JP2019139654A - Provision device, provision method and provision program - Google Patents

Abstract

To appropriately manage the use of positional information.SOLUTION: A provision device comprises an acquisition unit, an acceptance unit and a provision unit. The acquisition unit acquires positional information of a user. The acceptance unit accepts, from a data user who uses the positional information acquired by the acquisition unit, a use request of the positional information and information on an aspect that the data user uses the positional information. The provision unit processes the positional information on the basis of the information on an aspect accepted by the acceptance unit and provides the data user with the processed positional information which has been processed.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 for restricting unauthorized use by information users in information provided via a network or the like have been proposed.

  For example, there is known a technique related to an electronic document management apparatus that can designate an area where no OCR processing result is output when outputting a result of OCR processing of document information to an external apparatus. In addition, in an IC card or the like, there is known a technique for controlling the file memory access mask so that it cannot be accessed unless an appropriate code is written in a passcode register.

JP 2008-102809 A JP-A-6-309529

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, it is not always possible to appropriately manage the use of position information. Specifically, the prior art is a technique related to management of document information and file data held in an IC card, and appropriately manages, for example, use of each user's location information acquired from a user of a mobile terminal. It is not always applicable to do so.

  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 apparatus according to the present application includes an acquisition unit that acquires user position information, and a data user who uses the position information acquired by the acquisition unit. A reception unit that receives information related to an aspect when using information, and the position information that has been processed with respect to the position information based on the information related to the aspect received by the reception unit. And a providing unit that provides post-processing position information to the data user.

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

  Hereinafter, embodiments for providing a providing apparatus, a providing method, and a providing program according to the present application (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) 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. In addition, the embodiments can be appropriately combined within a range that does not contradict processing contents. In the following embodiments, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[1. Example of provision processing according to embodiment]
First, an example of a providing process according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a providing process according to the embodiment. Specifically, in FIG. 1, when the providing apparatus 100 acquires position information from a user and receives a use request for the position information from a data user who uses the acquired position information, a predetermined process is performed. The example which performs the process which provides the performed position information to a data user is shown.

  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 that uses 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 and the like, and periodically acquires position information from a user who has logged into 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 is, for example, a provider that performs various services using the user's position information (for example, a provider that provides an advertisement distribution service that analyzes a user's action range and distributes an optimal advertisement) , Providing a transfer guidance service that provides the best means of transportation by referring to the station used by the user, a provider that provides an information transmission service that transmits disaster information, and a navigation service that provides traffic guidance In response to a request from a business operator or a business operator that provides a game using location information), the location information is provided to the business operator.

  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, “user U01 transmits location information” may actually mean that “user terminal 10 used by user U01 transmits location 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.

  The service terminal 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a terminal managed by a business operator who uses location information provided by the providing device 100 (hereinafter, a business service provider may be referred to as a “data user”). Device. In FIG. 1, the service terminal 20 is managed by a business operator P01 which is an example of a data user. The data user is not limited to a service provider for general users, and may be, for example, an analyzer or a researcher who analyzes position information.

  In the example of FIG. 1, it is assumed that the business operator P01 is a business operator that analyzes the position information acquired by the providing device 100, identifies the user's action range and the like, and provides an appropriate advertisement delivery service. In the following, the service terminal 20 may be read as an operator. For example, “providing service by the business operator P01” may actually mean “providing the service by the service terminal 20 used by the business operator P01”.

  As described above, the providing device 100 acquires position information from the user, and provides the acquired position information to the business operator P01 and the like. However, since the location information of the user includes personal information, it may not be desirable to provide all the information acquired by the providing apparatus 100. For example, the providing apparatus 100 obtains location information (for example, location information in which the location of the user U01 is specified with an error of several meters) to such an extent that the location of the user U01 such as a home or work location is analyzed. It is not desirable to provide it to operators. On the other hand, there is a need for a business operator who wants to make a push notification at the timing when the user is at home to receive location information for estimating the timing at which the user is at home. That is, it is desirable that provision of user location information is flexibly changed in accordance with a usage mode (for example, service type) of a business operator who uses the location information.

  However, since the location information acquired from the majority of users has a huge amount of information, the location information provider can store the location information acquired from the user in a different database for each service mode or specify the location. In reality, it is difficult to maintain a different database for each 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 apparatus 100 receives information related to an aspect when using position information from a data user, and performs processing on the position information based on the received information related to the aspect, and the processing is performed. Position information (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “post-processing position information”) is provided to the data user. Although details will be described later, for example, noise is added to the position information that does not match the purpose of use of the service, or the position information after processing is processed into position information with a large error. With this configuration, the providing device 100 can provide appropriate position information to the data user according to the usage mode of the data user. Specifically, for example, the providing apparatus 100 may not be able to refer to information such as the user's home or office for data users who do not necessarily require information such as the user's home or office in the service. Groups can be provided. As a result, the providing apparatus 100 manages the location information to be used by the data user in a centralized manner without being held in a different database for each service or business operator, and matches the usage mode of each data user. Appropriate levels of location information can be provided.

  In the embodiment, each business operator uses user identification information (ID) that is common to the user identification information (ID) 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. The position information can be acquired by uniquely specifying. 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 location information of the user U01 to the providing apparatus 100 based on such service settings. For example, the user terminal 10 transmits the location information of the user U01 to the providing apparatus 100 based on the frequency set for the service (every tens of minutes, every few hours, every day, etc.).

  Providing apparatus 100 acquires the position information transmitted from user terminal 10 (step S01). The providing apparatus 100 stores the acquired position information in the storage unit of the own apparatus (step S02). Specifically, the providing apparatus 100 acquires information in which user identification information, information indicating the position of the user U01 (for example, numerical values indicating latitude and longitude), and the date and time when the position is acquired are associated with each other. To do. Providing apparatus 100 can store a series of position information indicating the transition of the position of user U01 by continuously acquiring the position information of user U01.

  Although illustration in FIG. 1 is omitted, it is assumed that the providing apparatus 100 acquires position information from users other than the user U01 regularly and continuously. For example, the providing apparatus 100 acquires, from a user U02 (not shown), information that associates user identification information, information indicating the position of the user U02, and the date and time when the position was acquired.

