JP4132236B2 - Travel planning device, travel information providing device, and travel information providing terminal device - Google Patents

Description

【００６３】
表１は、旅行情報データベース２７を示す。旅行情報データベース２７は、複数の旅行情報と、複数の地域・情報コードとを対応付けて記憶する。単一の旅行情報は、情報種別と、所要時間と、費用と、目的地および行程情報と、位置情報とを含む。
【００６４】
地域・情報コードは、対応づけられた旅行情報を識別するための識別コードであり、さらに、該旅行情報が関係する地域も示す。具体的には、地域・情報コードは、９桁の数字から構成され、上位６桁が地域コードであり、下位３桁が情報コードである。地域コードは、対応する旅行情報が関係する地域を示す。情報コードは、単一地域に関する旅行情報が複数ある場合に該複数の旅行情報を区別するためのものである。
【００６５】
情報種別は、該情報種別を含む単一の旅行情報が、単一の目的地を示すか、旅行コースを示すかを区分するためのものである。所要時間は、該所要時間を含む旅行情報が示す目的地に滞在する平均的な時間である。費用は、該費用を含む旅行情報が示す目的地で必要な費用であり、たとえば、目的地にある建造物への入館料や使用料を含む。目的地・行程情報は、該情報を含む旅行情報が示す目的地が何であるかを示し、前記目的地が複数ある場合、複数の目的地を巡る順序も示される。位置情報は、該位置情報を含む単一の旅行情報が示す目的地の正確な位置を示す。前記位置は、たとえば緯度および経度の組合わせで、表される。情報種別が旅行コースである場合、前記位置情報は、少なくとも旅行コース内で最初に訪問するべき目的地と、最後に訪問するべき目的地との位置情報が解ればよい。
【００６６】
【表２】

【００６７】
表２は、回数・頻度データベース２８を示す図である。回数・頻度データベース２８は、旅行情報データベース２７に記憶される複数の旅行情報の地域・情報コードそれぞれに、訪問度合に応じた検索順位が付加されている。本実施形態では、検索順位として、訪問回数別の採用件数と訪問頻度別の採用件数とが、用いられる。訪問回数は、旅行者が、目的とする地域を訪問した回数を示す。訪問頻度は、旅行者が、目的とする地域を訪問する頻度を示す。採用件数は、旅行計画装置の操作者に提示されてかつ確定された旅行計画の立案のために用いられた回数を示す。
【００６８】
【表３】

【００６９】
【表４】

【００７０】
表３および表４は、第１および第２良否情報データベースを示す。本実施形態の良否情報データベース２９としては、これら２つのデータベースのうちの少なくとも一方があればよい。前記第１良否情報データベースは、前述の旅行情報データベース２７に記憶される複数の旅行情報の地域・情報コードそれぞれに、良否情報として、旅行の良否の全ての入力結果、すなわち、旅行の良否の入力時に「二重丸」，「丸」，「三角」，「ペケ」がそれぞれ何回入力されたかが、対応付けられて記憶される。前記第２良否情報データベースは、前記複数の旅行情報の地域・情報コードそれぞれに、良否情報として、サンプル数と累計点と平均点とが、対応付けられて記憶される。サンプル数は、前記旅行の良否の入力が行われた総数である。累計点は、旅行の良否の入力結果を数値化したものであり、過去の全ての旅行の良否の入力結果を数値化したものの総和である。具体的には、１回の旅行の良否の入力結果は、「二重丸」であれば２点、「丸」であれば１点、「三角」であれば０点、「ペケ」であれば−１点に換算される。平均点は、累計点をサンプル数で除算した結果である。
【００７１】
【表５】

【００７２】
表５は、宿泊施設データベース３０を示す。宿泊施設データベース３０は、宿泊施設に関する複数の宿泊情報を、個別に地域・情報コードに対応付けて記憶する。宿泊情報は、施設名と、宿泊に要する費用と、宿泊施設の位置情報とを含む。宿泊施設の位置情報は、たとえば、緯度および経度によって表される。このように、データベース部２２は、宿泊施設を、１つの目的地と同様に取扱っている。旅行情報データベース２７と宿泊施設データベース３０とを分離したのは、後述の旅行情報の探索処理において、宿泊施設だけが相互に異なる複数の旅行計画が立案されることを、避けるためである。なお、旅行情報が示す旅行コース内に、目的地の１つとして、宿泊施設が含まれている場合、宿泊施設データベース３０を省いてもよい。
【００７３】
図２は、旅行計画装置１の端末装置３における検索条件の入力手法、および旅行計画の提示手法を示すフローチャートである。以後の説明では、端末側入力装置１１は、画面入力装置とキーボードとを備えると仮定する。たとえば、操作者が、端末装置３に設けられた検索条件の入力処理の開始スイッチを操作すると、ステップａ１からステップａ２に進む。ステップａ２で、端末側制御装置１３は、端末装置３全体の初期化を行う。具体的には、端末側制御装置１３は、端末装置３内の全ての装置１１，１２，１４，１５の初期化を行う。さらに、端末側制御装置１３は、端末側通信装置１４と提供側通信装置２１との間でデータの送受が可能となるように、端末側通信装置１４に、両通信装置１４，２１間の通信経路を確立させる。この後、端末側制御装置１３は、端末装置３内の全ての装置１１，１２，１４，１５に、旅行情報の検索処理の開始を指示する。
【００７４】
ステップａ３〜ａ９で、端末装置３は、操作者に旅行地域を入力させる。本実施形態では、全ての目的地を含む基本地域が、３段階に階層化されて細分されていると仮定する。また、本実施形態では、基本地域は日本全土であると仮定する。本実施形態では、旅行地域の入力に拘わる入力画面として、図３〜図５に示す第１〜第３位地域指定用画面４１，４６，４９を、順次表示する。第１〜第３地域指定用画面４１，４６，４９は、それぞれ、操作者に、旅行地域を基本地域内の一部分に限定させるための画面の１つである。
【００７５】
具体的には、まず、ステップａ３で、端末側制御装置１３は、第１地域指定用画面４１を、端末側表示装置１７に表示させる。第１地域指定用画面４１は、その内部に、前記基本地域を複数に分割した地域をそれぞれ示す複数の第１地域指定用選択肢４２が並べられている。さらに、第１地域指定用画面４１内には、入力用選択肢４３と無指定用選択肢４４とが示される。
【００７６】
旅行地域の基本地域内の一部の地域を限定する場合、操作者は、旅行地域または旅行地域を含む地域を示す少なくとも１つの第１地域指定用選択肢４２を選択し、さらに、入力用選択肢４３を選択する。また、旅行地域を限定しない場合、無指定用選択肢４４だけを選択する。この場合、旅行地域が限定されず、前記基本地域全体が旅行地域であると見なされる。
