JP2019128640A - Providing apparatus, providing method and providing program - Google Patents

Abstract

To appropriately manage use of position information.SOLUTION: A providing apparatus according to the present application includes an acquisition unit, an issuing unit, and a providing unit. The acquisition unit acquires user position information. The issuing unit issues a plurality of keys for decrypting the position information acquired by the acquisition unit. When receiving a request for using the position information together with the presentation of any of the plurality of keys issued by the issuing unit, the providing unit provides a requester with the decrypted position information that is the position information decrypted according to the presented key.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a providing apparatus, a providing method, and a providing program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, techniques have been proposed for improving the convenience of information in an information provided via a network or the like and limiting unauthorized use by an information user.

  For example, a technique is known that generates a key associated with each data range of encrypted content and decrypts a different data range for each key. In addition, there is known a technique capable of providing a restriction on the number of times of reproduction and the reproduction period as necessary by performing selective decoding on reproduction conditions (decoding conditions) with respect to encoded content. Yes.

JP 2006-191341 A JP 2004-254193 A

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, it is not always possible to appropriately manage the use of position information. Specifically, the related art is a technology mainly related to management of contents such as moving images and music, and can be applied to appropriately manage the use of location information of each user acquired from the user of the mobile terminal, for example. Not necessarily.

  The present application has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a providing device, a providing method, and a providing program capable of appropriately managing the use of position information.

  The providing device according to the present application is issued by the obtaining unit that obtains the location information of the user, an issuing unit that issues a plurality of keys for decrypting the location information obtained by the obtaining unit, and the issuing unit. A provision unit that provides the request source with decrypted position information, which is position information decrypted according to the presented key, when a request for using the position information is received together with presentation of any of a plurality of keys; It is characterized by having.

  According to one aspect of the embodiment, there is an effect that the use of position information can be appropriately managed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a providing process according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the providing process according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the providing system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a user terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the providing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user information storage unit according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the position information storage unit according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the key information storage unit according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart (1) illustrating a processing procedure according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart (2) illustrating a processing procedure according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart (3) illustrating the processing procedure according to the embodiment. FIG. 12 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating an example of a computer that realizes the function of the providing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a providing apparatus, a providing method, and a mode for implementing a providing program according to the present application (hereinafter, referred to as “embodiment”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the providing apparatus, the providing method, and the providing program according to the present application are not limited by this embodiment. Moreover, it is possible to combine each embodiment suitably in the range which does not make process contents contradictory. Moreover, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same site | part in the following each embodiment, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

[1. Example of Providing Process According to Embodiment]
First, an example of the providing process according to the embodiment will be described using FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a providing process according to the embodiment. Specifically, in FIG. 1, providing apparatus 100 issues a plurality of keys for decrypting position information acquired from a user, and requests for using position information together with presentation of any of the issued keys. An example is shown in which a providing process of providing post-decryption position information, which is position information decrypted according to the presented key, to the request source is performed.

  A providing apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is an information processing apparatus that executes a providing process according to the embodiment. For example, a business that provides a terminal device used by a user or a service using location information acquired by the providing device 100 is provided. It is a server device that communicates with a terminal device used by a person.

  The providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment acquires identification information for identifying each user in association with the position of each user, and accumulates the acquired information as the position information of the user. For example, the providing device 100 is a service server that provides a portal site or the like, and periodically acquires position information from a user who has logged in to the portal site. The providing apparatus 100 provides a service for providing location information to a business operator who desires the accumulated location information. In the embodiment, the providing apparatus 100 provides, for example, a provider who performs various services using user's position information (for example, a provider who provides information transmission service for transmitting disaster information, and a navigation service for providing traffic guidance) Location information is provided to the business operator in response to a request from a business operator or a business operator that provides a game using location information.

  A user terminal 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is an information processing terminal such as a smartphone. In the example of FIG. 1, the user terminal 10 is used by a user U01 that is an example of a user who transmits position information to the providing apparatus 100. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish the user U01 and the like, they are collectively referred to as “user”. Hereinafter, the user terminal 10 may be read as a user. For example, "the user U01 transmits position information" may actually mean "the user terminal 10 used by the user U01 transmits position information".

  For example, the user terminal 10 uses a GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like to detect a position (for example, a numerical value of longitude or latitude) where the device is located, and acquires position information that is information indicating the detected position. . The position information may include not only the information indicating the position but also the time when the position is detected. Then, for example, the user terminal 10 transmits the detected position information to the providing apparatus 100 in accordance with a request from the providing apparatus 100. Specifically, the user terminal 10 is periodically and continuously located when the providing device 100 is accessing a portal site provided to the user or when logging in to a service provided by the providing device 100. Information is transmitted to the providing apparatus 100. The position information transmitted from the user terminal 10 is accumulated in a storage unit included in the providing apparatus 100 and is used for various information processing.

Service terminal 20 ₁ and 20 ₂ shown in FIG. 1, (hereinafter, these operators may be referred to as "data user") operators utilizing the position information provided by the providing apparatus 100 is managed by Terminal device. In Figure 1, service terminal 20 ₁ and 20 ₂ are managed by different operators. For example, the service terminal 20 ₁ is managed by the operator P01 is an example of the data user. Also, service terminal 20 ₂ is managed by the operator P02 is an example of the data user. The data user is not limited to the provider of the service intended for general users, and may be, for example, an analyzer, a researcher, or the like who analyzes position information.

In the example of FIG. 1, the business operator P01 is assumed to be a business operator that performs services that provide various user behaviors, analysis results, and the like by analyzing the positional information acquired by the providing apparatus 100. Further, it is assumed that the business operator P02 is a business company that provides an information transmission service for transmitting disaster information to a user, a navigation service for providing traffic guidance, and the like. In the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the business operators P01 and P02, etc., they are collectively referred to as "business operators". In the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish the service terminal 20 ₁ and 20 _2, etc., collectively referred to as "service terminal 20". In the following, the service terminal 20 may be read as an operator. For example, the term "business P01 to provide services", in fact, there is a case, which means that the "service terminal 20 ₁ operators P01 to use to provide the service."

  As described above, the providing device 100 acquires position information from the user, and provides the acquired position information to the business operator P01, the business operator P02, and the like. However, since the user's position information includes personal information, it may not be desirable to provide all the information acquired by the providing device 100. For example, the providing apparatus 100 may perform position information (for example, position information in which the position of the user U01 is identified by an error of several meters) with such an accuracy that the base of the user U01 is analyzed. It is not desirable to provide it to operators. On the other hand, there is a need for a business operator who studies position information and a business operator who analyzes position information to receive provision of highly accurate position information and position information of more users.

  However, since the location information acquired from the majority of users is a huge amount of information, the location information provider can store the acquired location information in a different database for each purpose and usage authority of the operator, It is practically difficult to maintain a different database for each specific accuracy.

Therefore, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment holds the acquired position information in a single database by the process described below, and enables the use of position information at an appropriate level for each business operator. . Specifically, the providing device 100 encodes the position information acquired from the user, and issues a plurality of keys for decoding the encoded position information. Then, the providing device 100 distributes any of the issued plurality of keys to the business operator according to the usage authority and the contract of the position information. When using the position information, the business operator presents one of the issued keys to the providing device 100. Specifically, the operator decrypts the position information based on the issued key. At this time, the decoded position information (hereinafter referred to as “position information after decoding”) becomes position information having different precision and amount of information according to the key used for the decoding. With such a configuration, the providing apparatus 100 does not need to store the position information for each business operator or each information amount, and can provide location information at an appropriate level according to each business operator.

