unit 423 of the recommendation providing unit 420 rearranges the second candidate list storing the recommendations narrowed down by the narrowing unit 422 by the narrowing process of FIG. 12, for example, in descending order of priority. . Accordingly, the recommendation providing unit 420 can easily provide the recommendations stored in the second candidate list to the information terminal 130 in descending order of priority.

  In step S1302, the sorting unit 423 rearranges, for example, randomly the recommendations having the same priority in the recommendation candidate list rearranged in step S1301. Thereby, the recommendation provision part 420 can reduce that the same recommendation is displayed on the information terminal 130 every time. In addition, the process which rearranges the recommendation with equal priority at random is an example of the process for reducing that the same recommendation is displayed on the information terminal 130 every time. For example, the recommendation providing unit 420 may sequentially provide recommendations with the same priority to the information terminal 130.

  In step S1303, the recommendation providing unit 420 extracts a predetermined number of recommendations from the recommendation candidate list rearranged in steps S1301 and S1302 in order from the recommendation with the highest priority. For example, the recommendation providing unit 420 extracts a predetermined number of recommendations from the top of the recommendation candidate list rearranged in steps S1301 and S1302.

  Preferably, the predetermined number of recommendations extracted in step S1303 is the number of recommendations to be displayed on the information terminal 130 displaying the provided information by the information providing application 351 that has requested the recommendation acquisition request. For example, it is assumed that the recommendation acquisition request received from the information providing application 351 in step S1101 of FIG. 11 includes information on the number of recommendations that can be displayed by the information terminal 130 that provides the recommendation.

  In step S1304, the recommendation providing unit 420 notifies the information providing application 351 that has requested the recommendation acquisition request of the recommendation extracted in step S1303.

  Through the above processing, the recommendation providing unit 420 extracts a predetermined number of recommendations from the recommendation candidate list extracted by the extraction unit 421 and narrowed down by the narrowing-down unit 422 in descending order of priority. The information providing application 351 can be notified.

<Example of provided information>
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of provision information displayed by the intercom according to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating an example of energy information 1410 displayed by the user registered in the service providing system 110 using the interphone 134 provided in the user's residence. The energy information 1410 shown in FIG. 14A is an example of provision information displayed on the interphone 134 by the energy information provision application 351a, and indicates the amount of electricity used in the user's residence.

  In the example of FIG. 14A, the energy information 1410 includes information 1411 indicating the amount of electricity used today, information 1412 indicating the amount of electricity used this month, and the interphone 134 via the energy information providing application 351a. A provided recommendation 1413 is included.

  In the example of FIG. 14A, a recommendation “Let's pay attention to the power consumption of the air conditioner” of the recommendation ID “R10004” of the recommendation setting information 701 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed as the recommendation 1413.

  From this state, for example, it is assumed that the amount of electricity used in the user's residence satisfies the display condition of “air conditioner power> total power × 35%” shown in the recommendation setting information 701 shown in FIG. In this case, any one of the recommendation IDs “R10001”, “R10002”, and “R10003” is displayed as the recommendation 1413 in the energy information 1410 provided to the interphone 134.

  FIG. 14B is a diagram showing an example of the environment information 1420 displayed by the user registered in the service providing system 110 using the interphone 134 provided in the user's residence. The environment information 1420 shown in FIG. 14B is an example of provided information displayed on the interphone 134 by the environment information providing application 351b, and indicates information such as the environment and weather in the area corresponding to the user's residence. ing.

  In the example of FIG. 14B, the environment information 1420 includes environment information 1421 including information such as weather forecast, temperature, and humidity, and a plurality of recommendations 1422, 1423 provided to the interphone 134 by the environment information providing application 351b. 1424 is included.