【００７７】
第１地域指定用画面４１表示後、端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ４で、旅行地域の限定のための指定があったか否か、すなわち、少なくとも１つの第１地域指定用選択肢４２と入力用選択肢４３とが選択されたか否かが判断される。これらの選択肢４２，４３が選択された場合、ステップａ４からステップａ５に進む。ステップａ５では、端末側制御装置１３は、選択された第１地域指定用選択肢４２が示す地域を、旅行地域として記憶し、次いで、第２地域指定用画面４６を表示する。
【００７８】
第２地域指定用画面４６は、第１地域指定用画面４１と比較して、複数の第１地域指定用選択肢４２が、複数の第２地域指定用選択肢４７に置換えられている点が異なり、他は等しい。複数の第２地域指定用選択肢４７は、前記基本地域内の第１地域指定用選択肢４２を用いて限定された地域をさらに細分化して得られる複数の地域に、それぞれ対応付けられる。本実施形態では、ステップａ５の時点で旅行地域として近畿地方が記憶されており、第２地域指定用選択肢４７は近畿地方内の地域にそれぞれ対応付けられると仮定する。
【００７９】
旅行地域をさらに限定する場合、操作者は、旅行地域または旅行地域を含む地域を示す少なくとも１つの第２地域指定用選択肢４７を選択し、さらに、入力用選択肢４３を選択する。また、旅行地域をこれ以上限定しない場合、無指定用選択肢４４だけを選択する。第２地域指定用画面４６表示後、端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ６で、旅行地域の限定のための指定があったか否か、すなわち、少なくとも１つの第２地域指定用選択肢４７と入力用選択肢４３とが選択されたか否かが判断される。これらの選択肢４７，４３が選択された場合、ステップａ６からステップａ７に進む。ステップａ７で、端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ５で記憶した旅行地域を、選択された第２地域指定用選択肢４７が示す地域に置換えて記憶し、次いで、第３地域指定用画面４９を表示する。
【００８０】
第３地域指定用画面４９は、第１地域指定用画面４１と比較して、複数の第１地域指定用選択肢４２が、複数の第３地域指定用選択肢４９に置換えられている点が異なり、他は等しい。複数の第３地域指定用選択肢４９は、第２地域指定用選択肢４７を用いて限定された地域をさらに細分化して得られる複数の地域に、それぞれ対応付けられる。本実施形態では、ステップａ７の時点で旅行地域として京阪神地域が記憶されており、第３地域指定用選択肢４９は京阪神地域内の地域にそれぞれ対応付けられると仮定する。前述の複数の地域コードは、第３地域指定用選択肢４９に対応付けられる地域に、それぞれ対応付けられている。
【００８１】
旅行地域をさらに限定する場合、操作者は、旅行地域を示す少なくとも１つの第３地域指定用選択肢４９を選択し、さらに、入力用選択肢４３を選択する。また、旅行地域をこれ以上限定しない場合、無指定用選択肢４４だけを選択する。第３地域指定用画面４９表示後、端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ８で、旅行地域の限定のための指定があったか否か、すなわち、少なくとも１つの第３地域指定用選択肢４９と入力用選択肢４３とが選択されたか否かが判断される。これらの選択肢４９，４３が選択された場合、ステップａ８からステップａ９に進む。ステップａ９で、端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ７の時点で記憶された地域に代わって、選択された第３地域指定用選択肢４９が示す地域を、旅行地域として確定して記憶する。記憶後、ステップａ９からステップａ１０に進む。
【００８２】
ステップａ４，ａ６，ａ８において、旅行地域の限定のための指定がなかったと判断される場合、すなわち無指定用選択肢４４が選択された場合、その時点で記憶されている旅行地域が、そのまま確定される。確定後、ステップａ４，ａ６，ａ８からステップａ１０に進む。
【００８３】
端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ１０で、図６に示す条件入力用画面５２を、端末側表示装置１７に表示させる。条件入力用画面５は、旅行時期を入力するべき旅行時期用空欄５３と、旅行の出発地を入力するべき出発地用空欄５４と、訪問回数および頻度を入力するための複数の訪問回数用選択肢５５および複数の訪問頻度用選択肢５６と、入力用選択肢５７とを含む。
【００８４】
操作者は、端末側入力装置１１を操作して、旅行時期用空欄５３に旅行時期の開始年月日および終了年月日を書込み、出発地用空欄５４に出発地の地名や緯度経度を書込む。さらに操作者は、端末側入力装置１１を操作して、複数の訪問回数用選択肢５５のうちのいずれか１つ、または複数の訪問頻度用選択肢５６のうちのいずれか１つを選択する。なお、複数の訪問回数用選択肢５５のうちのいずれか１つと、複数の訪問頻度用選択肢５６のうちのいずれか１つとを、両方とも選択してもよい。この後、操作者は、入力用選択肢５７を選択する。また、端末装置３が、さらに現在位置検出装置、たとえばいわゆるＧＰＳ（Global Positioning System）受信機を備えている場合、端末装置３の現在位置を検出し、検出した現在位置を、前記出発地としてもよい。
【００８５】
条件入力用画面４２表示後、端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ１１で、検索条件の入力が完了したか否か、すなわち、条件入力用画面５７の入力用選択肢５７が選択されたか否かを判断する。ステップａ１１の判定は、入力が完了するまで繰返される。入力用選択肢５７が選択された場合、端末側制御装置１３は、選択された訪問回数用および訪問頻度用選択肢５５，５６に対応付けられた訪問回数および訪問頻度を、旅行地域への旅行者の訪問度合として取得し、さらに、入力された旅行時期および出発地を取得する。このように、ステップａ３〜ａ１１で、検索条件として、旅行地域、旅行地域への旅行者の訪問度合、旅行時期、および出発地が、取得される。
【００８６】
端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ１２で、取得された前記検索条件を、端末側通信装置１４から提供側通信装置２１に送信する。この結果、提供側制御装置２３は、前記検索条件に基づいてデータベース部２２を検索し、この結果得られる少なくとも１つの旅行情報に基づいて、少なくとも１つの旅行計画を立案する。本実施形態では、提供側制御装置２３は、複数の旅行計画を立案するものと仮定する。提供側制御装置２３の詳細な動作は、後述する。