  In addition, each piece of position information acquired by the providing apparatus 100 may have a different amount of information. Although details will be described later, the position information may differ in accuracy of information indicating the position when the means for acquiring the position in the user terminal 10 is different. For example, there may be a larger amount of information as the position information accurately indicates the position of the user U01 (for example, position information with less error in specifying the position of the user U01). Specifically, when the position information is indicated by a predetermined numerical value corresponding to longitude and latitude (for example, longitude and latitude coordinates), the greater the number of digits after the decimal point, the greater the amount of information, and the position It can be said that the accuracy shown is high.

  Thereafter, at an arbitrary timing, the business operator P01 who is a data user accesses the providing apparatus 100 in order to use the position information held by the providing apparatus 100. Specifically, the business operator P01 requests the providing device 100 to use the location information via the service terminal 20 (step S03).

  At this time, the business operator P01 transmits to the providing apparatus 100 information on the usage mode of the location information together with the usage request. The information regarding the usage mode of the location information is information indicating the type of service provided by the business operator P01, the purpose of use of the location information used by the business operator P01, and the like.

  Providing apparatus 100, when receiving a request for using location information, performs predetermined processing on the provided location information before providing location information to business operator P01. Specifically, the providing apparatus 100 processes the position information according to the mode of use of the position information data (step S04).

  For example, when the data usage mode of the business operator P01 is “a service for analyzing the user's action range”, the providing apparatus 100 performs the location information provided to the business operator P01 with respect to the home or work place of the user U01. The post-processing position information is generated by adding noise to the position information indicating the position. This is because, if the data usage mode of the business operator P01 is “analysis of the user's action range”, information indicating the base of the user U01 such as home or work is not essential. This is to prevent the business operator P01 from referring to the information indicating the base.

  Alternatively, when the data usage mode of the business operator P01 is “a service that uses information related to a user's station transfer”, the providing device 100 determines the location information provided to the business operator P01 other than the vicinity of the station. The post-processing position information is generated by adding an error to the position information indicating the geographical range. This is because if the data usage mode of the business operator P01 is “use of information regarding transfer of user's station”, location information other than the station assumed to be used by the user U01 is not essential. This is to prevent the business operator P01 from effectively using information other than the position information indicating the geographical range around the station among the position information indicating the location.

  As described above, the providing device 100 processes the position information according to the usage mode and provides the processed position information to the business operator P01 (step S05).

  Here, an example of post-processing position information provided by the providing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram (1) illustrating the providing process according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 conceptually shows an example of post-processing position information.

  FIG. 2A conceptually plots position information indicating the position where the user U01 is located at a predetermined time. The position information includes time information when the position is measured by the user terminal 10 and information indicating the position. As an example, the position information B01 in FIG. 2A is information including “time T01” and “position G01”. Although illustration is omitted, the other position information corresponding to each point plotted in FIG. 2A also has different times and positions. When the location information is acquired by the user terminal 10 at predetermined time intervals (for example, every 15 minutes), generally, the bases assumed to be the home or work place of the user U01 (in the example of FIG. 2, the region A01 and the region A11) A relatively large number of points are plotted. In addition, relatively few points are plotted in the geographical range between the user U01's home and work place as compared with the vicinity of the base assumed to be the user U01's home and work place. According to a known technique and predetermined definition information, the providing apparatus 100 and the service terminal 20 can refer to the home and base of the user U01 according to the distribution of such points (that is, position information). For example, the providing apparatus 100 and the service terminal 20 can estimate the range where the distribution of position information in the early morning or late night is concentrated as the home of the user U01. Further, the providing device 100 and the service terminal 20 can estimate the range where the distribution of location information during weekdays is concentrated as the work place of the user U01.

  That is, when the providing apparatus 100 provides all of the location information of the user U01 to the business operator P01 as it is, the business operator P01 can refer to the home and work place of the user U01. For this reason, the providing apparatus 100 performs predetermined processing on the position information according to the service provided by the business operator P01.

  For example, the providing apparatus 100 adds predetermined noise to the position information of the user U01 (Step S11). FIG. 2B conceptually shows post-processing position information generated by providing device 100 adding noise to the position information.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (b), the providing apparatus 100 has a geographical range other than the area A01 and the area A11 including the home and work place (for example, the commuting route of the user U01 between the home and work place). Dummy position information is generated as noise. For example, when the provider P01 analyzes the location information of the user U01, the providing apparatus 100 generates noise so that it cannot be analyzed in which range the user U01 is frequently located. In FIG. 2B, the providing apparatus 100 generates position information including “time T11” and “position G11” as noise. In this case, the time T11 may be a randomly set time. Further, the position G11 may be, for example, a position (for example, coordinates indicating latitude and longitude) randomly extracted from a predetermined range between the area A01 and the area A11. As a result, the business operator P01 can grasp the outline of the action range of the user U01 (for example, the living area of the user U01) based on the post-processing position information provided from the providing device 100, but at home or at work. It becomes difficult to refer to the previous base.

  The providing apparatus 100 may perform predetermined processing on the date and time when the position information is acquired at the same time as generating noise. For example, the providing apparatus 100 may process position information indicating early morning or position information indicating midnight among position information actually acquired from the user U01 into position information indicating different time zones other than early morning or midnight. . This process also makes it difficult for the business operator P01 to follow the transition of the position of the user U01 over time, and thus it is difficult to estimate the home and work place of the user U01.

  Next, another example of the providing process according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram (2) illustrating the providing process according to the embodiment.

  FIG. 3A conceptually plots position information indicating the position where the user U01 is located at a predetermined time, as in FIG. 2A. In FIG. 3A, points indicating that the user U01 is located are plotted in the area A01 including the home of the user U01, the area A21 including the station used by the user U01, and the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, it is assumed that predetermined position information B21 (including information of time T21 and position G21) is plotted in a range other than the area A21.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the providing apparatus 100 processes the information other than the predetermined range into position information with a large error according to the mode transmitted from the business operator P01 (step S21). As described above, the position information is indicated by numerical values indicating latitude and longitude. That is, the position information includes a predetermined error, and the level of the error can be said to be the accuracy of the position information. For example, each point (position information) shown in FIG. 3A is assumed to have an error in the range of several tens of meters. In other words, each point shown in FIG. 3A can specify the location of the user U01 within a range of several tens of meters.