  Since the interphone 134 has a smaller display screen and lower display screen resolution than the PC 131, the tablet terminal 132, and the like, the number of recommendations to be displayed may be determined in advance. As illustrated in FIG. 14, even with the same interphone 134, the number of recommendations that can be displayed may differ depending on the information providing application 351.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of provided information displayed by the PC, the tablet terminal, and the like according to the first embodiment. For example, environment information details 1500 as shown in FIG. 15 are displayed on the information terminal 130 having a relatively wide display screen and a high display screen resolution, such as the PC 131 and the tablet terminal 132. The environment information details 1500 is an example of provided information that the environment information providing application 351b displays on the PC 131, the tablet terminal 132, or the like.

  In the example of FIG. 15, the environment information details 1500 include detailed environment information including, for example, a weather forecast 1501 for today 12: 00-18: 00, a weather forecast 1502 for today 18: 00-24: 00, a recommendation 1503, and the like. 1504 is displayed. The environment information details 1500 includes a plurality of recommendations 1505, 1506, and 1507.

  The plurality of recommendations 1505 to 1507 may be displayed, for example, when the user of the information terminal 130 selects the recommendation 11503, or may be displayed from the beginning. .

  Further, the plurality of recommendations 1505 to 1507 may be capable of displaying more recommendation messages, for example, by the user scrolling the screen.

  Preferably, the number of recommendations included in the provided information provided to the information terminal 130 by the information providing application 351 is determined by the type of the information terminal 130 (PC, tablet terminal, interphone, etc.) and the size of the screen. Determine according to the resolution.

  In addition, the information providing application 351 includes information indicating the determined number of recommendations in an acquisition request for requesting the recommendation providing unit 420 to acquire a recommendation, and notifies the recommendation providing unit 420 of the information. Accordingly, the recommendation providing unit 420 can notify the information providing application 351 of a recommendation corresponding to the number of recommendations included in the provided information provided by the information providing application 351.

  As described above, according to the service providing system 110 according to the present embodiment, a recommendation to be provided to the information terminal 130 can be easily determined from a plurality of recommendation candidates recommended to the user of the information terminal 130. Become.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the example in which the recommendation providing unit 420 provides a recommendation in response to a recommendation acquisition request from the information providing application 351 has been described. In the second embodiment, an example in which the recommendation providing unit 420 provides a recommendation to the information terminal 130 according to a predetermined event (event) notified from the log management unit 370 will be described. As a result, for example, when an event having a high importance level occurs, the recommendation providing unit 420 can provide a recommendation regarding the information to the information terminal 130 in a timely manner.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information providing application and the recommendation management unit according to the second embodiment. In addition to the configuration of the recommendation management unit 369 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, a log management unit 370 and a log information storage unit 388 are added to the functional configuration of the recommendation management unit 369 illustrated in FIG. 16. ing. The other functional configuration is the same as the functional configuration shown in FIG.

  As described above, the log management unit 370 stores log information in which various events occurring in the service providing system 110 are recorded in time series in the log information storage unit 388 of the storage unit 330 and manages the log information.

  As described above, the log information storage unit 388 stores log information in which various events that have occurred in the service providing system 110 are recorded in time series.

(Example of log information and recommendation setting information)
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of log information and recommendation setting information according to the second embodiment.

  FIG. 17A is an example of log information 1701 that the log management unit 370 stores and manages in the log information storage unit 388. In the example of FIG. 17A, the log information 1701 includes items such as “account ID”, “occurrence date / time”, “occurrence source”, “event”, “event ID”, and the like.

  “Account ID” is identification information for identifying the user of the information terminal 130. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 16A, the log management unit 370 desirably manages log information for each account ID.

  “Occurrence date and time” is information indicating the date and time when the event occurred. The generation source is information for specifying the information providing application 351 in which the event has occurred, the service, and the like. For example, an application ID, a service ID, or the like is used.

  “Event” is information on an event that has occurred, and includes, for example, an operation on the information terminal 130, displayed provision information, a displayed recommendation, an event that has occurred in each information provision application 351, and the like.

  “Event ID” is identification information for identifying an event. In the example of FIG. 17A, the event ID “IV001” is stored corresponding to the event “the ratio of the power of the air conditioner occupying the total power is increased”.