【００８７】
検索条件送信後、ステップａ１３で、端末側制御装置１３は、提供側通信装置２１から端末側通信装置１４へ、旅行計画が送信されたか否かを判断する。ステップａ１３の判定は、端末側通信装置１４が旅行計画を受信するまで繰返される。複数の旅行計画が受信されたならば、ステップａ１３からステップａ１４に進む。端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ１４で、旅行計画を操作者に提示するための提供画面を、端末側表示装置１７に表示させる。
【００８８】
図７は、旅行地域が京都近郊および神戸近郊であり、旅行期間が１泊２日であり、旅行者が前記旅行地域を初めて訪れる場合に、ステップａ１４の時点で表示される提供画面６１を示す。図８は、旅行地域と旅行期間が図７の例と等しく、前記旅行地域への旅行者の訪問回数が５〜９回であり、かつ、旅行者が前記旅行地域を２〜４年ぶりに訪問する場合に、ステップａ１４の時点で表示される提供画面６２を示す。
【００８９】
前記提供画面６１，６２でそれぞれ示される旅行計画は、旅行行程７１と、旅行に要する費用７２とをそれぞれ含む。旅行行程７１は、旅行で巡る予定の複数の目的地および宿泊予定の宿泊施設を訪問順に並べた訪問リスト７３と、前記複数の目的地での所要時間、出発地と目的地との間の移動時間、２つの目的地間の移動時間、および目的地と宿泊施設との間の移動時間を並べた平均所要時間リスト７４とが含まれる。図７および図８の例では、平均所要時間リスト７４内の時間を示す数値のうち、矢印の下のものが移動時間であり、目的地の名称の下のものがその目的地での所要時間である。
【００９０】
提供画面６１，６２は、概略的には、複数の旅行計画のうちのいずれか１つの旅行計画６３，６４と、旅行計画の提供に拘わる複数の選択肢とを、それぞれ含む。操作者は、表示された提供画面６１に示されるいずれか１つの旅行計画を目視して、複数の選択肢のうちのいずれか１つを選択する。また、提供される複数の旅行計画は、予め提供順が定められており、ステップａ１４の時点では、提供順が最も早い旅行計画が、示される。
【００９１】
再び図２を参照する。提供画面表示後、端末側制御装置１３は、まず、ステップａ１５で、複数の選択肢のうちの次候補指示用選択肢６５が選択されたか否かを判定する。選択されている場合、ステップａ１５からステップａ１６に進み、選択されていない場合ステップａ１５からステップａ１７に進む。端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ１６で、現在表示されている提供画面に含まれるいずれか１つの旅行計画よりも提供順が１つ遅い旅行計画を含む新たな提供画面を、端末用表示装置１７に表示させる。新たな提供画面表示後、ステップａ１６からステップａ１７に進む。
【００９２】
次いで、端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ１７で、複数の選択肢のうちの前候補指示用選択肢６６が選択されたか否かを判定する。選択されている場合、ステップａ１７からステップａ１８に進み、選択されていない場合、ステップａ１７からステップａ１９に進む。端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ１８で、現在表示されている提供画面に含まれるいずれか１つの旅行計画よりも提供順が１つ早い旅行計画を含む提供画面を、端末用表示装置１７に再び表示させる。前記提供画面表示後、ステップａ１８からステップａ１９に進む。
【００９３】
次いで、端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ１９で、複数の選択肢のうちの一覧表指示用選択肢６７が選択されたか否かを判定する。選択されている場合、ステップａ１９からステップａ２０に進み、選択されていない場合、ステップａ１９からステップａ２１に進む。端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ２０で、全ての旅行計画を含む一覧表画面を、端末用表示装置１７に表示させる。一覧表画面は、たとえば、複数の旅行計画を、それぞれ前記提供画面と同じ形式でかつ縮小して、並列に表示したものである。前記一覧表画面表示後、ステップａ２０からステップａ２１に進む。
【００９４】
次いで、端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ２１で、複数の選択肢のうちの再検索指示用選択肢６８が選択されたか否かを判定する。再検索指示用選択肢６８は、たとえば全ての旅行計画のうちに旅行者が望む旅行計画がなかったために、操作者が前記検索条件を変更しようとする場合に、選択される。再検索指示用選択肢６８が選択されている場合、ステップａ２１からステップａ３に戻り、選択されていない場合、ステップａ２１からステップａ２２に進む。
【００９５】
次いで、端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ２２で、複数の選択肢のうちのキャンセル指示用選択肢６９が選択されたか否かを判定する。キャンセル指示用選択肢６７は、図２のフローチャートの処理を操作者が中途終了させようとする場合に、選択される。キャンセル指示用選択肢６９が選択されていない場合、ステップａ２２からステップａ２３に進み、選択されている場合、ステップａ２２からステップａ２５に進み、当該フローチャートの処理を終了する。
【００９６】
次いで、端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ２３で、複数の選択肢のうちの採用指示用選択肢７０が選択されたか否かを判定する。採用指示用選択肢７０は、現在表示されている提供画面に含まれる旅行計画を操作者が採用する場合に、選択される。採用指示用選択肢７０が選択されていない場合、ステップａ２３からステップａ１５に戻り、選択されている場合、ステップａ２３からステップａ２４に進む。
【００９７】