  In the example of FIG. 3, it is assumed that the business operator P01 desires to refer to information regarding a station used by the user U01. In this case, the providing apparatus 100 determines the position information included in the area A21 including the station and the position information included in the other range (position information in the example of FIG. 3A) according to the usage mode of the operator P01. B21) is processed to be different from the error.

  In FIG. 3B, the providing apparatus 100 generates position information (added error) to the position information belonging to a range other than the area A21 compared with the position information belonging to the area A21. (Location information) is conceptually shown. For example, the providing apparatus 100 generates the position information B31 by adding the error of the position information B21 illustrated in FIG. The position information B31 is obtained by changing the position G21 to the position G31, although the time T21 does not change with respect to the position information B21. Assume that the position G31 is, for example, information with low accuracy for specifying the position of the user U01 compared to the position G21 (for example, the number of digits after the decimal point of the numerical value indicating the coordinates is small).

  As shown in FIG. 3B, in the position information B31 to which an error is added, the range for specifying the user U01 is wider than the points included in the region A21. This means that the accuracy of specifying the position where the user U01 is located is low. For example, the providing apparatus 100 uses the position information B21 before processing to specify the position of the user U01 within a range of several tens of meters, and the position information of the user U01 within a range of several hundreds or thousands of meters. Is processed into position information B31 that can be specified. As described above, the providing apparatus 100 can reduce the accuracy of indicating the position of the user U01 by deleting, for example, several digits after the decimal point of the numerical value indicating the position in the position information B21.

  In this way, the providing apparatus 100 processes the position information B21 that belongs outside the range desired by the business operator P01 (the area A21 including the station in the example of FIG. 3) into the position information B31 that is position information with a large error. This makes it difficult for the business operator P01 to perform various analyzes using information other than the position information acquired when the user U01 uses the station. Thereby, the providing apparatus 100 can appropriately provide only the information required by the business operator P01.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment acquires position information of the user U <b> 01 and the like from the business operator P <b> 01 that uses the acquired position information. Along with the usage request, the information regarding the mode when the business operator P01 uses the location information is received. Then, the providing apparatus 100 performs processing on the position information based on the information related to the received mode, and provides post-processing position information that is the processed position information to the business operator P01.

  In other words, when providing the position information held by itself, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment provides post-processing position information processed according to the usage mode. Accordingly, the providing apparatus 100 can provide location information suitable for the purpose of the business operator who uses the location information and the type of service, and thus can appropriately manage the use of the location information.

  Specifically, the providing apparatus 100 improves the safety related to the use and provision of position information by performing processing in accordance with the content desired by the data user for analysis. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the providing device 100 is a data user other than the data user who transmitted the data use request by adding noise to the position information acquired by the user terminal 10 other than at home or work. Even if it is viewed by a third party, the data is processed so that it cannot be analyzed. As an example, it is assumed that the data user makes a request to the providing apparatus 100 “I want to know places (stores, etc.) that the user frequently visits from 9 pm to 11 pm”. In this case, for example, the providing apparatus 100 may perform a process of adding noise to the position information of all other time zones without processing the position information acquired from “9 pm to 11:00 pm”. . In this case, even if the third party acquires the post-processing position information, “only the position information acquired from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm is accurate information, and other information is noise”. Since it cannot be known, it is impossible to analyze the transition of the position of the user. On the other hand, the data user who made the request extracts the position information acquired from “9 pm to 11:00 pm” from the processed position information provided from the providing device 100 and analyzes it. The analysis result desired by itself can be obtained.

  In the above example, the providing apparatus 100 processes the position information when providing the data. However, the providing apparatus 100 processes the position information when storing the position information in a predetermined database. Also good. Thereby, even if the post-processing position information leaks for some reason, the providing apparatus 100 can prevent the position information from being effectively used by a third party.

  Further, 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 apparatus 100 may acquire the position information by crawling the user terminal 10 every predetermined time without being transmitted 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. System configuration
Next, the configuration of the providing system 1 including the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the providing system 1 according to the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the providing system 1 according to the embodiment includes a user terminal 10, a service terminal 20, and a providing device 100. These various devices are communicably connected via a network N by wire or wireless. Further, the number of devices included in the providing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 4 is not limited to that illustrated. 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 that is a glasses-type or watch-type information processing terminal. 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, a business operator who uses the service terminal 20 analyzes an user's action range and distributes an optimal advertisement, or a transfer guidance service that provides an optimal moving means by referring to a station used by the user. In addition, a disaster information transmission service that provides disaster information and various alarm information, a navigation service that transmits traffic information, a game using location information, and the like are provided to the user. 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, operators are related to portal sites, news sites, auction sites, weather forecast sites, shopping sites, finance (stock price) sites, route search sites, map providing sites, travel sites, restaurant introduction sites, web blogs, etc. Provide web pages containing various information. In the embodiment, the business operator is a concept that includes a wide range of business operators, and is not limited to a stock company or the like, and may be an individual business owner or a legal entity.

  As described above, the providing device 100 receives information related to the mode when the data user uses the position information, processes the position information based on the received information related to the mode, and sets the processed position information. It is a server device provided to data users.

[3. Configuration of user terminal]
Next, the configuration of the user terminal 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the user terminal 10 according to the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 5, 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 the communication unit 11)
The communication unit 11 is connected to the network N by wire or wireless, and transmits / receives information to / from the service terminal 20, the providing device 100, and the like. The communication unit 11 is realized by, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card).

(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 detector 14)
The detection unit 14 detects various information related to the user terminal 10. Specifically, the detection unit 14 detects a user operation on the user terminal 10, location information of the user terminal 10, information about 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. 5, 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 a user operation on the user terminal 10. For example, the operation detection unit 141 detects a user operation based on 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 that operates the imaging device in the user terminal 10, the operation detection unit 141 detects that the imaging function is used by the user. Further, the operation detection unit 141 may detect an operation in which 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 a communication network provided in 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 its 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. Moreover, the position detection part 142 may detect the position of the own apparatus based on the geomagnetic pattern of the structure measured beforehand and the geomagnetic sensor with which the own apparatus is provided.