  When a predetermined event occurs, the log management unit 370 according to the present embodiment notifies the recommendation management unit 369 of an event ID corresponding to the event. Therefore, an event ID does not have to be assigned to a non-target event for which the log management unit 370 does not notify the recommendation management unit 369.

  FIG. 17B is an example of recommendation setting information according to the second embodiment. The recommendation setting information 1702 illustrated in FIG. 17B includes an item “corresponding event ID” in addition to the items included in the recommendation setting information 701 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7. The “corresponding event ID” is information indicating a recommendation corresponding to the event ID notified from the log management unit 370.

  For example, when the event ID is notified from the log management unit 370, the recommendation providing unit 420 can identify a recommendation corresponding to the generated event with reference to the “corresponding event”.

<Process flow>
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of recommendation extraction processing according to the second embodiment. Note that the recommendation extraction process shown in FIG. 18 is another example of the extraction process shown in step S1001 of FIG.

  In step S1801, when the extraction unit 421 of the recommendation providing unit 420 receives a notification of an event indicating that a predetermined event has occurred from the log management unit 370, the extraction unit 421 executes the processing from step S1802. The event notification notified from the log management unit 370 includes, for example, an event ID for identifying the event and an account ID for identifying the account corresponding to the event.

  In step S1802, the extraction unit 421 acquires the account ID and event ID included in the event notification.

  In step S1803, the extraction unit 421 identifies an application ID of one or more information providing applications 351 that can be used with the acquired account ID. This process is the same as the process of step S1102 in FIG. 11, for example.

  In step S1804, the extraction unit 421 extracts a recommendation corresponding to the acquired event ID from the recommendation setting information 1702. For example, in the recommendation setting information 1702 shown in FIG. 17B, the recommendation IDs of the recommendations corresponding to the event ID “IV001” are “R10001”, “R10002”, “R10003”, and “R10004”.

  In step S1805, the extraction unit 421 determines whether the recommendation extracted in step S1804 includes a recommendation that can be used with one or more application IDs acquired in step S1803. For example, in the recommendation setting information 1702 illustrated in FIG. 17B, when the extracted “application ID” includes an application ID different from one or more specified application IDs, the extraction unit 421 indicates that the recommendation is Judge that it is not available. On the other hand, if the “application ID” of the extracted recommendation does not include an application different from the identified one or more application IDs, the extraction unit 421 determines that the recommendation is available.

  If the extracted recommendation does not include a recommendation that can be used with the specified one or more application IDs, the extraction unit 421 ends the process. On the other hand, when the extracted recommendation includes a recommendation that can be used with one or more specified application IDs, the extraction unit 421 shifts the processing to step S1806. Note that the processing in step S1805 is not essential as in the first embodiment.

  In step S1806, the extraction unit 421 determines whether the recommendation extracted in step S1804 includes a recommendation that satisfies the recommendation display condition. For example, the extraction unit 421 determines whether the information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by the information providing application 351 corresponding to the application ID specified in step S1803 satisfies the display condition of each extracted recommendation. .

  If the recommendation extracted in step S1804 does not include a recommendation that satisfies the recommendation display condition, the extraction unit 421 ends the process. On the other hand, when the recommendation extracted in step S1804 includes a recommendation that satisfies the recommendation display condition, the extraction unit 421 shifts the processing to step S1807.

  In step S1807, the extraction unit 421 stores, in the first candidate list, recommendations that can be used by the one or more information providing applications 351 specified in step 1803 and satisfy the recommendation display conditions.

  With the above processing, the extraction unit 421 can extract the recommendation corresponding to the notification of the event notified from the log management unit 370 from the recommendation setting information 1702 and store it in the first candidate list. .