  In the embodiment, each business operator uses the identification information of the user in common with the identification information (ID) of the user used by the providing apparatus 100 in each service to be provided. The user identification information is, for example, a service ID (user account) assigned to each user in a service provided by the providing apparatus 100. Such an ID may be issued not only by the providing device 100 but also by a business operator that has partnered with the providing device 100. Thereby, the business operator can track the transition of the position of a specific user. Specifically, since the business operator can uniquely identify the user who transmitted the position information to the providing device 100 based on the ID, the position information is identified even when the position information is intermittently received. You can name it to other users. Furthermore, even when the providing device 100 or the business operator uses a plurality of user terminals 10 or logs in to a service in a different environment, the providing device 100 or the business operator can use the identification information to identify the user. It is possible to uniquely identify and acquire position information. Hereinafter, the providing process according to the embodiment will be described along the flow with reference to FIG.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the user U01 requests use of a portal site (portal service) provided from the providing apparatus 100. For example, the user U01 installs a smartphone application provided by the providing apparatus 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as “application”) in the user terminal 10. And user U01 receives provision of service from providing device 100 via the application concerned.

  The user terminal 10 periodically transmits the position information of the user U01 to the providing device 100 based on the setting of the service. For example, the user terminal 10 transmits the position information of the user U01 to the providing device 100 based on the frequency (every several tens of minutes, every few hours, every day, or the like) set for the service.

  Providing apparatus 100 acquires the position information transmitted from user terminal 10 (step S01). The providing device 100 stores the acquired position information in the storage unit. For example, as illustrated in the database DB01 of FIG. 1, the providing device 100 acquires the identification information of the user (for example, “user U01”), the information indicating the position of the user U01 (for example, “position G01”), The information which matched the time (for example, "time T01") was acquired. Subsequently, the providing device 100 determines, as position information of the user U01, information in which “location G02” and “time T02” are associated, information in which “location G03” and “time T03” are associated, etc. To get. In other words, the transition of the position of the user U01 is stored in the database DB01.

  In addition, although illustration in FIG. 1 is omitted, the providing apparatus 100 acquires position information from users other than the user U01 regularly and continuously. For example, the providing apparatus 100 receives, from a user U02 not shown, identification information of the user (for example, "user U02"), information for indicating the position of the user U02 (for example, "position G04"), and a time (for example, The information which matched "time T04") is acquired. Further, the providing apparatus 100 is configured such that identification information (for example, “user U03”) of the user, information (for example, “position G07”) indicating the position of the user U03, and a time (for example, the position is acquired) Information associated with “time T07” is acquired.

  Each position information acquired by the providing apparatus 100 may have a different amount of information. Although the details will be described later, the position information may differ in the accuracy of the information indicating the position when the means etc. when the position is acquired in the user terminal 10 are different. For example, the amount of information may be larger as the position information (for example, position information with less error in specifying the position of the user U01) indicating the position of the user U01 more accurately.

  When the providing apparatus 100 acquires the position information from the user terminal 10, the providing apparatus 100 stores the acquired position information in the database DB01 (step S02). Then, when storing the position information in the database DB01, the providing device 100 encodes (encrypts) each position information. The technique used for encoding may be a known encryption process (for example, an encryption process using a pair of a public key and a secret key). At this time, the providing apparatus 100 issues a plurality of types of keys as keys for decoding the encoded information. Specifically, the providing device 100 performs encoding such that the position information to be decoded is different depending on the key used for the decoding.

  Then, the providing apparatus 100 distributes the issued key to the data user who uses the position information in advance. For example, the providing device 100 distributes any of the issued plurality of keys to the business operator according to the usage authority or the contract of the position information. The providing apparatus 100 may store a plurality of issued keys as public keys in a storage area that can be accessed according to the use authority or contract of the location information. In this case, each business operator accesses the providing apparatus 100 and obtains a public key corresponding to his / her usage authority and contract.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the providing apparatus 100 distributes the key K01 to the business operator P01. For example, it is assumed that the business operator P01 has a relatively strong authority to use position information and can use more detailed position information. In this case, a key K01 that can be decrypted including relatively detailed information (for example, position information with high accuracy for specifying the position of the user) is distributed to the business operator P01.

  Also, the providing apparatus 100 distributes the key K02 to the business operator P02. For example, it is assumed that the business operator P02 has a weaker authority to use location information than the business operator P01 and has no authority to use more detailed location information than the business operator P01. In this case, when the provider P02 decrypts the position information held by the provider P02, the key K02 is decoded to position information having a lower accuracy in identifying the position of the user than the provider P01. Is delivered.

  Thereafter, at an arbitrary timing, the business users P01 and P02, who are data users, present the keys they hold and request the use of location information (step S03).

  Providing apparatus 100, when receiving a request for using location information, decrypts the location information in database DB01 according to the presented key (step S04). For example, the providing apparatus 100 decrypts the position information of the user U01 using the key K01. The position information decrypted with the key K01 is indicated by a combination of “position GA01” and “time T01” in the example of FIG. The providing apparatus 100 decrypts the position information of the user U01 using the key K02. The position information decrypted by the key K02 is indicated by a combination of “position GB01” and “time T01” in the example of FIG.

  Here, the position information decrypted with the key K01 is more accurate than the position information decrypted with the key K02. As a result, the providing apparatus 100 can provide location information according to the authority of use of each business operator at the stage of provision, while maintaining location information common to each business operator. Providing apparatus 100 provides post-decryption position information corresponding to the key to each business operator (step S05).

  Here, the point that position information is decoded into information indicating different accuracy will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the providing process according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 conceptually shows the accuracy of the decoded position information.

  FIG. 2A conceptually shows a position G01 and a position GA01 that is information indicating a position when the position information corresponding to the position G01 is decrypted by the key K01. The position G01 is information indicating any one point in the area A01. Specifically, the position G01 indicates that the user U01 who has transmitted the position information corresponding to the position G01 is located in the area A01. On the other hand, the position GA01 is information indicating any one point in the area A11 which is an area wider than the area A01. That is, the position GA01 can be said to be information with lower accuracy than the position G01 as information indicating the location of the user U01.

  FIG. 2B conceptually shows the position G01 and the position GB01 which is information indicating the position when the position information corresponding to the position G01 is decrypted by the key K02. The position GB01 is information indicating any one point in the area A12 which is an area wider than the area A11. That is, the position GB01 can be said to be information with lower accuracy than the position G01 and the position GA01 as information indicating the location of the user U01.

  The position G01 is information indicating the position of the user U01, and is, for example, a specific numerical value indicating latitude and longitude. And position G01 shall be the information which has a numerical value of five digits below a decimal, for example. In this case, the position GA01 is information having a numerical value of 4 digits after the decimal. Further, the position GA02 is information having a numerical value of 3 digits after the decimal, for example. That is, when the position information corresponding to the position G01 is decrypted with the key K01, the providing apparatus 100 encodes the original position information so that the information indicating the accuracy is decrypted by one digit. Do. In addition, when the position information corresponding to the position G01 is decrypted with the key K02, the providing apparatus 100 encodes the original position information so that the information indicating the accuracy is decrypted by two digits. Do. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the providing device 100 can make the accuracy of the provided position information different for each provider who uses the position information.

  Note that the example illustrated in FIG. 2 is merely an example, and the providing apparatus 100 is not limited to the accuracy of indicating the position, and can adjust various information obtained by the business operator when decrypted.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment acquires user position information. The providing apparatus 100 issues a plurality of keys for decrypting the acquired position information. Further, when the providing apparatus 100 receives a request for using position information together with any of a plurality of issued keys, the providing apparatus 100 requests post-decryption position information that is position information decrypted according to the presented key. Provide to the original.

  That is, when the position information is decrypted, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment issues a plurality of keys for performing decryption so that each position information is different, and decrypts in accordance with the issued key. Provides information about the location of the location. As a result, the providing apparatus 100 can provide location information suitable for the purpose and authority of the business operator who uses the location information, and can appropriately manage the use of the location information.