  Further, for example, when the user terminal 10 has a function equivalent to a contactless IC card used in a station ticket gate or a store (or the user terminal 10 has a function of reading a history of the contactless IC card) The used position is recorded together with information on the settlement of the boarding fee at the station 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 apparatus 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.

(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.

(Regarding 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 uses various sensors and functions provided in the user terminal 10 to detect information about the environment. 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 surroundings of the user terminal 10 have 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.

(About the 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 RAM (Random Access Memory) 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. This is realized by being executed. The control unit 16 is a controller, and is realized by 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) ) And may be installed in the user terminal 10.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the control unit 16 includes an acquisition unit 161, a reception unit 162, and a transmission unit 163, and realizes or executes functions and operations of 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. 5, 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. 5, and may be another connection relationship.

(About the 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 the position information by controlling the detection unit 14 described above regularly (every minute, every 3 minutes, every 5 minutes, or the like). Note that the timing at which the acquisition unit 161 acquires the position information may be set by the providing apparatus 100.

(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 apparatus 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 transmission unit 163 transmits the position information to the providing apparatus 100 according to the request received by the reception unit 162.

  For example, the transmission unit 163 associates the identification information for identifying the user with the position information acquired by the acquisition unit 161, and transmits the association 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 apparatus 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the providing apparatus 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 in a wired or wireless manner, and transmits and receives information to and from the user terminal 10 and the service terminal 20 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 location information storage unit 122, and a service information storage unit 123.

(User information storage unit 121)
The user information storage unit 121 stores information about the user. Here, FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the user information storage unit 121 according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user information storage unit 121 according to the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the user information storage unit 121 includes items such as “user ID”, “terminal ID”, “attribute information”, “interest / interest information”, and “behavior history information”.

  “User ID” indicates identification information for identifying a user. In this specification, identification information as shown in FIG. 7 may be used as a reference symbol. For example, the user identified by the user ID “U01” may be referred to 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. 7, the attribute information is represented by a concept such as “D01”. Actually, the attribute information items include 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. In FIG. 7, the interest / interest information is represented by a concept such as “E01”, but actually, the item of interest / interest information is set by the providing apparatus 100 to the user through the use of various services. Interest information (category and object assumed that the user is interested in the user's purchase history and search history) is stored.

  “Behavior history information” indicates a user's behavior history in a service on the network. In FIG. 7, 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 20 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. 7, as an example of data stored in the user information storage unit 121, the user U01 indicated by the user ID “U01” uses the user terminal 10 identified by the 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”.

(Regarding the position information storage unit 122)
The position information storage unit 122 stores user position information. Here, FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the position information storage unit 122 according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the position information storage unit 122 according to the embodiment. In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the position information storage unit 122 includes items such as “user ID” and “position information”. The item “position information” has small items such as “position information ID”, “acquisition date / time”, “position”, “accuracy”, and “various sensor information”.

  “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. “Acquisition date and time” indicates the date and time when the position was detected (acquired) by the user terminal 10. “Position” indicates a specific position of the user (in other words, the user terminal 10). In FIG. 8, the position is represented by a concept such as “G01”. Actually, however, specific information indicating the position of the user (for example, numerical values of longitude and latitude) is stored in the position item. .

  “Accuracy” indicates the accuracy of 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 in accordance with the accuracy with which the user's position can be specified based on, for example, detection means when the user terminal 10 detects the position. Specifically, in the case of a detection means (for example, when the detection means 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 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. 8, various sensor information is represented by the concept of “X01”. Actually, specific information acquired by various sensors such as temperature and humidity is stored in the items of various sensor information. The

  That is, in FIG. 8, as an example of the data stored in the position information storage unit 122, the position information identified by the position information ID “B01” or the like is used as the position information of the user U01 identified by the 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 service information storage unit 123)
The service information storage unit 123 stores information related to a service provided by a data user who intends to use location information held by the providing apparatus 100. Here, FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the service information storage unit 123 according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the service information storage unit 123 according to the embodiment. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the service information storage unit 123 includes items such as “data user ID”, “service type”, “analysis purpose”, and “post-processing position information”.

  “Data user ID” indicates identification information for identifying a data user. The data user ID may be read as a business operator ID. “Service type” indicates the type of service provided to the user by the data user.

  “Analysis purpose” indicates information on what purpose the data user uses the location information provided from the providing device 100. “Post-processing position information” indicates how the position information provided to the data user is processed according to the analysis purpose (that is, the mode of use of the position information). Note that the analysis purpose and post-processing position information are set based on, for example, information that each data user registers in advance on the providing apparatus 100 side in order for the data user to receive position information from the providing apparatus 100. Shall be.

  That is, in FIG. 9, as an example of data stored in the service information storage unit 123, the data user P01 (business operator P01) identified by the data user ID “P01” "Is provided to the user, and the purpose of analyzing the positional information is to" understand the user's action range ". Further, FIG. 9 shows that the post-processing position information provided to the data user P01 is position information that has been processed such as “exclusion of base information”.

(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 inside the providing apparatus 100 are executed by the CPU, MPU, or the like using the RAM as a work area. 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. 6, the control unit 130 includes an acquisition unit 131, a reception unit 132, and a provision unit 133, and realizes or executes functions and operations of information processing described below. Note that the internal configuration of the control unit 130 is not limited to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 6, and may be another configuration as long as information processing described later is performed. Further, the connection relationship between the processing units included in the control unit 130 is not limited to the connection relationship illustrated in FIG. 6, and may be another connection relationship.

(About the acquisition unit 131)
The acquisition unit 131 acquires various types of information. For example, the acquisition unit 131 acquires position information including information indicating the position of the user from the user. Specifically, the acquisition unit 131 acquires various pieces of information detected or acquired by the user terminal 10 as 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). In general, the accuracy of the information indicating the position of the user varies depending on the function used for detection. For example, in the case of detecting the user's position with GPS, the case of detecting the user's position using the communication function by Wi-Fi, and the case of detecting the user's position using the communication function by beacon, The accuracy of specifying the position is different. For example, when a user's position is detected using a communication function using a beacon, the user's position can be specified with an accuracy of several meters such as where the user is located in a building. On the other hand, when the position of the user is detected by GPS, it is difficult to specify the position of the user with an accuracy of several meters such as where the user is located in the building. 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 about a position from the user terminal 10, the acquisition unit 131 acquires detection means when the user terminal 10 detects the position as described above. And the acquisition part 131 acquires the information which matched the position and the detection means (in other words, precision) as position information. In this case, the acquisition unit 131 may previously acquire definition information that defines the relationship between the detection means and 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. The acquisition unit 131 is not limited to the detection unit, and determines the level of accuracy according to the number of digits after the decimal point of a numerical value indicating the accuracy of the acquired position information (for example, a numerical value indicating latitude and longitude coordinates). May be.