端末側制御装置１３は、ステップａ２４で、採用された旅行計画の立案に用いられた旅行情報の地域・情報コードを、端末側通信装置１４から提供側通信装置２１に送信させる。さらに、端末側制御装置１３は、前記出発地から前記採用された旅行計画において最初に訪問する目的地までの経路と、該旅行計画において最後に訪問する目的地から前記出発地までの経路とを、ナビゲーション装置１２に経路探索させて、探索結果を端末側表示装置１７に表示させる。なお端末側制御装置１３は、前記経路探索と探索結果の表示との代わりに、ナビゲーション装置１２に、前記採用された旅行計画に関する地図、たとえば該旅行計画で訪問する地域の地図を、ナビゲーション装置１２内に備えられる複数の地図の中から検索させて、端末側表示装置１７に表示させてもよい。これらに加えて、操作者が端末側入力装置１１を操作して、前記採用された旅行計画の印刷を指示した場合、端末側制御装置１３は、指示された時点で端末側表示装置１７に表示される旅行計画を、プリンタ１８によって記録紙に印刷させる。以上の処理が終了した後、ステップａ２５で、当該フローチャートの処理を終了する。
【００９８】
図９は、旅行計画装置１の端末装置３における旅行の良否の入力手法を示すフローチャートである。以後の説明では、端末側入力装置１１は、画面入力装置とキーボードとを備えると仮定する。たとえば、操作者が、端末装置３に設けられた旅行の良否を問うアンケートの入力処理の開始スイッチを操作すると、ステップｂ１からステップｂ２に進む。ステップｂ２で、端末側制御装置１３は、端末装置３全体の初期化を行う。具体的には、端末側制御装置１３は、端末装置３内の全ての装置の行い、端末側通信装置１４と提供側通信装置２１との間でデータの送受が可能となるように、端末側通信装置１４に、両通信装置１４，２１の通信経路を確立させる。さらに、端末側制御装置１３は、端末装置３内の全ての装置に、前記アンケートの入力処理の開始を指示する。ステップｂ３で、端末側制御装置１３は、端末側表示装置１７に、旅行の良否の入力に関するアンケート画面を、表示させる。
【００９９】
図１０は、前記アンケート画面８１を示す。アンケート画面８１は、旅行の良否の入力に拘わる複数の満足度用選択肢８３と、旅行の長所の入力に拘わる複数の長所用選択肢８４と、旅行の短所の入力に拘わる複数の短所用選択肢８５と、入力用選択肢８６とを含む。前述するように、本実施形態では、旅行の良否、すなわち満足度を４段階に分けているので、複数の満足度用選択肢８３は、「二重丸」，「丸」，「三角」，「ペケ」にそれぞれ対応する。また、複数の長所用選択肢８４は、それぞれ、今回の旅行で旅行者が良かったと感じた点を入力するためのものであり、旅行コースおよび目的地の選択が良かった場合、宿泊場所が良かった場合、天候が良かった場合の３つの場合にそれぞれ対応する。また、複数の短所用選択肢８４は、それぞれ、今回の旅行で旅行者が悪かったと感じた点を入力するためのものであり、旅行コースおよび目的地の選択が悪かった場合、宿泊場所が悪かった場合、天候が悪かった場合の３つの場合にそれぞれ対応する。操作者は、端末側入力装置１１を操作して、全ての満足度用選択肢８３のうちのいずれか１つと、全ての長所用選択肢８４のうちのいずれか１つと、全ての短所用選択肢８５のうちのいずれか１つとを、それぞれ選択する。この後、操作者は、入力用選択肢８６を選択する。
【０１００】
再び図９を参照する。アンケート画面８１表示後、端末側制御装置１３は、ステップｂ４で、旅行の良否の入力が完了したか否か、すなわち、アンケート画面８１の入力用選択肢８６が選択されたか否かが判断される。ステップｂ４の判定は、入力が完了するまで繰返される。入力用選択肢８６が選択された場合、端末側制御装置１３は、選択された３つの選択肢にそれぞれ対応する情報を、アンケート入力結果、すなわち旅行の良否を示す情報として取得する。次いで、端末制御装置１３は、ステップｂ５で、取得されたアンケート入力結果を、端末側通信装置１４から提供側通信装置２１に送信させる。送信後、ステップｂ６で、当該フローチャートの処理を終了する。
【０１０１】
図１１は、提供装置４において、旅行計画の立案に関する処理および良否情報の更新に関する処理を示すフローチャートである。たとえば、情報センタのシステム、すなわち提供装置４を立ちあげるために提供装置４に電力を供給した時点で、ステップｂ１からステップｂ２に進む。なお本フローチャートは、供給された電力が遮断された時点で強制的に終了され、再び電力が供給された時点で、再びステップｂ１から処理が開始される。
【０１０２】
提供側制御装置２３は、ステップｃ２で、提供装置４の初期化を行う。次いで、ステップａ３で、提供側制御装置２３は、提供側通信装置２１が、端末側通信装置１４から送信された前記検索条件を受信したか否かが判断される。前記検索条件は、図２のフローチャートのステップａ１２で送信されたものである。前記検索条件を受信しない場合、ステップｃ３からステップｃ９に進み、前記検索条件を受信した場合、ステップｃ３からステップｃ４に進む。
【０１０３】
提供側制御装置２３は、ステップｃ４で、前記検索条件に基づいてデータベース部２２を検索し、その結果得られる複数の旅行情報に基づいて、複数の旅行計画を立案する。検索手順の詳細は、後述する。提供側制御装置２３は、ステップｃ５で、前記検索条件に基づき、計画しようとする旅行に宿泊の予定があるか否かを判断する。宿泊の予定がある場合、ステップｃ５からステップｃ６に進み、宿泊の予定がない場合、ステップｃ５からステップｃ８に進む。
【０１０４】
提供側制御装置２３は、まずステップｃ６で、前記検索条件に基づいて、宿泊施設データベース３０を検索し、次いでステップｃ７で、前記検索の結果、空きのある宿泊施設、すなわち宿泊可能な宿泊施設が得られたか否かを判定する。空きのある宿泊施設が得られない場合、ステップｃ７からステップｃ６に戻り、検索手順を変更して検索をやり直す。空きのある宿泊が少なくとも１箇所得られた場合、ステップｃ７からステップｃ８に進む。得られた宿泊施設は、ステップｃ４で立案された旅行計画に付加される。提供側制御装置２３は、ステップｃ８で、ステップｃ４で立案された複数の旅行計画を、前記提供順で、提供側通信装置２１から端末側通信装置１４に送信させる。この結果、端末装置３では、複数の旅行計画が順次操作者に提示される。
【０１０５】
提供側制御装置２３は、ステップｃ９で、提供側通信装置２１が、端末側通信装置１４から送信された前記地域・情報コードを受信したか否かが判断される。前記地域・情報コードは、図２のフローチャートのステップａ２４で送信されたものである。前記地域・情報コードを受信しない場合、ステップｃ９からステップｃ１１に進み、前記地域・情報コードを受信した場合、ステップｃ９からステップｃ１０に進む。
【０１０６】