  In the example of FIG. 1 described above, the providing apparatus 100 indicates that the position information detected by the user terminal 10 is acquired from the user terminal 10. However, the providing device 100 may acquire the position information by crawling the user terminal 10 at predetermined time intervals without depending on the transmission from the user terminal 10. The providing apparatus 100 does not necessarily acquire the position information detected by the user terminal 10 itself, but estimates the position of the user terminal 10 based on information detected by the providing apparatus 100 from the user terminal 10, and the estimated information May be the position information of the user terminal 10. Hereinafter, the providing apparatus 100 that executes the providing process according to the above-described embodiment and the providing system 1 including the providing apparatus 100 will be described in detail.

[2. Configuration of Provision System]
Next, the configuration of the provision system 1 including the provision device 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the providing system 1 according to the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the provision system 1 according to the embodiment includes the user terminal 10, the service terminal 20, and the provision device 100. These various devices are communicably connected via a network N by wire or wireless. Further, the number of devices included in the provision system 1 shown in FIG. 3 is not limited to that shown in the drawings. For example, the providing system 1 may include a plurality of user terminals 10 and service terminals 20.

  As described above, the user terminal 10 is an information processing terminal such as a mobile phone including a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a desktop PC (Personal Computer), a notebook PC, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The user terminal 10 also includes a wearable device which is an information processing terminal of glasses or watch type. Furthermore, the user terminal 10 may include various smart devices having an information processing function for acquiring position information. For example, the user terminal 10 may include a smart home appliance such as a TV (television), a refrigerator, and a vacuum cleaner, a smart vehicle such as an automobile, a drone, and a home robot.

  The user terminal 10 acquires and stores the position information of the own device according to the operation by the user and the function of the user terminal 10. For example, the user terminal 10 acquires position information by communicating with an external system such as the GPS system described above. Then, the user terminal 10 transmits the acquired position information to the providing apparatus 100.

  The service terminal 20 is a terminal device used by a provider that provides various services using location information. For example, the business operator using the service terminal 20 provides the user with a disaster information transmission service that provides disaster information and various alarm information, a navigation service that transmits traffic guidance and the like, and a game that uses location information. In addition to the above services, the business operator may provide various services. Further, the business operator may be a provider who provides a website related to the service. For example, businesses are related to portal sites, news sites, auction sites, weather forecast sites, shopping sites, finance (stock prices) sites, route search sites, map providing sites, travel sites, restaurant introduction sites, web blogs, etc. Provide web pages containing various information. In the embodiment, a business operator is a concept broadly including a person who carries out a business, and is not limited to a corporation etc., but may be an individual business owner or an organization having a legal personality.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 issues a plurality of keys for decrypting position information, and is presented when a request for using position information is received together with any of the issued keys. This is a server device that provides post-decryption position information, which is position information decrypted according to a key, to a request source.

[3. Configuration of user terminal]
Next, the configuration of the user terminal 10 according to the embodiment will be described using FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the user terminal 10 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the user terminal 10 includes a communication unit 11, an input unit 12, a display unit 13, a detection unit 14, a storage unit 15, and a control unit 16.

(About communication unit 11)
The communication unit 11 is connected to the network N in a wired or wireless manner, and transmits and receives information to and from the service terminal 20, the providing apparatus 100, and the like. The communication unit 11 is realized by, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card) or the like.

(About the input unit 12 and the display unit 13)
The input unit 12 is an input device that receives various operations from the user. For example, the input unit 12 is realized by an operation key or the like provided in the user terminal 10. The display unit 13 is a display device for displaying various information. For example, the display unit 13 is realized by a liquid crystal display or the like. In addition, when a touch panel is employ | adopted for the user terminal 10, a part of input part 12 and the display part 13 are integrated.

(About the detection unit 14)
The detection unit 14 detects various information related to the user terminal 10. Specifically, the detection unit 14 detects an operation of the user on the user terminal 10, position information where the user terminal 10 is located, information on a device connected to the user terminal 10, an environment in the user terminal 10, and the like. To do. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the detection unit 14 includes an operation detection unit 141, a position detection unit 142, an external device detection unit 143, and an environment detection unit 144.

(About the operation detection unit 141)
The operation detection unit 141 detects an operation of the user on the user terminal 10. For example, the operation detection unit 141 detects the user's operation based on the information input to the input unit 12. That is, the operation detection unit 141 detects an input of an operation for touching the screen to the input unit 12, an input of a voice, or the like. Moreover, the operation detection part 141 may detect that the predetermined application was started by the user. When the application is an application for operating the imaging device in the user terminal 10, the operation detection unit 141 detects that the imaging function is used by the user. In addition, the operation detection unit 141 may detect an operation that the user terminal 10 itself is moved based on data detected by an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like provided in the user terminal 10.

(About the position detection unit 142)
The position detection unit 142 detects the current position of the user terminal 10. Specifically, the position detection unit 142 receives radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites, and detects a position (for example, latitude and longitude) indicating the current position of the user terminal 10 based on the received radio waves.

  The position detection unit 142 can detect the position by various methods. For example, the position detection unit 142 may detect the position by using various communication functions of the user terminal 10 as well as the GPS satellite.

  For example, the position detection unit 142 detects the position of the user terminal 10 using the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication function of the user terminal 10 or the communication network provided by each communication company. Specifically, the position detection unit 142 detects the position of the own device by performing Wi-Fi communication or the like and measuring the distance to a nearby base station or access point.

  In addition, the position detection unit 142 may detect the position using the Bluetooth (registered trademark) function of the user terminal 10. For example, the position detection unit 142 detects the position of the own device by connecting to a beacon transmitter connected by the Bluetooth function.

  Further, the position detection unit 142 may detect the position of the own apparatus using a PDR (Pedestrian Dead Reckoning) technique using an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like. In addition, the position detection unit 142 may detect the position of the self device based on the geomagnetic pattern of the structure measured in advance and the geomagnetic sensor provided in the self device.

  Also, for example, when the user terminal 10 has a function equivalent to a noncontact IC card used in a station ticket gate or a store (or the user terminal 10 has a function of reading the history of the noncontact IC card) And the position where it was used is recorded together with the information on which the settlement of the boarding fare at the station was performed by the user terminal 10). The position detection unit 142 may detect the position of the user terminal 10 by acquiring such information. Further, the position may be detected by an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, or the like included in the user terminal 10.

  The position detection unit 142 detects the position of the own device using one or a combination of the above-described methods. And the acquisition part 161 mentioned later acquires the positional information on the user terminal 10 based on the information of the position detected by the position detection part 142, and the detected time.

(About the external device detection unit 143)
The external device detection unit 143 detects an external device connected to the user terminal 10. For example, the external device detection unit 143 detects the external device based on the exchange of communication packets with the external device. Then, the external device detection unit 143 recognizes the detected external device as a terminal connected to the user terminal 10. The external device detection unit 143 may detect the type of connection with the external device. For example, the external device detection unit 143 detects whether the external device is connected to the external device by wire or wireless communication. Further, the external device detection unit 143 may detect a communication method used in wireless communication. The external device detection unit 143 may detect the external device based on information acquired by a radio wave sensor that detects a radio wave emitted by the external device, an electromagnetic wave sensor that detects an electromagnetic wave, or the like.

(About the environment detection unit 144)
The environment detection unit 144 detects information related to the surrounding environment of the user terminal 10. The environment detection unit 144 detects information on the environment using various sensors and functions provided in the user terminal 10. For example, the environment detection unit 144 is a microphone that collects sounds around the user terminal 10, an illuminance sensor that detects illuminance around the user terminal 10, and an acceleration sensor that detects physical movement of the user terminal 10 (or , A gyro sensor, etc.), a humidity sensor that detects the humidity around the user terminal 10, a geomagnetic sensor that detects a magnetic field at the location of the user terminal 10, and the like. And the environment detection part 144 detects various information using various sensors. For example, the environment detection unit 144 detects a noise level around the user terminal 10, and whether the ambient around the user terminal 10 is an illuminance suitable for imaging. Further, the environment detection unit 144 may detect surrounding environment information based on a photograph or video taken by the camera.