  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. Moreover, the acquisition part 131 may acquire the user's interest information in a service, and a user's action history information. 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). The acquisition unit 131 may acquire position information together with date / time information including day 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 a communication status in which the user terminal 10 is accessing the Internet or the like via an 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 that is communicating with the user terminal 10 and acquires it as 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.

  The acquisition unit 131 does not necessarily acquire the position information at the same time as the time when the user terminal 10 detects 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 the reception unit 132)
The accepting unit 132 accepts various requests. For example, the reception unit 132 receives, from the data user who uses the position information acquired by the acquisition unit 131, information related to the manner in which the data user uses the position information together with a request for using the position information.

  For example, the reception unit 132 receives information related to a service provided to a user by a data user as information related to an aspect. In this case, the reception unit 132 may previously receive information that associates a service with the purpose of using location information in the service from the data user. Then, when the service type is received together with the request for using the location information, the accepting unit 132 refers to the correspondence information held and specifies the analysis purpose of the location information in the service. Then, the accepting unit 132 sends the accepted information to the providing unit 133.

  Moreover, the reception part 132 may receive the information regarding the object which a data user analyzes using a positional information as information regarding an aspect. The target to be analyzed may be, for example, an action range for specifying a user's sphere of life, or a base such as a user's home, work place, or use station. In this case, the providing unit 133 to be described later changes the processing mode of the position information according to the object received by the receiving unit 132.

(About the providing unit 133)
The providing unit 133 performs processing on the position information based on the information related to the aspect received by the receiving unit 132, and provides post-processing position information that is the processed position information to the data user.

  For example, the providing unit 133 performs processing on the position information based on information about the service, and provides post-processing position information that has been processed to the data user. In this case, the providing unit 133 may process the position information based on information that is received in advance by the receiving unit 132 and that associates the type of service with information related to processing for each service. . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the providing unit 133 performs processing to exclude a range other than the station when a request for using location information is received from a data user who provides a transfer guidance service. More specifically, the providing unit 133 provides the data user with post-processing position information in which noise is added to the position information belonging to a range other than the station or the error is increased.

  Further, the providing unit 133 may process the position information based on information on an object to be analyzed by the data user using the position information and may provide the processed user with post-processing position information that has been processed. Good. For example, the above-described reception unit 132 designates each user's home or work as a target to be analyzed from a data user who provides a service for performing a push notification in anticipation of the timing at which each user is located at his / her home or work. The usage request is accepted. At this time, when the providing unit 133 provides the position information, for example, post-processing position information in which noise is added or the error is increased for position information belonging to a range other than the range including each user's home or work place. May be provided to data users. That is, the providing unit 133 provides post-processing position information that has been processed so that the data user cannot easily analyze it except for the analysis target.

  As described above, the providing unit 133 can perform various processes as the position information processing. For example, the providing unit 133 provides post-processing position information obtained by adding noise to the position information acquired by the acquiring unit 131 to the data user according to the information related to the aspect.

  For example, the providing unit 133 provides post-processing position information in which dummy position information (noise) is added to the position information acquired from the user to the data user. For example, noise is a plurality of position information and information indicating the same time, but position information indicating different positions, or position information indicating the same time despite being the same position. It is. The providing unit 133 refers to the position information acquired from the user, generates position information that becomes noise, and adds the position information to the original position information. As a result, the providing unit 133 can process data into information that cannot capture accurate user trends and the like even if the data user intends to use location information for purposes other than analysis.

  For example, the providing unit 133 may perform a process of adding noise to the position information indicating the position belonging to a specific geographical range among the position information acquired by the acquiring unit 131 according to the information regarding the mode.

  For example, it is assumed that the providing unit 133 receives a request for use of position information of each user located in an arbitrary district from the data user as information relating to the aspect. In this case, the providing unit 133 adds position information acquired from the user for position information indicating the position of the arbitrary area, and dummy position information for position information indicating a position other than the arbitrary area. The obtained position information is provided to the data user as post-processing position information. As a result, the data user can analyze the user's trend and the like for the arbitrary area, but cannot accurately analyze the user's trend for areas other than the arbitrary area.

  The specific geographical range may be, for example, a range that does not include a location (base) where the user is frequently located on a daily basis. For example, the providing apparatus 100 may accept a definition such as, for example, a range of several tens of meters around a place estimated as a base from a manager of the providing apparatus 100 or the like.

  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 the location information of the user that is continued early in the morning or at night on weekdays. Further, based on the location information of the user that continues during the daytime on weekdays, an area where the user regularly attends (for example, the work place of the user) is estimated. For this reason, if the providing apparatus 100 provides the data user with the position information acquired from the user as it is, there is a risk that the base of each user will be analyzed because it is not intended for the purpose of use. Alternatively, when the location information provided to the data user is leaked, the base of each user may be analyzed by a malicious third party.

  Therefore, the providing unit 133 estimates each user's base in advance based on the position information acquired from each user. The providing unit 133 receives a use request from the data user, and if the use mode is not a person who uses the base information of each user, the providing unit 133 includes a specific geographical area including the base (or a place estimated as the base). A process of adding noise to position information indicating a position belonging to a range other than the range is performed. For example, the providing unit 133 adds dummy position information so that the user's base cannot be analyzed, as illustrated in FIG. Then, the providing unit 133 provides the data user with post-processing position information obtained by adding noise to the range including the base.

  In addition, when the information on the base 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 133 specifies the base including the base as the processed position information. A process of adding noise to the position information indicating the position belonging to the geographical range may be performed.