  Note that the subsequent processing (narrowing processing, rearrangement processing, provision processing, etc.) may be the same as that of the first embodiment, for example. Further, the recommendation providing process according to the present embodiment may be executed in parallel with the recommendation providing process according to the first embodiment, for example.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments, when the information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by one or more information providing applications 351 that can be used by the user of the information terminal 130 satisfies the display condition of the recommendation setting information In addition, a corresponding recommendation is provided to the information terminal 130.

  Therefore, for example, when the information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 does not satisfy the recommendation setting information display condition, the recommendation of the information terminal 130 is not updated. In the third embodiment, an example of updating a recommendation in such a case will be described.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of recommendation setting information according to the third embodiment. In the recommendation setting information 1901 shown in FIG. 18, for example, in addition to the recommendation setting information 701 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7, an alternative recommendation 1902 to be displayed in “when no recommendation satisfies the display condition” is added. ing.

  The alternative recommendation 1902 has, for example, “priority information” having a lower priority than the “priority information” of the recommendations (hereinafter referred to as normal recommendations) indicated by the recommendation IDs “R10001” to “R10006”. ing. For example, in the example of FIG. 19, the priority information of the normal recommendation is “1” to “3”, and the priority information of the alternative recommendation 1902 is set to “5”.

  Accordingly, when there is a normal recommendation recommended by the recommendation providing unit 420 to the information terminal 130, the alternative recommendation 1902 is not provided to the information terminal 130. On the other hand, when there is no normal recommendation to be provided to the information terminal 130 and when the number of normal recommendations to be provided to the information terminal 130 is less than a predetermined number, an alternative recommendation 1902 is provided to the information terminal 130.

  The alternative recommendation 1902 may not have the “display condition” like, for example, the recommendations corresponding to the recommendation IDs “R40001” to “R40003” in FIG. In this case, it is assumed that the display condition is always satisfied for a recommendation whose display condition is “none”.

  As another example, the alternative recommendation 1902 may be one in which only the conditions for the display period are set, such as the recommendation corresponding to the recommendation IDs “R40201” and “R40202” in FIG. good. In this case, it is assumed that the recommendation in which only the display period condition is set always satisfies the display condition within the display period indicated in the display condition. As a result, the recommendation providing unit 420 can provide the information terminal 130 with an alternative recommendation 1902 corresponding to the season.

  The alternative recommendation 1902 has a lower priority than the normal recommendation and has no display condition (or only a display period), but has exclusive information and priority information like the normal recommendation. ing. Therefore, for example, the recommendation providing unit 420 can provide an alternative recommendation 1902 to the information terminal 130 by the same processing as in the first embodiment shown in FIGS.

  As another example, the recommendation providing unit 420 may, for example, add an alternative recommendation 1902 to a recommendation candidate to be provided when a recommendation that satisfies the display condition is not extracted in step S1001 of FIG. In addition, for example, in step S1001 in FIG. 10, the recommendation providing unit 420 may add an alternative recommendation 1902 to a candidate of a recommendation to be provided when the number of recommendations that satisfy the display condition is less than a predetermined number. good.

  According to the present embodiment, the recommendation providing unit 420 is configured such that the information stored in the collected information storage unit 385 by one or more information providing applications 351 that can be used by the user does not satisfy the display condition of the recommendation setting information. But you can update the recommendation.

[Other Embodiments]
The above first to third embodiments are examples, and the present invention can be applied in various ways.

  For example, a plurality of recommendation candidates recommended for the information terminal 130, such as the recommendation IDs “R40001” to “R40003” included in the recommendation setting information 1901 of the third embodiment, do not necessarily have “display conditions”. You don't have to. In this case, the recommendation setting information may not include the item “display condition”. At this time, the recommendation providing unit 420 can determine a recommendation to be provided to the information terminal 130 by the narrowing-down unit 422 and the sorting unit 423.

  In addition, when there is no limit on the number of recommendations to be provided to the information terminal 130 (for example, when managing the recommendations to be displayed on the information terminal 130 side), the recommendation providing unit 420, for example, does not perform the reordering process, One or more recommendations narrowed down by the inserting unit 422 may be provided to the information terminal 130. In this case, the sorting unit 423 may be included in the information terminal 130.