(Regarding storage unit 15)
The storage unit 15 stores various information. The storage unit 15 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory device such as a random access memory (RAM) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. For example, the storage unit 15 stores various types of information detected by the detection unit 14 in association with the detected date and time. Specifically, the storage unit 15 stores position information based on the position detected by the position detection unit 142.

(About the control unit 16)
The control unit 16 is, for example, a controller, and various programs stored in a storage device inside the user terminal 10 are processed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or the like using the RAM as a work area. It is realized by being executed. The control unit 16 is a controller, and is realized by, for example, an integrated circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

  The control unit 16 controls processing for providing the providing apparatus 100 with the location information of the user terminal 10. For example, the control unit 16 executes and controls a program (application) for realizing the location information providing process of the user terminal 10. The program may be downloaded and executed on the user terminal 10 by accessing the providing device 100, or a server device (providing device 100 or an external server that provides various programs according to an operation by the user U01 having the user terminal 10) ) May be downloaded and installed in the user terminal 10.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the control unit 16 includes an acquisition unit 161, a reception unit 162, and a transmission unit 163, and implements or executes the function and action of the information processing described below. For example, the control unit 16 implements the functions and operations of information processing described below by executing the above-described program using the RAM as a work area. The internal configuration of the control unit 16 is not limited to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4, and may be another configuration as long as the information processing described later is performed. Further, the connection relationship between the processing units included in the control unit 16 is not limited to the connection relationship illustrated in FIG. 4, and may be another connection relationship.

(About acquisition unit 161)
The acquisition unit 161 acquires various types of information. For example, the acquisition unit 161 acquires various types of information detected by the detection unit 14 by controlling the detection unit 14. For example, the acquisition unit 161 acquires the position information of the user terminal 10 based on the information detected by the position detection unit 142. In addition, the acquisition part 161 may acquire the information regarding the context of the user terminal 10 including not only position information but various sensor information, such as information regarding the environment around the user terminal 10.

  The acquisition unit 161 may acquire position information every predetermined time. For example, the acquisition unit 161 acquires position information by controlling the above-described detection unit 14 periodically (every one minute, every three minutes, every five minutes, etc.). Note that the timing at which the acquisition unit 161 acquires the position information may be set by the providing apparatus 100.

(About the receiver 162)
The receiving unit 162 receives various information. For example, the receiving unit 162 receives a request for position information transmitted from the providing device 100. The receiving unit 162 sends the received information to each processing unit of the control unit 16.

(About transmitter 163)
The transmission unit 163 transmits various information. For example, the transmitting unit 163 transmits the position information to the providing device 100 in accordance with the request received by the receiving unit 162.

  For example, the transmission unit 163 associates identification information for identifying a user with the position information acquired by the acquisition unit 161, and transmits the identification information to the providing apparatus 100. At this time, the transmission unit 163 may transmit the position information every time the acquisition unit 161 acquires the position information, or may transmit the position information every predetermined period. For example, even if the transmission unit 163 acquires the position information by the acquisition unit 161 on a regular basis (every minute, every three minutes, every five minutes, every hour, etc.), The position information may be transmitted to the providing apparatus 100 or the like. In addition, the timing at which the transmission unit 163 transmits the position information may be set by the providing apparatus 100 or the like.

[4. Configuration of Providing Device]
Next, the configuration of the providing device 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the providing device 100 includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a control unit 130. The providing device 100 includes an input unit (for example, a keyboard and a mouse) that receives various operations from an administrator who uses the providing device 100, and a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) for displaying various types of information. You may have.

(About the communication unit 110)
The communication unit 110 is realized by a NIC or the like, for example. The communication unit 110 is connected to the network N by wire or wireless, and transmits and receives information to and from the user terminal 10, the service terminal 20, and the like via the network N.

(About the storage unit 120)
The storage unit 120 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory device such as a RAM or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 120 includes a user information storage unit 121, a position information storage unit 122, and a key information storage unit 123.

(About the user information storage unit 121)
The user information storage unit 121 stores information about the user. Here, FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the user information storage unit 121 according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user information storage unit 121 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the user information storage unit 121 has items such as “user ID”, “terminal ID”, “attribute information”, “interest interest information”, and “action history information”.

  “User ID” indicates identification information for identifying a user. In the present specification, identification information as shown in FIG. 6 may be used as a reference code. For example, the user identified by the user ID "U01" may be described as "user U01". “Terminal ID” indicates identification information for identifying the user terminal 10 used by the user. Each user may own a plurality of terminals.

  “Attribute information” indicates information related to user attributes. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the attribute information is described by the concept of "D01", but in actuality, the item of the attribute information includes the age, sex, occupation, annual income, residence, etc. of the user. Various specific information is stored.

  “Interest / interest information” indicates information related to an object of interest of the user. Although in FIG. 6 the interest information is represented by a concept such as "E01", in reality, the item of the interest information is set by the providing apparatus 100 to the user through the use of various services. Interest interest information (a category or an object assumed to be of interest to the user from the user's purchase history or search history) is stored.

  “Behavior history information” indicates a user's behavior history in a service on the network. In FIG. 6, the action history information is represented by the concept of “F01”. Actually, however, the action history information item includes the provider 100 (or the service provider using the service terminal 20) via the network N. The user's behavior history (browsing history of a web page, purchase history of a product, search history, etc.) in various services provided from (1) is stored.

  That is, in FIG. 6, as an example of data stored in user information storage unit 121, user U01 indicated by user ID "U01" is using user terminal 10 identified by terminal ID "C01". Is shown. Further, the attribute information of the user U01 is “D01”, the interest information is “E01”, and the action history information is “F01”.

(About the position information storage unit 122)
The position information storage unit 122 stores user position information. Here, FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the position information storage unit 122 according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the position information storage unit 122 according to the embodiment. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the position information storage unit 122 has items such as “user ID” and “position information”. Further, the item of “position information” has small items such as “position information ID”, “acquisition date and time”, “position”, “accuracy”, and “various sensor information”.

  The “user ID” corresponds to the same item shown in FIG. “Position information” indicates position information acquired through a service provided by the providing apparatus 100. Note that the position information may be appropriately encoded when stored in the position information storage unit 122.

  “Position information ID” indicates identification information for identifying position information. The “acquisition date and time” indicates the date and time when the position is detected (acquired) by the user terminal 10. “Position” indicates a specific position of the user (in other words, the user terminal 10). In FIG. 7, the position is described by the concept of "G01", but in actuality, specific information (for example, numerical values of longitude and latitude, etc.) indicating the position of the user is stored in the item of position. .

  “Precision” indicates the accuracy of the information indicating the position of the user. In the embodiment, it is assumed that the accuracy is shown in three stages, for example, “low”, “medium”, and “high”. The accuracy is stored, for example, according to the accuracy with which the position of the user can be specified based on the detection means when the position is detected by the user terminal 10. Specifically, in the case of a detection unit (for example, when the detection unit is only GPS) in which an error of several tens of meters to several hundreds of meters occurs when specifying the position of the user, the acquired position information The accuracy is “low”. In addition, in the case of detection means with high precision compared to position information with low accuracy (for example, when the detection means is a combination of Wi-Fi, GPS, etc.), the acquired position information The accuracy of is “medium”. In addition, in the case of a detection means with high accuracy compared to the position information whose accuracy is “medium” (for example, when the detection means uses Bluetooth (beacon)), the accuracy of the acquired position information Becomes “high”. Note that the accuracy determination described above is merely an example, and the providing apparatus 100 may flexibly correct the accuracy determination criterion according to the position information detection technique.