  For example, when receiving a use request from a data user, the providing unit 133 performs processing so that dummy position information of discrete times is added to the position information of continuous times of each user. As a result, the data user can estimate the location of each user's base with a certain degree of accuracy, but can analyze detailed information such as when the user is located at the base on a daily basis. It becomes difficult. That is, according to the providing unit 133, although the location of the base itself can be analyzed by the data user, it is not possible to analyze the private information such as the detailed transition of the position of the user and the time of staying at home. Post-processing position information can be provided. As described above, the providing unit 133 adjusts the range and amount of noise to be added, the time information set to the noise, and the information indicating the position in various ways, so that it can be appropriately processed according to the usage mode required by the service. Location information can be provided. And the provision part 133 can maintain the safety | security when the leakage of a positional information generate | occur | produces by not providing to a data user the positional information which can be analyzed beyond the utilization aspect which a service requires.

  As an example of the noise addition process, the providing unit 133 may provide post-processing position information to which the position information that cancels the noise is added together with the noise according to the information related to the aspect.

  For example, the providing unit 133 adds, as noise, dummy position information that includes information indicating the same time that is separated from the north and south by the same distance around a specific coordinate. In this case, if the information of specific coordinates set by the providing unit 133 is known, the data user can acquire appropriate position information by canceling the two noises. For example, the providing unit 133 transmits post-processing position information to which noise has been added to the data user, and also transmits, for example, specific coordinate information used for generation to the data user after a predetermined time. In this case, even if the post-processing position information transmitted earlier leaks, it is difficult for the third party who acquired the post-processing position information to perform various analyzes because it contains noise. On the other hand, the data user can analyze the data by using the post-processing position information by acquiring the specific coordinate information to be transmitted. Also by this method, the providing unit 133 can improve the safety related to the provision of position information.

  Note that the noise generated by the providing unit 133 and the method for canceling the noise are not limited to the above. For example, when the providing unit 133 calculates a plurality of dummy position information and calculates the center of gravity of the plurality of dummy position information, the providing unit 133 obtains accurate position information (the original user position acquired by the acquisition unit 131). Noise may be generated so that (information) is calculated. In this case, if the calculation method provided by the providing unit 133 (for example, calculating the center of gravity of the position information to which the specific ID is assigned) is not acquired, the acquirer of the post-processing position information acquires the position information. It becomes impossible to analyze accurately. Also by this method, the providing unit 133 can improve the safety related to the provision of position information.

  It should be noted that the usage mode received from the data user may indicate a time zone desired to be used. In this case, even if the providing unit 133 performs processing such as adding noise to the position information acquired outside the time zone desired to be used and not adding noise to the position information in the time zone desired to be used. Good. In this case, the data user can obtain an analysis result desired by himself / herself by extracting and analyzing only the position information corresponding to the time zone desired to be used. For example, when the data user desires to analyze the user's behavior from “14:00 to 17:00”, the data user transmits a usage request to the providing apparatus 100 together with the usage purpose. Then, the providing unit 133 provides post-processing position information including noise to the data user for position information other than the position information indicating the user's action at “14:00 to 17:00”. As a result, even if post-processing position information is leaked, a person other than the data user who clearly indicates the purpose of use cannot effectively use the post-processing position information. Therefore, the providing unit 133 can safely provide the position information. It can be performed.

  Further, the providing unit 133 may provide post-processing position information obtained by adding a predetermined error to the position information acquired by the acquiring unit 131 to the data user according to the information regarding the mode.

  Specifically, the providing unit 133 refers to the position information of the user acquired by the acquiring unit 131 when the information related to the base where the user is regularly located is referred to as the post-processing position information. Processing in which a first error is added to position information indicating a position belonging to a specific geographical range including the base, and a second error is added to position information indicating a position belonging to a geographical range not including the base May be applied.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the providing unit 133 refers to information regarding a base (a station in the example of FIG. 3) that is a position where the user is regularly located as post-processing position information. In addition, a first error is added to the position information for a range including such a base (area A21 in the example of FIG. 3). Specifically, the providing unit 133 provides position information with relatively high accuracy (that is, less error) for specifying the position of the user for position information corresponding to such a range. On the other hand, the providing unit 133 adds a second error to the position information as post-processing position information for a range that does not include the base where the user is regularly located (other than the area A21 in the example of FIG. 3). . Specifically, the providing unit 133 provides position information with relatively low accuracy (that is, a large error) for specifying the position of the user for the position information corresponding to such a range. In general, it is difficult to analyze a user's detailed behavior with information having a large error. For this reason, data users can analyze using location information belonging to a specific geographical range including the base, but location information belonging to other ranges (ranges that do not meet their purpose of use) It becomes difficult to use and analyze. Also by this method, the providing unit 133 can improve the safety related to the provision of position information.

  The providing unit 133 may provide, as post-processing position information, position information obtained by adding sensor information acquired together with user position information to the request source. For example, the providing unit 133 provides not only the position information but also the processed position information to which the sensor information acquired together with the position information is given to the data user according to the mode. Further, the providing unit 133 may provide not only sensor information but also interest information of each user together with position information. Specifically, the providing unit 133 analyzes data including interest information from a business operator that performs services using interest information as well as a user location (for example, a business that provides an advertisement distribution service). When the purpose of use is received, post-processing position information with interest information may be provided together with position information. Thereby, since the data user who performs a service using various user information can obtain useful information in utilizing the service together with the position information, the quality of the service can be improved.

[5. Processing procedure)
Next, a processing procedure performed by the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 10, 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 apparatus 100 stores the acquired position information in the storage unit 120 (step S102). After that, the providing apparatus 100 determines whether or not a usage request for location information has been received from the data user along with the usage mode (step S103). When the usage request has not been received (step S103; No), the providing apparatus 100 stands by until it is received.

  On the other hand, when the usage request is received (step S103; Yes), the providing apparatus 100 processes the position information according to the usage mode (step S104). Then, the providing device 100 provides the post-processing position information to the data user who is the request source (step S105).

[6. (Modification)
The providing device 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. System configuration〕
In the above-described embodiment, it has been shown that the providing apparatus 100 processes the position information by receiving a usage mode from the data user. Here, the processing of the position information may be performed by an API (Application Programming Interface) server installed between the data user and the providing apparatus 100. In this case, the data user presents information indicating the mode of use (for example, own identification information registered in advance or service identification information) together with the usage request, and executes the API of the API server. The API server acquires the position information from the providing apparatus 100 and processes the position information according to the usage mode. Then, the API server returns post-processing position information processed according to the usage mode to the data user. Thereby, the providing apparatus 100 can perform the providing process in which the processing load is distributed.