  Further, the recommendation providing unit 420 may provide a recommendation to the information terminal 130 without using the information providing application 351. For example, the recommendation providing unit 420 may have a function of a web server and can display a web screen on the information terminal 130. Further, the recommendation providing unit 420 may notify the information for recommendation to the information terminal 130, and generation of a recommendation screen, determination of a recommendation to be displayed, and the like may be performed by the information terminal 130. Further, the recommendation providing unit 420 may be one that provides a recommendation to the information terminal 130 using an email, a messaging service, or the like.

<Summary>
An information processing apparatus (110) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:
An information processing apparatus (110) for providing information corresponding to a user of the information terminal (130) to an information terminal (130) connected via a network,
A plurality of information providing units (351) for acquiring information on a predetermined field, storing the information in the storage unit (385), and providing the provided information on the predetermined field based on the information stored in the storage unit (385); ,
Exclusive information that is information identifying a plurality of recommended information that is candidates for recommended information that is recommended to the user of the information terminal (130) and recommended information that cannot be used simultaneously among the plurality of recommended information A first management unit (410) for managing setting information (701) stored in association with each other,
A recommended information providing unit (420) for determining the recommended information recommended to the user of the information terminal (130) from the plurality of recommended information based on the exclusive information;
Have

  Thereby, an information processing apparatus that makes it easy to determine the recommended information to be provided to the information terminal (130) from among a plurality of recommended information candidates that are recommended to the user of the information terminal (130) (110) can be provided.

  The reference numerals and names in the parentheses are given for ease of understanding, and are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

100 Information processing system 110 Service providing system (information processing apparatus)
113 Information Providing Unit 130 Information Terminal 351 Information Providing Application (Information Providing Unit)
351a Energy information provision application 351b Environmental information provision application 351c Mansion information provision application 363 Contract management section (second management section)
370 Log management unit (third management unit)
385 Collected information storage unit (storage unit)
410 Setting information management unit (first management unit)
420 Recommendation Provision Department (Recommendation Information Provision Department)
421 Extraction unit 422 Refinement unit 423 Sort unit 701, 1702, 1901 Recommendation setting information (setting information)
1902 Alternative recommendations (recommended alternative information)

JP 2014-150627 A

Claims (19)