  “Various sensor information” indicates information detected by various sensors when a position is detected. In FIG. 7, various sensor information is described with the concept of "X01", but in actuality, specific information acquired by various sensors such as air temperature and humidity is stored in the item of various sensor information The

  That is, in FIG. 7, as an example of data stored in position information storage unit 122, position information identified by position information ID “B01” or the like as position information of user U01 identified by user ID “U01” Indicates that it is remembered. The position information B01 indicates that the user U01 is located at the position "G01" at the acquisition date "T01", the accuracy of the position is "high", and the various sensor information is "X01".

(About the key information storage unit 123)
The key information storage unit 123 stores information on the key issued by the providing device 100. Here, FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the key information storage unit 123 according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the key information storage unit 123 according to the embodiment. In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the key information storage unit 123 has items such as “key ID”, “person to be issued”, and “degree of decryption”.

  “Key ID” indicates identification information that identifies a key. “Issuance target person” indicates a business entity to which the issued key is distributed. “Decryption degree” indicates the degree at which the key decrypts the position information. In FIG. 8, the degree of decoding is represented by the concept of “H01”, but in reality, the item of degree of decoding is provided to the provider together with the accuracy of the position when the position information is decoded and the position information. Various setting information such as the degree of various information (for example, each sensor information detected together with the position, user attribute information, interest information, etc.) is stored.

  That is, in FIG. 8, as an example of the data stored in key information storage unit 123, the key K01 identified by the key ID "K01" is that the person to be issued is "(operator) P01" etc. The degree indicates "H01".

(About the control unit 130)
The control unit 130 is, for example, a controller, and various programs (corresponding to an example of a provided program) stored in a storage device in the providing device 100 are executed by using a RAM as a work area by a CPU or an MPU. To be realized. The control unit 130 is a controller, and is realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or FPGA, for example.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the control unit 130 includes an acquisition unit 131, an issuance unit 132, a reception unit 133, and a provision unit 134, and implements or executes the function and action of the information processing described below. . Note that the internal configuration of the control unit 130 is not limited to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 5, and may be another configuration as long as information processing described later is performed. Moreover, the connection relation of each processing unit included in the control unit 130 is not limited to the connection relation illustrated in FIG. 5, and may be another connection relation.

(About acquisition unit 131)
The acquisition unit 131 acquires various types of information. For example, the acquisition unit 131 acquires, from the user, position information including information indicating the position of the user. Specifically, the acquisition unit 131 acquires various information detected or acquired by the user terminal 10 as the position information. The acquisition unit 131 acquires position information from the user terminal 10 at predetermined time intervals, and stores the acquired position information in the position information storage unit 122.

  In addition, the acquisition unit 131 acquires the accuracy with which the position is detected in the acquired position information. As described above, the user terminal 10 detects the position using various functions (acquisition means). And generally, the information which shows a user's position differs in precision with the function used for detection. For example, in the case of detecting the position of the user by GPS, the case of detecting the position of the user by using the communication function by Wi-Fi, and the case of detecting the position of the user by using the communication function by beacon, The accuracy of specifying the position is different. For example, when detecting the position of the user using the communication function by beacon, it is possible to specify the position of the user with an accuracy of several meters, such as where in the building the user is located. On the other hand, when detecting the position of the user by GPS, it is difficult to specify the position of the user with an accuracy of several meters, such as where in the building the user is located. In general, the use of highly accurate position information can provide each user with a more personalized service, so the providing apparatus 100 may preferentially acquire highly accurate information.

  For example, when acquiring information on the position from the user terminal 10, the acquiring unit 131 acquires the detection unit when the user terminal 10 detects the position as described above. Then, the acquisition unit 131 acquires, as position information, information in which the position and the detection unit (in other words, the accuracy) are associated. In this case, the acquisition unit 131 may acquire in advance definition information or the like that defines the relationship between the detection unit and the accuracy. Specifically, the acquisition unit 131 acquires definition information that the accuracy of the position information detected using the beacon function is “high” from the administrator of the providing apparatus 100 or the like. And when the acquisition part 131 acquires the information regarding a position and the detection means from the user terminal 10, the information of the precision according to the said detection means is matched with a position, and the matched information is acquired as position information.

  Moreover, the acquisition part 131 may acquire the various information regarding a user with position information. For example, the acquisition unit 131 acquires user attribute information based on information registered by the user in the service to be used. In addition, the acquisition unit 131 may acquire interest information on the user in the service or action history information on the user. The acquisition unit 131 may acquire various pieces of information using various existing technologies (for example, an advertisement distribution technology for distributing advertisements based on user interests and actions). Further, the acquisition unit 131 may acquire position information together with date and time information including day of the week information.

  The acquisition unit 131 may acquire various sensor information (for example, temperature and humidity) detected at the same time when the position is detected from the user terminal 10.

  Further, the acquisition unit 131 may acquire the communication status between the user terminal 10 and another device as the position information. Specifically, the acquisition unit 131 acquires the communication status in which the user terminal 10 is accessing the Internet or the like through the access point. In this case, the acquisition unit 131 acquires information detected from the communication status with the access point as position information. Specifically, the acquisition unit 131 determines the installation position of the access point in communication with the user terminal 10, and acquires the position information of the user terminal 10 based on the determined installation position of the access point. Good. Note that the acquisition unit 131 may further acquire information such as radio wave intensity between the user terminal 10 and the access point. For example, the acquisition unit 131 may determine that the accuracy of the acquired position information is higher as the radio wave intensity is higher. Further, the acquisition unit 131 may acquire the position of the user terminal 10 by detecting communication between the station ticket gate device and the user terminal 10 or may acquire the position based on the IP address of the user terminal 10. Good.

  In addition, the acquisition unit 131 may not necessarily acquire position information at the same time as the time when the user terminal 10 detected the position. That is, the acquisition unit 131 acquires position information stored in the storage unit of the user terminal 10 as position information when acquiring the position information in real time, instead of acquiring position information in real time. Also good.

(About issue unit 132)
The issuing unit 132 issues a plurality of keys for decrypting the position information acquired by the acquiring unit 131. Specifically, when the acquisition unit 131 acquires position information, the issuance unit 132 issues a plurality of keys for encoding and decoding the position information.

  For example, when the issuance unit 132 receives a request for using position information from a data user (business operator) who uses position information, the issuing unit 132 sends a key corresponding to the authority set for the data user to the data user. Issue. For example, when the position information is decrypted, the issuing unit 132 issues a plurality of keys in which the accuracy of the information indicating the position is different according to the key presented by the request source. The issuing unit 132 stores the issued key in the key information storage unit 123.

(About reception part 133)
The receiving unit 133 receives various requests. For example, the reception unit 133 is a request from the business operator and receives a request regarding use of position information. Then, the accepting unit 133 distributes a key corresponding to the business operator to the business operator in accordance with the use authority of the location information preset in the request source, the contract between the administrator of the providing apparatus 100 and the business operator, or the like.

  In addition, the reception unit 133 receives a request regarding use of position information from a business operator having a key. In this case, the accepting unit 133 sends, to the providing unit 134, identification information for identifying the business operator and information on the presented key.

(About the providing unit 134)
When the providing unit 134 receives a request for using position information together with presentation of any of a plurality of keys issued by the issuing unit 132, the post-decryption position, which is position information decrypted according to the presented key Provide information to requestors.