提供側制御装置２３は、ステップｃ１０で、回数・頻度データベース２８内の全ての採用件数のうちで、受信した前記地域・情報コード、すなわち操作者に採用された旅行計画の立案に用いられた地域・情報コードと、該旅行計画の立案時に与えられた訪問度合との両方によって規定される採用件数に、１を加算する。前記訪問度合が訪問回数または訪問頻度だけの場合、前記地域・情報コードと前記訪問回数または訪問頻度とによって規定される１つの採用件数に１が加算され、前記訪問度合が訪問回数および訪問頻度だけの場合、前記地域・情報コードと前記訪問回数および訪問頻度とによってそれぞれ規定される２つの採用件数にそれぞれ１が加算される。
【０１０７】
提供側制御装置２３は、ステップｃ１１で、提供側通信装置２１が、端末側通信装置１４から送信された前記アンケート入力結果を受信したか否かが判断される。前記アンケート入力結果は、図９のフローチャートのステップｂ５で送信されたものである。前記アンケート入力結果を受信しない場合、ステップｃ１１からステップｃ３に戻り、前記アンケート入力結果を受信した場合、ステップｃ１１からステップｃ１２に進む。
【０１０８】
提供側制御装置２３は、ステップｃ１２で、前記アンケート入力結果に基づき、良否情報データベース２９を更新する。具体的には、まず、長所および短所用選択肢の選択結果に基づき、旅行の良かった点および悪かった点のうちの少なくとも一方が、旅行コースおよび目的地であったかどうかが、判別される。２つの前記点のうちの少なくとも一方が旅行コースおよび目的地である場合、良否情報データベース２９内の全ての良否情報のうち、前記アンケート入力結果を入力した旅行者が行った旅行の計画の立案時に用いた旅行情報の地域・情報コードに対応する良否情報が、前記アンケート入力結果に基づいて書換えられる。２つの前記点の両方が旅行コースおよび目的地ではない場合、良否情報データベース２９は書換えられない。良否情報データベース２９の書換え処理が終了すると、ステップｃ１２からステップｃ３に戻る。以後、ステップｃ３〜ｃ１２の処理が繰返される。
【０１０９】
ステップｃ３のデータベースの検索処理を、以下に詳細に説明する。前記検索処理には、旅行情報データベース２７と回数・頻度データベース２８とが用いられる第１検索処理と、旅行情報データベース２７と良否情報データベース２９とが用いられる第２検索処理と、旅行情報データベース２７と回数・頻度データベース２８と良否情報データベース２９とが用いられる第３検索処理とがあり、いずれか１つの検索処理が行われる。
【０１１０】
まず、第１検索処理を説明する。最初に、提供側制御装置２３は、受信された探索条件のうちの旅行地域に基づき、全ての旅行情報のうちで検索対象とする旅行情報を決定する。具体的には、旅行地域として指定された地域を示す地域コードを地域・情報コード内に含む旅行情報が、検索対象とされる。全ての地域コードは、第３地域指定用選択肢５０にそれぞれ対応付けられた複数の地域に対応するので、第１〜第３地域指定用画面４１，４６，４９がそれぞれ表示された段階で無指定用選択肢４４が選択された場合には、旅行地域と直接対応する地域コードは存在しない。この場合、地域コードが対応付けられる全ての地域のうちで、旅行地域内にある全ての地域が、検索対象とされる。これらの処理の結果、検索対象となる旅行情報の地域・情報コードが定まる。
【０１１１】
次いで、提供側制御装置２３は、前記検索条件内の訪問度合に基づき、回数・頻度データベース２８を検索して、全ての前記検索対象の旅行地域の地域・情報コードのうちから、複数の地域・情報コードを選ぶ。回数・頻度データベース２８の検索手法は、以下の３通りの手法がある。
【０１１２】
第１の検索手法は、前記訪問度合が訪問回数または訪問頻度だけである場合に用いられる。まず最初に、回数・頻度データベース２８内の前記訪問回数および頻度別の旅行情報の採用件数のうち、すなわち表２の採用件数の行列内の全ての列のうち、前記検索条件内の訪問回数または訪問頻度と同じものが選ばれる。最後に、全ての前記検索対象の旅行情報の地域・情報コードの中から、選ばれた列内の採用件数が多い順に上位５件の採用件数にそれぞれ対応する地域・情報コードが、選ばれる。また、採用件数が少ない順に上位５件の採用件数にそれぞれ対応する地域・情報コードが選ばれても良い。以上が第１の検索手法である。
【０１１３】
第２の検索手法は、前記訪問度合が訪問回数および訪問度合の両方である場合に用いられる。まず最初に、回数・頻度データベース２８内の採用件数の行列内の全ての列のうち、前記検索条件内の訪問回数および訪問頻度と同じものがそれぞれ選ばれる。次いで、全ての前記検索対象の旅行情報の地域・情報コードの中から、選ばれた２本の列それぞれについて、各列内の採用件数が多い順、または少ない順に、上位５件の採用件数にそれぞれ対応する地域・情報コードが、全て選ばれる。以上が、第２の検索手法である。
【０１１４】
第３の選択手法は、前記訪問度合が訪問回数および訪問度合の両方である場合に用いられる。まず最初に、回数・頻度データベース２８内の採用件数の行列内の全ての列のうち、前記検索条件内の訪問回数および訪問頻度と同じものがそれぞれ選ばれる。次いで、前記検索条件の訪問回数と同じ訪問回数の採用件数の列内の各地域・情報コード毎の採用件数と、前記検索条件の訪問頻度と同じ訪問頻度の採用件数の列内の各地域・情報コード毎の採用件数とが、それぞれ加算される。最後に、全ての前記検索対象の旅行情報の地域・情報コードの中から、前記採用件数の和が多い順、または少ない順に、上位５件の採用件数にそれぞれ対応する地域・情報コードが、全て選ばれる。以上が、第３の検索手法である。
【０１１５】
続いて、提供側制御装置２３は、旅行情報データベース２７のうちから、上述のいずれかの手順で選ばれた複数の地域・情報コードにそれぞれ対応する複数の旅行情報を、読出す。さらに、提供側制御装置２３は、読出した複数の旅行情報に基づいて、複数の旅行計画を立案する。具体的には、まず、読出された全ての旅行情報のうちの少なくとも１つを含む候補計画が、多数立案される。次いで、各候補計画毎に、各候補計画にしたがって旅行者が旅行した場合に旅行に要する旅行時間が、前記検索条件内の旅行期間内に収まるかどうかを、それぞれ調べる。全ての候補計画のうちで、旅行に要する時間が前記旅行期間内に収まるものが、操作者に提示するべき旅行計画として選ばれる。
【０１１６】
任意の１つの候補計画の旅行時間は、以下のように計算される。まず、前記検索条件内の出発地から前記候補計画内に経由する予定になっている全ての目的地のうちの最初に訪れる目的地までの移動に要する移動時間と、前記全ての目的地のうちの最後に訪れる目的地から前記検索条件内の出発地までの移動に要する移動時間とが、計算される。また、候補計画内で複数の旅行情報によってそれぞれ示される複数の目的地を経由する予定になっている場合、前記複数の目的地間の移動に要する移動時間も計算される。これらの移動時間と、前記全ての目的地それぞれでの所要時間との和が、前記候補計画の旅行時間となる。出発地と目的地との間の移動時間および２つの目的地間の移動時間は、それぞれ、旅行情報内にある出発地の位置情報と、旅行情報内にある目的地の位置情報とを用いて、算出される。また、目的地それぞれでの所要時間は、旅行情報内に記憶されている。なお、１つの旅行情報が旅行コースを表す場合、該旅行情報内の所要時間には、該旅行情報が示す複数の目的地それぞれの所要時間の他に、これら複数の目的地間を移動するための移動時間も含まれる。以上が、旅行時間の計算手法である。