  The providing apparatus 100 may store the accumulated position information in an external apparatus (for example, a storage server), for example. Then, each data user may access an external device in which position information is stored in accordance with each use authority, present information on the usage mode, and obtain post-processing position information. . Thereby, the providing apparatus 100 can reduce the management burden while maintaining the safety of the position information.

[6-2. 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 apparatus 100 may estimate a store or a travel destination that the user frequently visits as the base of the user. In addition, when receiving a usage request from a data user, the providing apparatus 100 is not the location information (location information acquired continuously over several days) in which the user's behavior habits and characteristics are known, Information indicating the discrete positions of the user (position information indicating positions every several hours or every several days) may be provided.

  The providing apparatus 100 may estimate the base information of the user from various information as well as the position information based on the position detected by the user terminal 10. For example, the user may be required to register a residence or work place when using the service. In this case, the providing apparatus 100 can acquire not only the position information from the user using the service but also the information on the user's residence and work place, and thus information indicating the position detected by the user terminal 10 Even if there is no, it is possible to estimate the user's home or work place. And the provision apparatus 100 may determine whether to provide the estimated base information so that a data user can analyze according to the utilization mode, when the utilization request of position information is received. .

[6-3. 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 apparatus 100 may acquire the position information of the user terminal 10 from different information.

  For example, the providing apparatus 100 may acquire the position information of the user terminal 10 based on a history that 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.

  Further, the providing apparatus 100 may estimate the position of the user based on the usage status of the user's various services. For example, the providing apparatus 100 may acquire a search query when the user performs a search, posting information of an SNS (Social Networking Service), and the like, and estimate the position of the user based on the acquired information. For example, the providing apparatus 100 may estimate that a user who regularly searches for lunch in the same area is a user who works in the area, and is located in the area at least during the daytime. . The providing apparatus 100 may estimate that a user who is browsing news in the same area on a daily basis is a user who is highly likely to be located in the area. Further, the providing apparatus 100 may estimate that a user who frequently posts to the SNS regarding a specific area is a user who is highly likely to be located in the specific area. As described above, the providing apparatus 100 may acquire the user's position information or estimate the user's position using various information related to the user's various services.

[6-4. 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. For example, the user terminal 10 does not necessarily include the display unit 13 and the detection unit 14. Further, the user terminal 10 may be separated into two or more devices to realize the configuration illustrated in FIG. 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 the detection unit 14 and the acquisition unit 161 and a communication device having at least the communication unit 11 are separated. .

[6-5. Data user)
In the said embodiment, the provider which provides a service to a user was mentioned as an example as an example of a data user. However, the data user is not limited to this example. For example, the data user is a researcher who performs research using position information collected by the providing device 100, an employee who belongs to a department that manages the providing device 100, or the like. Also good. Then, the providing apparatus 100 may execute the providing process according to the above embodiment as access control for these researchers and employees.

[6-6. Information on positioning)
In the above-described embodiment, the position positioning unit is taken as an example of the information regarding the position positioning. Further, it has been described that each positioning means has different accuracy of information indicating the position. Here, the accuracy of the positioning means is not limited to the example shown in the above embodiment. For example, depending on the positioning means used by the user terminal 10, the positioning accuracy using GPS may be higher than the positioning using Wi-Fi or beacon. That is, the positioning means described above and the level of accuracy between the positioning means are examples, and the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment defines the definition information so that appropriate accuracy can be appropriately selected according to each positioning means. May be updated as appropriate.

[7. Hardware configuration)
The providing apparatus 100, the user terminal 10, and the service terminal 20 according to the above-described embodiments are realized by a computer 1000 having a configuration illustrated in FIG. 11, for example. Hereinafter, the providing apparatus 100 will be described as an example. FIG. 11 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating an example of a computer 1000 that implements the functions of the providing apparatus 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 is started up, a program depending on the hardware of the computer 1000, and the like.

  The HDD 1400 stores a program executed by the CPU 1100, data used by the program, 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. 4), 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. Further, the CPU 1100 outputs the data generated via the input / output interface 1600 to the output device.

  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 apparatus 100 according to the embodiment, the CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 implements the function of the control unit 130 by executing a 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 other devices via the communication network 500.

[8. Others]
In addition, among the processes described in the above embodiment, all or part of the processes described as being automatically performed can be performed manually, or the processes described as being performed manually can be performed. All or a part can be automatically performed by a known method. In addition, the processing procedures, specific names, and information including various data and parameters shown in the document and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified. For example, the various types of information illustrated in each drawing 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. Can be integrated and configured. For example, the receiving unit 132 and the providing unit 133 illustrated in FIG. 6 may be integrated. Further, for example, information stored in the storage unit 120 may be stored in a storage device provided outside via the network N.

  Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the providing apparatus 100 performs an acquisition process for acquiring the position information of the user terminal 10, a reception process for receiving a usage mode, and a providing process for controlling the provision of position information. Indicated. However, the providing device 100 described above may be separated into an acquiring device that performs an acquisition process, a receiving device that performs a receiving process, and a providing device that performs a providing process. In this case, the acquisition device has at least an acquisition unit 131. The reception device has at least a reception unit 132. The providing device has at least a providing unit 133. Further, the processing by the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment is realized by the providing system 1 including each apparatus such as an acquisition apparatus, a receiving apparatus, and a providing 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 device 100 according to the embodiment includes the acquisition unit 131, the reception unit 132, and the provision unit 133. The acquisition unit 131 acquires user position information. The receiving unit 132 receives, from the data user who uses the position information acquired by the acquiring unit 131, information related to the manner in which the data user uses the position information together with a request for using the position information. The providing unit 133 performs processing on the position information based on the information related to the aspect received by the receiving unit 132, and provides post-processing position information that is position information on which the processing has been performed to the data user.

  As described above, the providing device 100 according to the embodiment can provide position information suitable for the purpose and use authority of the business operator who uses the position information by providing the post-processing position information according to the usage mode. As a result, the providing apparatus 100 can appropriately manage the use of position information.