  For example, the providing unit 134 provides, as post-decryption position information, position information with different precision for specifying the position of the user to the request source according to each of the plurality of keys. For example, the providing unit 134 provides post-decryption position information that can specify the position of a predetermined user within an error of “tens of meters” according to the presented key. Alternatively, according to the presented key, the providing unit 134 provides post-decryption position information which can specify the position of a predetermined user only within the range of an error of several hundred meters. For example, the providing unit 134 performs processing such as that only information up to the number of digits corresponding to the key is decoded so that the accuracy of the information indicating the position can be adjusted when the position information is decoded. Process.

  The providing unit 134 may provide post-decoding position information based on an acquisition unit when the position information is acquired in the user terminal 10 used by a predetermined user. Specifically, the providing unit 134 determines that the position information whose position is acquired by the beacon is higher in accuracy than the position information whose position is acquired by Wi-Fi or GPS. Then, the providing unit 134 provides post-decryption position information including information indicating the position acquired by the beacon according to the presented key. Alternatively, the providing unit 134 provides post-decryption position information including information indicating the position acquired by Wi-Fi or GPS according to the presented key. For example, when the position information is decoded, the providing unit 134 includes information indicating the position acquired by a plurality of acquisition units that can be included in the original position information (the position information includes information acquired by a beacon, , Information obtained via Wi-Fi and information obtained by GPS are included), and the providing process as described above is performed by processing such as only the information of the obtaining means corresponding to the key is decrypted. Do.

  Further, the providing unit 134 may provide position information obtained by adding a predetermined error to the position information of the user as the post-decryption position information to the request source according to each of the plurality of keys. In this case, for example, the issuing unit 132 performs encoding according to a specification in which a predetermined error is added to the position information acquired from the user when decrypted with a predetermined key. Specifically, when the high-authority (high decryption degree) key is presented, the providing unit 134 provides position information with relatively little error to the request source as post-decryption position information. Alternatively, when the low authority key is presented, the providing unit 134 provides, as post-decryption position information, position information to which a relatively large amount of error is added to the request source. The providing unit 134 provides information with an error added by the presented key, thereby providing location information with low accuracy to an operator with low authority. .

  Further, the providing unit 134 provides, as a post-decryption position information, position information obtained by adding position information to be noise when specifying the position of the user to the position information of the user according to each of the plurality of keys. May be. In this case, for example, the issuing unit 132 performs encoding according to a specification in which information on a different position is added as noise to the position information included in the position information acquired from the user when decrypted with a predetermined key. Do. In this case, the operator is provided with position information including a plurality of pieces of information indicating the position of the user at the same time depending on the presented key. With this process, since the accuracy with which the business operator specifies the position of the user is lowered, the providing unit 134 can perform appropriate usage restrictions in accordance with the authority of the business operator.

  In addition, the providing unit 134 may provide the request source with position information that can refer to only a specific geographical range according to each of the plurality of keys as post-decryption position information. In this case, for example, when the location information is decrypted with a key to which a specific geographical range (for example, a prefecture or a municipality) is assigned, the issuing unit 132 sets the geographical range assigned to the key. Coding is performed according to specifications that allow reference to corresponding position information.

  Generally, when providing location information corresponding to a specific geographical range to a business operator, the providing side selects and provides location information corresponding to the geographical range. Specifically, when the business operator desires location information of a user located in “X town”, the provider side extracts the location information acquired in the range of “X town” and provides it to the business operator. It becomes. However, if the providing unit 134 performs the above encoding and decoding, for example, if the key to which “X town” is assigned is distributed to the business entity, processing of the position information itself to be held or The position information corresponding to “X town” can be provided without performing the extraction process. In other words, the providing unit 134 issues a key with a specification that allows only the location information of a predesignated area to be combined, and distributes the issued key to the operator, thereby extracting the location information corresponding to the area. Can be omitted. In addition, since the providing unit 134 can control the provider having the key to which the designated area is assigned, the location information corresponding to other areas can not be used, so that the security of the location information is improved. Can be secured.

  The providing unit 134 may provide the request source with position information obtained by adding the sensor information acquired together with the position information of the user according to each of the plurality of keys as the position information after decryption. For example, based on the presented key, the issuing unit 132 performs encoding using a specification in which not only position information but also sensor information and the like acquired together with the position information is decoded. The providing unit 134 then adds, for example, sensor information (for example, radio wave intensity between the user terminal 10 and the access point, etc.) to the position information when, for example, the issued key is presented to a highly authorized enterpriser. I will provide a. As a result, a highly authorized enterprise can obtain useful information in utilization of the service together with the location information, so that the quality of service can be improved.

  In addition, when information about a base that is a position where the user is regularly located is referred to from the position information of the user acquired by the acquisition unit 131, the providing unit 134 uses each of a plurality of keys as the position information after decryption. Depending on the location information, the location information excluding the information about the base may be provided to the request source.

  In general, in position information, position information that can be estimated by a user's base (for example, information including a change in position of a specific user for one month) is assumed to have high value. For example, the home of the user is estimated based on position information of the continued user in the early morning or night of a weekday. In addition, based on the position information of the user who has continued in the daytime of weekdays, the area where the user travels regularly (for example, the work place of the user) is estimated.

  Therefore, when the authority of the presented key is relatively low, the providing unit 134 may provide position information excluding information that can estimate such a base. Specifically, when the user position information is decoded with a low-authority key, the issuing unit 132 performs encoding so that it is decoded as position information at discrete times instead of position information at continuous times. I do. Then, when receiving a request from the provider, the providing unit 134 provides position information decoded as position information at discrete times instead of position information at continuous times. According to such a process, the business operator who has acquired the post-decryption position information cannot acquire continuous position information (for example, information indicating the position of the user in a certain period of time over a predetermined period). It becomes difficult to estimate.

  On the other hand, depending on the presented key, the providing unit 134 refers to the information on the base as the post-decryption position information when the information on the base, which is the position where the user is routinely located, is referenced from the position information of the user. Location information not excluded may be provided to the request source. By referring to the transition of the position of the user based on the provided position information, the business operator who has obtained the information can estimate the base such as the home or work place of the user. This enables the business operator to provide services more personalized to the user.

  In addition, when information about a base that is a position where the user is regularly located is referred to from the position information of the user acquired by the acquisition unit 131, the providing unit 134 uses each of a plurality of keys as the position information after decryption. According to the above, position information added with position information that is noise when specifying a base may be provided to the request source.

  That is, the providing unit 134 may not provide information by simply excluding information, but may provide post-decoding information mixed with noise that makes it difficult for the user's base to be identified. Also by such processing, the providing unit 134 can manage the appropriate location information because it can prevent the provider having low authority from providing information such as the user's home and work place.

[5. Processing procedure)
Next, the procedure of processing by the providing device 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11. First, with reference to FIG. 9, a procedure of acquisition processing of position information of a user by the providing device 100 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart (1) illustrating a processing procedure according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the providing apparatus 100 determines whether or not position information has been acquired from the user (step S101). When the position information has not been acquired (step S101; No), the providing apparatus 100 waits until acquisition.

  On the other hand, when position information is acquired (step S101; Yes), the providing device 100 encodes the position information in association with a plurality of keys (step S102). Then, the providing apparatus 100 stores the encoded position information and key information in the storage unit 120 (step S103).

  Next, a procedure for key issuance processing by the providing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart (2) illustrating a processing procedure according to the embodiment.

  Providing apparatus 100 determines whether or not a use request for location information has been received from the business operator (step S201). When the usage request is not received (step S201; No), the providing apparatus 100 stands by until it is received.

  On the other hand, when the use request has been received (step S201; Yes), the providing apparatus 100 determines the use authority of the position information of the request source as the use request (step S202). For example, the providing device 100 identifies the business operator based on the business operator ID, and determines the authority to use the location information of the business operator based on the contract content that the business operator contracts with the administrator of the providing device 100, To do.