An information processing apparatus for providing information corresponding to a user of the information terminal to an information terminal connected via a network,
A plurality of information providing units that obtain information of a predetermined field, store the information in a storage unit, and provide the provision information of the predetermined field based on the information stored in the storage unit;
A plurality of pieces of recommended information that are candidates for recommended information that is information recommended to a user of the information terminal, and exclusive information that is information identifying recommended information that cannot be used at the same time among the plurality of recommended information. A first management unit for managing the setting information stored in association with each other;
Among the plurality of recommended information, based on the exclusive information, a recommended information providing unit that determines the recommended information recommended to the user of the information terminal,
An information processing apparatus. The setting information is stored in association with priority information that is information for identifying priorities of the plurality of recommended information.
The recommended information providing unit determines the recommended information to be recommended to a user of the information terminal from the plurality of recommended information based on the exclusive information and the priority information. Item 4. The information processing apparatus according to Item 1. The recommended information providing unit
The narrowing-down part which narrows down a plurality of the above-mentioned recommendation information which has the above-mentioned exclusive information to the above-mentioned one of the recommended information which has the above-mentioned exclusive information based on the above-mentioned priority information. Information processing device. The narrowing part is
The said recommendation information which has the said one said exclusion information is selected from the said recommendation information with the said highest priority among the said some recommendation information which has the said one said exclusion information. Information processing device. The narrowing part is
The at least one recommended information having the one exclusive information is randomly selected from among the recommended information having the highest priority among the plurality of recommended information having the one exclusive information. Item 4. The information processing device according to Item 3. The setting information includes
Including information on conditions for providing the recommended information;
The recommended information providing unit
The information stored in the storage unit by the predetermined information providing unit from the plurality of recommended information includes an extracting unit that extracts the recommended information that satisfies the condition. The information processing apparatus described in 1. A second management unit that manages information that identifies one or more information providing units that can be used by a user of the information terminal among the plurality of information providing units;
The predetermined information providing unit includes:
The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information terminal is one or more information providing units that can be used by a user of the information terminal. The recommended information providing unit
The recommendation information recommended to the user of the information terminal is determined from a candidate list including one or more pieces of the recommended information extracted by the extraction unit and narrowed down by the narrowing-down unit. 8. The information processing apparatus according to 7. The setting information includes
If the conditions for providing the recommended information are not met, the alternative recommended information to be provided to the information terminal,
The recommended information providing unit
The recommended information to be provided to the information terminal is determined from a candidate list including one or more pieces of the recommended information extracted by the extracting unit and narrowed down by the narrowing unit and the alternative recommended information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7. The recommended information providing unit
The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a sorting unit that rearranges the plurality of recommended information included in the candidate list in descending order of priority. The sorting unit
The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein among the plurality of pieces of recommended information rearranged in descending order of priority, the plurality of pieces of recommended information having the same priority are rearranged at random. The recommended information providing unit
The information processing apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a predetermined number of the recommended information is provided to the information terminal from among the plurality of recommended information rearranged by the sorting unit. The recommended information providing unit
The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the recommended information recommended to a user of the information terminal is provided to the information terminal via the information providing unit. The recommended information providing unit
The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, in response to a request for obtaining the recommended information requested from the information providing unit, the information providing unit is notified of the recommended information to be provided to the information terminal. The predetermined number is
The information processing apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the information providing unit is the number of the recommended information to be displayed on the information terminal. A third management unit for collecting and managing information indicating that an event corresponding to a user of the information terminal has occurred;
The recommended information providing unit
The said recommendation information recommended to the user of the said information terminal is provided to the said information terminal when the predetermined | prescribed event corresponding to the user of the said information terminal generate | occur | produces. Information processing device. An information processing system for providing information corresponding to a user of the information terminal to an information terminal connected via a network,
A plurality of information providing units that obtain information of a predetermined field, store the information in a storage unit, and provide the provision information of the predetermined field based on the information stored in the storage unit;
A plurality of pieces of recommended information that are candidates for recommended information recommended to the user of the information terminal are associated with exclusive information that is information for identifying recommended information that cannot be used simultaneously among the plurality of recommended information. A first management unit for managing the stored setting information;
Among the plurality of recommended information, based on the exclusive information, a recommended information providing unit that determines the recommended information recommended to the user of the information terminal,
An information processing system. A computer that provides information corresponding to a user of the information terminal to an information terminal connected via a network,
A plurality of information providing units that obtain information of a predetermined field, store the information in a storage unit, and provide the provision information of the predetermined field based on the information stored in the storage unit;
A plurality of pieces of recommended information that are candidates for recommended information recommended to the user of the information terminal are associated with exclusive information that is information for identifying recommended information that cannot be used simultaneously among the plurality of recommended information. A first management unit for managing the stored setting information;
Among the plurality of recommended information, based on the exclusive information, a recommended information providing unit that determines the recommended information recommended to the user of the information terminal,
Program to function as. An information providing method by a computer for providing information corresponding to a user of the information terminal to an information terminal connected via a network,
The computer is
Acquire information from multiple fields and store it in the storage unit.
A plurality of pieces of recommended information that are candidates for recommended information recommended to the user of the information terminal are associated with exclusive information that is information for identifying recommended information that cannot be used simultaneously among the plurality of recommended information. Manage stored setting information,
From the plurality of recommended information, based on the exclusive information, to determine the recommended information recommended to the user of the information terminal,
An information providing method for providing provision information related to the plurality of fields and the determined recommended information to the information terminal.

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