  Moreover, the reception part 132 receives the information regarding the service which a data user provides to a user as information regarding an aspect. The providing unit 133 processes the position information based on the information related to the service, and provides post-processing position information on which the processing has been performed to the data user.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment provides necessary and sufficient position information for the service by processing the position information according to the service and providing the data user, and does not use the service for the service. Since the position information can be prevented from leaking to the outside, the use of the position information can be managed appropriately.

  Moreover, the reception part 132 receives the information regarding the object which a data user analyzes using positional information as information regarding an aspect. The providing unit 133 performs processing on the position information based on information on an object to be analyzed by the data user using the position information, and provides post-processing position information on which the processing has been performed to the data user.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment provides position information necessary and sufficient for target analysis and the like by processing the position information according to the use target and providing it to the data user. Since location information that is not necessary for analysis or the like can be prevented from leaking to the outside, the use of location information can be managed appropriately.

  Further, the providing unit 133 provides post-processing position information obtained by adding noise to the position information acquired by the acquiring unit 131 to the data user according to the information on the aspect.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment provides the position information to which the position information that becomes noise is added according to the manner in which the data user uses the position information, so that it is appropriate for the data user. Management of the use of location information.

  Further, the providing unit 133 performs a process of adding noise to the position information indicating the position belonging to a specific geographical range among the position information acquired by the acquiring unit 131 according to the information regarding the mode.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment adds dummy noise to the position information group to be provided, for example, for position information outside the geographical range that the data user desires to use, for example, analysis Processing that can not be performed. Thereby, even if the location information leaks, the providing apparatus 100 can prevent the leaked location information from being used, so that the safety of providing the location information can be improved.

  In addition, when the information on the base 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 133 specifies the base including the base as the processed position information. A process of adding noise to the position information indicating the position belonging to the geographical range is performed.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment performs processing such as replacing time information with a dummy or randomly adding position information with respect to position information measured around the user's home or the like. You may go. Thereby, the providing apparatus 100 can make it difficult to analyze detailed information such as when the user is located at the base on a daily basis using such information. Safety can be maintained when it occurs.

  Further, the providing unit 133 provides post-processing position information to the data user, which includes position information that cancels the noise, together with noise, according to the information related to the aspect.

  Thus, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment provides post-processing position information including noise and position information that cancels the noise to the data user, for example, information for canceling (for canceling noise) Specific coordinates required for the data) may be separately transmitted to the data user. Also according to this method, the providing apparatus 100 can maintain safety when the leakage of the position information occurs.

  Further, the providing unit 133 provides post-processing position information obtained by adding a predetermined error to the position information acquired by the acquiring unit 131 to the data user according to the information regarding the mode.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment may provide post-processing position information that prevents useful analysis by adding an error to the position information. Also according to this method, the providing apparatus 100 can maintain safety when the leakage of the position information occurs.

  In addition, when the information about the base that is the position where the user is located daily is referred to among the user position information acquired by the acquisition unit 131, the providing unit 133 uses the base as the post-processing position information. A process is performed in which a first error is added to the position information indicating the position belonging to the specific geographical range including the second error and the second error is added to the position information indicating the position belonging to the geographical range not including the base.

  As described above, the providing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment may provide post-processing position information in which a range in which an error is added is set in accordance with a service usage mode. Also according to this method, the providing apparatus 100 can restrict the use of the location information appropriately because the data user can restrict the user's analysis of the user's behavior using the location information.

  As described above, some of the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail based on the drawings. 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 Service information storage part 130 Control part 131 Acquisition part 132 Reception part 133 Provision part

Claims (11)

An acquisition unit for acquiring user location information;
A receiving unit that receives information on a mode when the data user uses the position information together with a use request for the position information from a data user who uses the position information acquired by the acquiring unit;
A providing unit that processes the position information based on information related to the aspect received by the receiving unit, and provides post-processing position information that is the processed position information to the data user. ,
A providing device comprising: The reception unit
As information regarding the aspect, information regarding a service provided to the user by the data user is received,
The providing unit includes:
While processing the position information based on the information related to the service, providing the data user with the processed position information after the processing,
The providing device according to claim 1. The reception unit
As the information on the aspect, the data user accepts information on an object to be analyzed using the position information,
The providing unit includes:
The data user performs processing on the position information based on information on an object to be analyzed using the position information, and provides the data user with processed position information on which the processing has been performed.
The providing device according to claim 1. The providing unit includes:
According to the information on the aspect, providing post-processing position information obtained by adding noise to the position information acquired by the acquisition unit to the data user.
The providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The providing unit includes:
In accordance with the information related to the aspect, among the position information acquired by the acquisition unit, a process of adding the noise to position information indicating a position belonging to a specific geographical range is performed.
The providing device according to claim 4. The providing unit includes:
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, as the post-processing position information, a specific geographical range including the base is included. Applying the process of adding the noise to the position information indicating the position to which it belongs,
The providing device according to claim 5. The providing unit includes:
According to the information on the aspect, the post-processing position information to which the position information that cancels the noise is added is provided to the data user together with the noise.
The providing device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein The providing unit includes:
According to the information related to the aspect, providing post-processing position information obtained by adding a predetermined error to the position information acquired by the acquisition unit to the data user.
The providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The providing unit includes:
When the information on the base that is the position where the user is regularly located is referred to among the position information of the user acquired by the acquisition unit, the specific geographical information including the base is used as the post-processing position information. A process is performed in which a first error is added to the position information indicating the position belonging to the range, and the second error is added to the position information indicating the position belonging to the geographical range not including the base.
The providing apparatus according to claim 8. A providing method executed by a computer,
An acquisition step of acquiring user location information;
A reception step of receiving information on a mode in which the data user uses the position information together with a use request of the position information from a data user using the position information acquired by the acquisition step;
A providing step of performing processing on the position information based on information on the aspect received by the receiving step and providing post-processing position information, which is position information on which the processing has been performed, to the data user; ,
The providing method characterized by including. An acquisition procedure for acquiring user location information;
A reception procedure for receiving, from a data user who uses the position information acquired by the acquisition procedure, a request for use of the position information, and information regarding an aspect when the data user uses the position information;
A providing procedure for processing the position information based on the information on the aspect received by the receiving procedure and providing post-processing position information, which is the position information subjected to the processing, to the data user; ,
A program for causing a computer to execute.

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