  The providing apparatus 100 transmits a key corresponding to the usage authority to the request source (step S203). When the providing device 100 receives a use request from a business that does not have the usage right, the providing device 100 may notify that the business has no usage right.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 11, a procedure of position information providing processing by the providing apparatus 100 will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart (3) illustrating the processing procedure according to the embodiment.

  Providing apparatus 100 determines whether or not a request for using location information has been received along with the presentation of the key (step S301). When the usage request is not received with the presentation of the key (step S301; No), the providing apparatus 100 waits until the usage request is received.

  On the other hand, when the use request is received together with the presentation of the key (step S301; Yes), the providing apparatus 100 decrypts the position information according to the key (step S302). Then, the providing apparatus 100 provides the decrypted position information to the request source (step S303).

[6. (Modification)
The providing apparatus 100 described above may be implemented in various different forms other than the above embodiment. Therefore, in the following, a modification of the embodiment will be described.

[6-1. Post-decoding position information]
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the providing apparatus 100 mainly provides post-decoding position information with different position accuracy has been described. However, information provided as post-decoding position information is not limited to information with different precision.

  For example, the providing apparatus 100 may provide location information with different times when the location is acquired to the business operator. For example, the providing apparatus 100 accepts a use request for position information in which the time when the user terminal 10 detects a position is stored for a second. In this case, depending on the presented key, the providing device 100 provides post-decryption position information in which the date and time when the position is detected is unknown or the time information is unknown and only the date is known. May be. That is, the providing apparatus 100 provides post-decoding position information that makes it difficult for the business operator to specify the position where the user is located but to specify when the user is located at the position. As a result, the providing apparatus 100 can appropriately manage the usage mode such that the base information of the user and the detailed position transition cannot be used by a business operator with low authority.

[6-2. Information to be decoded]
In the embodiment described above, when the providing apparatus 100 provides post-decoding position information with different position accuracy, for example, a process of varying the accuracy by adjusting the number of digits of information indicating the position at the time of decoding. explained. Here, the providing apparatus 100 may provide post-decoding position information by different processes.

  For example, it is assumed that information indicating the position of the user is indicated by a 5-digit numerical value. In this case, the providing apparatus 100 does not decrypt the 1st to 3rd digits or the 1st to 4th digits with the key presented by the operator, but only a certain digit. The coding may be performed such that is decoded. Then, the providing apparatus 100 may incorporate information indicating which digit the decrypted numeric value is in the key.

  In this case, the providing apparatus 100 can decrypt the key K11 that can decrypt the first digit and the second digit for the provider that can use the first to fourth digits. A key K12, a key K13 capable of decrypting the third digit value, and a key K14 capable of decrypting the four-digit value are issued. Then, when the keys K11 to K14 are presented, the providing apparatus 100 decrypts the position information as information that can be used by the business operator. On the other hand, when only the key K12 is presented, the providing apparatus 100 decrypts the position information, but only the second digit of the information indicating the position is decrypted. Decode location information as information that can not be used.

  According to this process, for example, the provider can not use the position information unless the provider is presented with a set of keys issued at one time. Therefore, even if a part of the issued set of keys leaks, the acquirer who has obtained the leaked key uses the location information unless it presents the set of issued keys at one time. Can not. As described above, the providing apparatus 100 can provide more secure position information by performing the key issuing process as described above.

[6-3. System configuration〕
In the above-described embodiment, the providing apparatus 100 has shown the processing of receiving the key presentation from the provider and decrypting the position information. Here, the decoding of the position information may be performed by an API (Application Programming Interface) server installed between the business operator and the providing device 100. In this case, the business operator presents the key and executes the API of the API server. The API server acquires location information from the providing device 100 and performs decryption according to the key. Then, the API server returns the post-decryption position information decrypted according to the key to the provider. Thus, the providing device 100 can perform the providing process in which the processing load is distributed.

  Also, the providing device 100 may store, for example, the accumulated position information in an external device (for example, a storage server). Then, each business operator may access the external device in which the position information is stored using the key distributed to each company, and acquire the position information according to the authority corresponding to the key. Thereby, the providing apparatus 100 can reduce the management burden while maintaining the safety of the position information.

[6-4. Base information]
In the embodiment described above, an example in which the user's home or work place is used as the base information is shown, but the base is not limited to the user's home or work place. For example, the providing apparatus 100 may continuously acquire user position information for a predetermined period (for example, one year) and estimate a position that can be estimated from the acquired position information as the user base. For example, the providing device 100 may estimate a store, a travel destination, or the like frequently visited by the user as a base of the user. When the providing device 100 receives a low-privileged key, the providing device 100 does not use the location information (location information acquired continuously over several days) of the user's behavior and the characteristics of the user, Information indicating discrete positions (position information indicating positions every several hours or every several days) may be provided.

[6-5. location information〕
In the above embodiment, it has been described that the position information is acquired from GPS information acquired by the user terminal 10, an access point or the like. However, the providing device 100 may acquire the position information of the user terminal 10 from different information.

  For example, the providing device 100 may acquire the position information of the user terminal 10 based on the history in which the user has used various services. Specifically, the providing apparatus 100 estimates a station frequently input from the user terminal 10 in the route search service as the nearest station of the user. Then, the providing apparatus 100 may acquire a predetermined range including the nearest station as an area where the user terminal 10 is located. According to such processing, the providing apparatus 100 can acquire the position information of the user terminal 10 even when the user terminal 10 does not have a function of acquiring position information.

[6-6. Configuration of user terminal]
In the above embodiment, the configuration example of the user terminal 10 has been described with reference to FIG. However, the user terminal 10 does not necessarily need to include all the processing units illustrated in FIG. 4. For example, the user terminal 10 may not necessarily include the display unit 13 or the detection unit 14. The user terminal 10 may be separated into two or more devices, and the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4 may be realized. For example, the user terminal 10 may be realized by two or more devices having a configuration in which a detection device having at least a detection unit 14 and an acquisition unit 161 and a communication device having at least a communication unit 11 are separated. .

[7. Hardware configuration)
The providing apparatus 100, the user terminal 10, and the service terminal 20 according to the embodiment described above are realized by, for example, a computer 1000 configured as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the providing device 100 will be described as an example. FIG. 12 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer 1000 for realizing the functions of the providing device 100. The computer 1000 includes a CPU 1100, a RAM 1200, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1300, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 1400, a communication interface (I / F) 1500, an input / output interface (I / F) 1600, and a media interface (I / F). ) 1700.

  The CPU 1100 operates based on a program stored in the ROM 1300 or the HDD 1400 and controls each unit. The ROM 1300 stores a boot program executed by the CPU 1100 when the computer 1000 starts up, a program depending on the hardware of the computer 1000, and the like.

  The HDD 1400 stores programs executed by the CPU 1100, data used by the programs, and the like. The communication interface 1500 receives data from other devices via the communication network 500 (corresponding to the network N shown in FIG. 3), sends the data to the CPU 1100, and transmits the data generated by the CPU 1100 to the other devices via the communication network 500. Send to device.

  The CPU 1100 controls an output device such as a display and a printer and an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse via the input / output interface 1600. The CPU 1100 acquires data from the input device via the input / output interface 1600. The CPU 1100 also outputs the generated data to the output device via the input / output interface 1600.

  The media interface 1700 reads a program or data stored in the recording medium 1800 and provides it to the CPU 1100 via the RAM 1200. The CPU 1100 loads such a program from the recording medium 1800 onto the RAM 1200 via the media interface 1700, and executes the loaded program. The recording medium 1800 is, for example, an optical recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or PD (Phase change rewritable disk), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. Etc.

  For example, when the computer 1000 functions as the providing device 100 according to the embodiment, the CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 realizes the function of the control unit 130 by executing the program loaded on the RAM 1200. The HDD 1400 stores data in the storage unit 120. The CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 reads these programs from the recording medium 1800 and executes them, but as another example, these programs may be acquired from the other device via the communication network 500.