【０１１７】
なお、旅行期間が１日以上である場合、すなわち宿泊の予定がある場合、旅行計画の立案の際に、前述したように空きのある宿泊施設を調べ、旅行計画に前記宿泊施設を組込む。この際、旅行計画が複数の地域を回る予定になっている場合、１日目に回る予定の地域と２つ目に回る予定の地域との間の地域にある宿泊施設を選ぶとよい。このようにして立案された複数の旅行情報が、ステップｃ８で、端末装置３に送信される。以上が、第１の検索処理の説明である。
【０１１８】
以下に、第２検索処理を説明する。最初に、提供側制御装置２３は、受信された探索条件のうちの旅行地域に基づき、全ての旅行情報のうちで検索対象とする旅行情報を決定する。検索対象の旅行情報の地域・情報コードの決定の詳細な手順は、前記第１検索処理と等しい。
【０１１９】
次いで、提供側制御装置２３は、予め定める複数の検索手法のうちの、前記検索条件内の訪問度合に応じた検索手法を用い、良否情報データベース２９を検索して、全ての検索対象の旅行情報の地域・情報コードのうちから、複数の地域・情報コードを得る。前記検索手法は、前記検索条件内の訪問回数が少ないほど、または前記検索条件内の訪問頻度が頻繁であるほど、過去の旅行者がだれでも１度は訪問するような目的地を示す旅行情報を選ばせる。また、前記検索手法は、前記検索条件内の訪問回数が高いほど、または前記検索条件内の訪問頻度が頻繁であるほど、過去の旅行者が良かったと感じた目的地を示す旅行情報を選ばせる。前記訪問度合に応じた検索手法は、良否情報データベース２９が、前述の第１および第２良否情報データベースのどちらであるかに応じて異なる。
【０１２０】
続いて、提供側制御装置２３は、旅行情報データベース２７のうちから、上述のいずれかの手順で選ばれた複数の地域・情報コードにそれぞれ対応する複数の旅行情報を、読出す。さらに、提供側制御装置２３は、読出した複数の旅行情報に基づいて、複数の旅行計画を立案する。旅行計画の立案処理の詳細な手法は、第１検索手法で説明したものと等しい。以上が、第２検索処理の説明である。
【０１２１】
良否情報データベース２９が前記第１良否情報データベースであるならば、良否情報データベース２９の具体的な複数の検索手法は、たとえば以下のとおりである。なお、以下の説明では、複数の検索手法は、訪問回数が初回である場合、または訪問頻度が１０年ぶりである場合に用いられる第１検索手法、訪問回数が２〜４回である場合、または訪問頻度が２〜９年ぶりである場合に用いられる第２検索手法、訪問回数が５〜９回である場合、または訪問頻度が年１回である場合に用いられる第３検索手法、訪問回数が１０回以上である場合、または訪問頻度が年２回以上である場合に用いられる第４検索手法の４つであると仮定する。
【０１２２】
前記第１検索手法では、まず、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードが、対応するサンプル数が多い順に並べ替えられ、次いで、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードのうちから、「二重丸」と「丸」との数の和がサンプル数全体の６０％である地域・情報コードが、前記並べ替えられた順に５件分選ばれる。前記サンプル数は、「二重丸」の数と「丸」の数と「三角」の数と「ペケ」の数との和である。前記第２検索手法では、まず、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードが、対応する「二重丸」の多い順に並べ替えられ、次いで、全ての検索対象の地域情報・コードのうちから、並べ替えられた順で上位５件のものが、選ばれる。
【０１２３】
前記第３検索手法では、まず、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードが、対応するサンプル数に対する「二重丸」の数の比率が大きい順に並べ替えられ、次いで、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードのうちから、並べ替えられた順で上位５件のものが選ばれる。前記第４検索手法では、まず、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードが、対応するサンプル数に対する「二重丸」の数の比率が大きい順に並べ替えられ、次いで、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードのうちから、サンプル数が予め定める数以下のものが、前記並べ替えられた順で５件分選ばれる。前記予め定める数は、たとえば、旅行地域がどこであるかに応じて可変になっている。以上が、前記第１良否データベースが用いられる場合の複数の検索手法の説明である。
【０１２４】
良否情報データベース２９が前記第２良否情報データベースであるならば、良否情報データベース２９の具体的な複数の検索手法は、たとえば以下のとおりである。なお、以下の説明では、複数の検索手法は、第１良否情報データベースが用いられる例で説明した前記４つの場合にそれぞれ用いられる第１〜第４検索手法であると仮定する。
【０１２５】
前記第１検索手法では、まず、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードが、サンプル数が多い順に並べ替えられ、最後に、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードのうちから平均点が１以上であるものが、前記並べ替えられた順に５件分選ばれる。前記第２検索手法では、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードが平均点の多い順に並べ替えられ、最後に、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードのうちから、サンプル数が予め定める数以上のものが、前記並べ替えられた順に５件分選ばれる。前記第３検索手法では、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードが平均点が多い順に並べ替えられ、最後に、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードのうちで前記並べ替えられた順に上位５件のものが、選ばれる。前記第４検索手法では、まず、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードが平均点の多い順に並べ替えられ、最後に、全ての検索対象の地域・情報コードのうちから、サンプル数が予め定める数以下のものが、前記並べ替えられた順に５件分選ばれる。前記予め定める数は、それぞれ、旅行地域がどこであるかに応じて可変になっている。以上が、前記第２良否情報データベースが用いられる場合の複数の検索手法の説明である。
【０１２６】
以下に、第３検索処理を説明する。まず、提供側制御装置２３は、回数・頻度データベース２８だけを用い、前記第１検索処理と同じ処理によって、全ての地域・情報コードのうちから複数の地域・情報コードを選ぶ。さらに、提供側制御装置２３は、良否情報データベース２９だけ用い、前記第２検索処理と同じ処理によって、全ての地域・情報コードのうちから複数の地域・情報コードを選ぶ。続いて、提供側制御装置２３は、旅行情報データベース２７のうちから、上述の２つのデータベース２８，２９をそれぞれ用いて選ばれた全ての地域・情報コードにそれぞれ対応する複数の旅行情報を読出す。最後に、提供側制御装置２３は、読出された複数の旅行情報に基づき、複数の旅行計画を立案する。旅行計画の立案処理の詳細な手法は、第１検索手法で説明したものと等しい。以上が、第３検索処理である。
【０１２７】
訪問度合だけが異なる複数の検索条件にそれぞれに基づいて、提供側制御装置２３が上述の検索処理を用いて旅行計画をそれぞれ立案すると、各検索条件毎の旅行計画が相互に異なる。たとえば、検索条件が図７の説明で述べたものになっている場合、提供順が筆頭の旅行情報は、表１の地域・情報コードのうち、１１１１０１−００６と１１１１１０−００３とに基づいて作成されているとする。この場合に、検索条件が、図８の説明で述べたように、図７の例の検索条件と比較して訪問頻度だけが異なっている場合、提供順が筆頭の旅行情報は、表１の地域・情報コードのうち、１１１１０１−００７と１１１１１０−００４とに基づいて作成される。
【０１２８】
図１１のフローチャートのステップｃ６で行われる宿泊施設データベースの検索処理の具体的な手順を、以下の説明する。まず、提供側制御装置２３は、前記検索条件内の旅行地域に基づいて、全ての宿泊情報のうちから検索対象とするべき少なくとも１つの宿泊情報を選ぶ。検索対象の宿泊情報の具体的な選択手順は、前述した検索対象の旅行情報の具体的な検索手法と等しい。次いで、提供側制御装置２３は、全ての検索対象の宿泊情報のうちから、空きがある宿泊施設を示すものを検索し、検索された宿泊情報を宿泊情報データベース３０から読出す。
【０１２９】
宿泊施設に空きがあるか否かを示す空き情報は、たとえば、以下のように調べられる。情報センタと宿泊施設とは、予め空き情報を授受可能なシステムを構築している。空き情報を授受可能にするには、たとえば、また、情報センタは、宿泊施設のかわりに、宿泊施設の空き情報を取得可能なもの、たとえば旅行会社との間で、空き情報を授受するためのシステムを構築していてもよい。前記システムを構築するには、たとえば、情報センタと宿泊施設とにいわゆるオンラインシステムを設置するか、両者に備えられた情報処理装置をインターネットを介して接続する。情報センタは、宿泊施設または旅行会社に随時アクセスして前記空き情報を取得し、取得した空き情報を提供装置４に入力する。これは、提供装置４が自動的に行っても良いし、情報センタの作業者が行っても良い。
【０１３０】
１つの提供装置４が不特定多数の端末装置３に旅行計画を提供している場合、提供側制御装置２３は、良否情報データベース２９の更新のために、提供された旅行計画の立案に用いられた旅行情報と該旅行計画に関するアンケート結果とを、対応付ける必要がある。このため、提供側制御装置２３は、たとえば、以下の手順で、旅行情報とアンケート結果とを対応付ける。
【０１３１】
提供側制御装置２３は、予め、不特定多数の端末装置３それぞれに、端末装置３を識別するための識別コードを、それぞれ対応付けておく。また、いずれか１つの端末装置３に提供された旅行計画に基づいた旅行の良否のアンケート結果は、前記いずれか１つの端末装置３から提供装置４に返されるように、旅行計画装置１の使用手法を定めておく。ステップｃ９において任意の１つの端末装置３が採用する旅行計画の立案に用いられた旅行情報の地域・情報コードが受信された場合、提供側制御装置２３は、該地域・情報コードと前記端末装置３の識別コードとを対応付けて記憶する。その後、ステップｃ１１でいずれかの端末装置３からのアンケート結果が受信された場合、提供側制御装置２３は、前記いずれかの端末装置３の識別コードに対応づけられて記憶された地域・情報コードに対応する旅行情報の良否情報を、受信されたアンケート結果に基づいて更新する。これによって、旅行計画装置１が不特定多数の端末装置を含む場合も、提供側制御装置２３はアンケート結果に基づいて良否情報を更新することができる。
【０１３２】
なお、提供側制御装置２３は、ステップｃ８では、立案された旅行計画の概略、たとえば旅行行程だけを、端末装置３に提供するようにしてもよい。この場合、端末装置３は、ステップａ２３の判定が肯定された後、まず、採用したいずれか１つの旅行計画がどれであるかを示す情報を、提供装置４に送信する。提供側制御装置２３は、前記情報が受信されると、採用されたいずれか１つの旅行計画に関する全ての情報を、端末装置３に送信する。端末側制御装置１３は、前記全ての情報を、ステップａ２４で端末側表示装置１７に表示させる。
【０１３３】
なお、この手順で旅行計画を提供する場合、提供側制御装置２３は、採用された前記いずれか１つの旅行計画に関する全ての情報に、該旅行計画に関するアンケートと、該アンケートを識別するための識別コードとを加えてもよい。提供側制御装置２３は、前記アンケートの識別コードを、前記いずれか１つの旅行計画の立案に用いた旅行情報の地域・情報コードに対応付けて記憶しておく。端末側制御装置１３は、ステップｂ５でアンケート結果を送信する際、アンケートの識別コードも送信する。提供側制御装置２３は、受信したアンケートの識別コードに対応付けられた地域・情報コードに対応する旅行情報の良否情報を、受信したアンケートに基づいて更新する。このようにすれば、旅行計画装置１が不特定多数の端末装置を含み、かつ、提供装置４と端末装置３との間で旅行計画が上述の手順で送受される場合も、提供側制御装置２３はアンケート結果に基づいて良否情報を更新することができる。