[8. Others]
Further, among the processes described in the above embodiment, all or part of the process described as being automatically performed may be manually performed, or the process described as being manually performed. All or part of them can be performed automatically by known methods. In addition, information including processing procedures, specific names, various data and parameters shown in the above-mentioned documents and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified. For example, the various information shown in each figure is not limited to the illustrated information.

  Further, each component of each illustrated apparatus is functionally conceptual, and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the specific form of distribution / integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or a part thereof may be functionally or physically distributed or arbitrarily distributed in arbitrary units according to various loads or usage conditions. It can be integrated and configured. For example, the acquisition unit 131 and the issue unit 132 illustrated in FIG. 5 may be integrated. Also, for example, the information stored in the storage unit 120 may be stored in an externally provided storage device via the network N.

  Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the providing device 100 performs an acquisition process for acquiring the position information of the user terminal 10 and a providing process for controlling the provision of the position information has been described. However, the providing device 100 described above may be separated into an obtaining device that performs an obtaining process and a providing device that performs a providing process. In this case, the acquisition device has at least an acquisition unit 131. The providing device has at least a providing unit 134. Moreover, the process by the provision apparatus 100 which concerns on embodiment is implement | achieved by the provision system 1 containing each apparatus called an acquisition apparatus and a provision apparatus.

  In addition, the above-described embodiments and modifications can be combined as appropriate within a range that does not contradict processing contents.

[9. effect〕
As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment includes the acquiring unit 131, the issuing unit 132, and the providing unit 134. The acquisition unit 131 acquires user position information. The issuing unit 132 issues a plurality of keys for decrypting the position information acquired by the acquiring unit 131. When the providing unit 134 receives a request for using position information together with presentation of any of a plurality of keys issued by the issuing unit 132, the post-decryption position, which is position information decrypted according to the presented key Provide information to the requester.

  As described above, the provider 100 according to the embodiment issues a plurality of keys for decrypting different information, and provides decryption location information according to the key, thereby enabling the provider of the location information to be used. It can provide location information suitable for the purpose and usage authority. As a result, the providing apparatus 100 can appropriately manage the use of position information.

  In addition, when the issuance unit 132 receives a request for using position information from a data user who uses position information, the issuance unit 132 issues a key according to the authority set for the data user to the data user. .

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment can centrally manage the use of location information of a business operator (data user) by issuing a key corresponding to the business authority of the business operator.

  Further, the providing unit 134 provides, as post-decryption position information, position information with different accuracy for specifying the position of the user to the request source according to each of the plurality of keys.

  As described above, the providing device 100 according to the embodiment can manage the use of appropriate position information according to the provider by providing the decoded position information with the accuracy according to the key.

  The providing unit 134 provides position information obtained by adding a predetermined error to the position information of the user according to each of the plurality of keys as the position information after decryption.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment can manage the use of appropriate position information according to the provider by providing the position information with an error according to the key.

  Further, the providing unit 134 uses, as a request source, position information obtained by adding position information that becomes noise when specifying the position of the user to the position information of the user, as position information after decryption, according to each of a plurality of keys provide.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment manages the use of appropriate location information according to the provider by providing the location information to which the location information that becomes noise is added according to the key. Can.

  Further, the providing unit 134 provides only the position information indicating the position belonging to a specific geographical range to the request source as the post-decryption position information according to each of the plurality of keys.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment can perform appropriate access control on the position information by providing only the position information corresponding to the specific area according to the key.

  Further, the providing unit 134 provides position information obtained by adding the sensor information acquired together with the position information of the user to the request source as the position information after decryption according to each of the plurality of keys.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment can appropriately provide information according to the business operator by adjusting the information amount and type of the sensor information acquired together with the position information according to the key. it can.

  In addition, when the providing unit 134 refers to the information related to the base that is the position where the user is routinely located from the position information of the user acquired by the acquiring unit 131, each of the plurality of keys is used as post-decryption position information. In accordance with the above, the location information excluding the information on the site is provided to the request source.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment can restrict the use of the base information of the business operator by providing the position information from which the base information is excluded according to the key. In addition, the providing device 100 can meet the needs of users who do not want their business people to know their home or work place.

  In addition, when the providing unit 134 refers to the information related to the base that is the position where the user is routinely located from the position information of the user acquired by the acquiring unit 131, each of the plurality of keys is used as post-decryption position information. In accordance with the above, the position information to which the position information that becomes noise when specifying the base is added is provided to the request source.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment may restrict the use of the base information of the provider by adding noise to the information used for estimating the base information. Also by this process, the providing device 100 can manage the use of appropriate position information.

  As described above, some of the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, these are merely examples, and various modifications, including the aspects described in the disclosure section of the invention, based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, It is possible to implement the present invention in other forms with improvements.

  In addition, the "section (module, unit)" described above can be read as "means" or "circuit". For example, the acquisition unit can be read as acquisition means or an acquisition circuit.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Provision system 10 User terminal 20 Service terminal 100 Provision apparatus 110 Communication part 120 Storage part 121 User information storage part 122 Location information storage part 123 Key information storage part 130 Control part 131 Acquisition part 132 Issuing part 133 Reception part 134 Provision part

Claims (11)

An acquisition unit for acquiring user location information;
An issuing unit that issues a plurality of keys for decrypting the position information acquired by the acquisition unit;
When receiving a request for using the location information together with the presentation of any of a plurality of keys issued by the issuing unit, requesting the decrypted location information, which is location information decrypted according to the presented key And a provider to provide
A providing apparatus characterized by comprising. The issuing unit
When a request for using the position information is received from a data user who uses the position information, a key corresponding to the authority set for the data user is issued to the data user.
The providing device according to claim 1. The providing unit is
Providing the request source with position information having different precisions for specifying the position of the user as the post-decryption position information according to each of the plurality of keys.
The providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The providing unit is
As the post-decryption position information, position information obtained by adding a predetermined error to the position information of the user according to each of the plurality of keys is provided to the request source.
The providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The providing unit is
As the post-decryption position information, according to each of the plurality of keys, position information obtained by adding position information that becomes noise when specifying the position of the user to the position information of the user is provided to the request source.
The providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The providing unit is
According to each of the plurality of keys, only position information indicating a position belonging to a specific geographical range is provided to the request source as the post-decryption position information.
The providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The providing unit is
The position information to which the sensor information acquired along with the position information of the user is added is provided to the request source as the post-decryption position information according to each of the plurality of keys.
The providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The providing unit is
When information on a base that is a position where the user is regularly located is referred to from the position information of the user acquired by the acquiring unit, as the position information after decryption, according to each of the plurality of keys, Providing the request source with location information excluding information about the site,
The providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The providing unit is
When information on a base that is a position where the user is regularly located is referred to from the position information of the user acquired by the acquiring unit, as the position information after decryption, according to each of the plurality of keys, Providing the request source with position information added with position information that becomes noise when specifying the base,
The providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein A computer implemented method of providing,
An acquisition step of acquiring user location information;
An issuing step of issuing a plurality of keys for decrypting the position information acquired by the acquisition step;
When receiving a request for using the position information together with any one of a plurality of keys issued in the issuing step, requesting the decrypted position information which is position information decrypted according to the presented key Providing process to
Providing method characterized in that. An acquisition procedure for acquiring user location information;
An issue procedure for issuing a plurality of keys for decrypting the position information acquired by the acquisition procedure;
When receiving a request for using the location information together with any of a plurality of keys issued by the issuing procedure, the request source receives post-decryption location information that is location information decrypted according to the presented key. Providing instructions to
A program for causing a computer to execute.

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