【０１３４】
良否情報データベース２９の検索手順の使い分けのための場合分けは、前述の例に限らず、訪問頻度に応じてさらに細かく場合分けしてもよい。もちろん、良否情報データベース２９の複数の検索手順それぞれは、上述の例に限らず、他の手順でも良い。回数・頻度データベース２８の訪問回数の区分、および良否情報データベース２９の訪問度合の区分は、表２および表３の例の区分に限らず、さらに細かくしてもよい。また、検索条件は、旅行に参加する者の人数や人員構成を示す人的情報を含んでいてもよい。すなわち、人的情報は、旅行が一人旅、アベック旅行、家族旅行、グループ旅行のどれであるかや、旅行者の年令を示す。この場合、提供装置４は、これらの人的情報それぞれに対応する回数・頻度データベースおよび良否情報データベースを予め設定しておき、検索条件内の人的情報と等しい人的情報に対応付けられる回数・頻度および良否情報データベースを用いて、旅行計画を立案する。これによって、提供装置４は、前記人的情報が加味されたことによってさらに細分化された検索条件に基づいて、旅行情報を提供することができる。
【０１３５】
また、任意の１つの地域に関する旅行情報は、複数ある。提供側制御装置２３は、これら複数の旅行情報の地域・情報コードそれぞれに個別に対応する訪問度合別の採用件数、または該地域・情報コードそれぞれに個別に対応する良否情報のサンプル数が、予め定める値を越えた時点で、これら複数の旅行情報それぞれをどのような訪問回数または訪問頻度向けに提供するかを、固定するようにしてもよい。すなわち、前記地点以後、回数・頻度データベース２８および良否情報データベース２９は、訪問回数または訪問頻度別に、提供するべき旅行情報記憶するものとなる。この場合、予め定める複数の訪問度合それぞれに提供するべき旅行情報が予め対応付けられているので、提供側制御装置２３は、前記複数の訪問度合のうちで検索条件内の訪問度合に合致するものを選び、選ばれた訪問度合に対応する旅行情報を提供する。これによって、提供側制御装置２３の処理が容易になる。
【０１３６】
なお、アンケート画面８１が長所選択肢８４と短所選択肢８５とを含むのは、以下の理由からである。一般的に、旅行者は、旅行の良否を、旅行で回った目的地の印象だけでなく、旅行中の天候および宿泊施設の印象も加味して考える。このため、良否情報データベース２９の更新に、天候または宿泊施設の印象を主要因として定められた良否情報を用いることは、良否情報データベース２９の精度を低下させる原因となるおそれがある。このため、良否情報データベース２９の更新に、目的地の印象を主要因とした良否情報だけを用いるために、長所選択肢８４および短所選択肢８５とを加えているのである。すなわち、提供側制御装置２３は、旅行の良かった点または悪かった点に目的地が挙げられている場合だけ、良否情報を用いて良否情報データベース２９を更新することによって、良否情報データベース２９の更新結果が、天候などに影響されることを防いでいる。
【０１３７】
以上の説明では、提供装置４は検索条件に応じて選ばれた少なくとも１つの旅行情報に基づいて旅行計画を立案し、該旅行計画を端末装置３に与えているが、前記少なくとも１つの旅行情報をそのまま端末装置３に与えても良い。さらに、検索条件は、訪問度合の他に、旅行地域や旅行期間を含んでいるが、検索条件は少なくとも訪問度合を含んでいればよく、旅行地域や旅行期間は省略されてもよい。旅行地域や旅行期間が省略された場合、提供側制御装置２３は、省略された条件に関する処理を省いて、旅行情報の検索処理を行う。
【０１３８】
【発明の効果】
以上のように本発明によれば、旅行計画装置は、予め定める地域内の目的地に関する複数の旅行情報を、訪問度合、訪問度合に応じた検索順位、および良否情報のうちの少なくとも１つとそれぞれ対応付けて記憶した検索用記憶手段を含む。操作者は、旅行計画装置に、前記検索用記憶手段の検索条件として、旅行者の前記地域への訪問度合を入力する。旅行計画装置内の旅行情報検索手段は、操作者に提供するべき旅行情報を、全ての旅行情報のうちから訪問度合に応じて選ぶ。たとえば旅行情報検索手段は、訪問度合入力手段によって入力された訪問度合が所定より小さな場合、複数の旅行情報から予め定める訪問度合が大きい少なくとも１つの旅行情報を選ぶ。また、たとえば旅行情報検索手段は、訪問度合入力手段によって入力された訪問度合が所定より小さな場合に、複数の旅行情報から前記検索順位の高い順に少なくとも１つの旅行情報を選ぶ。また、たとえば旅行情報検索手段は、訪問度合入力手段によって入力された訪問度合が所定より大きな場合に、旅行情報検索手段によって複数の旅行情報から良否情報の良の度合が大きく、かつ良否情報の総数であるサンプル数が所定値以下の少なくとも１つの旅行情報を選ぶ。これによって、旅行者の前記地域への訪問度合に応じて、旅行者に最も適した旅行情報が、常に容易に提供される。
【０１３９】
また本発明によれば、前記各旅行情報の検索順位は、旅行情報が出力された回数に応じて定められる。この結果、出力されるべき旅行情報は、過去に出力した旅行情報の数と前記訪問度合とに応じて、容易に選ばれる。さらにまた本発明によれば、前記旅行計画装置は、前記各旅行情報の良否情報を、各旅行情報に基づいて実際に行われた旅行の良否の集計結果に基づいて定める。この結果、出力されるべき旅行情報は、過去に行われた実際の旅行の良否結果と、前記訪問度合とに応じて、容易に選ばれる。
【０１４０】
また本発明によれば、全ての旅行情報は、前記地域内の目的地がある小地域を示す地域情報をそれぞれ含む。この結果、出力されるべき旅行情報を目的地がある小地域を考慮して選ぶことができる。さらにまた本発明によれば、出力されるべき旅行情報は、前記検索条件の１つとして入力された小地域内に目的地がある旅行情報の中から選ばれる。これによって、旅行者が望む小地域への旅行の旅行計画が、容易に立案可能になる。
【０１４１】
また本発明によれば、全ての旅行情報は、目的地での滞在時間と、目的地の位置とを、それぞれさらに示す。この結果、前記滞在時間と前記目的地の位置とを考慮して、出力するべき旅行情報を選ぶことが可能になる。さらにまた本発明によれば、出力されるべき旅行情報は、前記滞在時間と目的地の位置とを用い、前記検索条件の１つとしてそれぞれ入力された旅行時間および出発地の位置を考慮して定められる。これによって、旅行者が望む旅行時間内に出発地との往復が可能な目的地を巡るように、旅行計画が立案される。
【０１４２】
また本発明によれば、前記旅行情報と、前記検索順位および前記良否情報のうちの少なくとも一方とは、別々の記憶手段に記憶される。これによって、記憶手段の記憶内容の更新やメンテナンスが容易になる。
【０１４３】
さらにまた本発明によれば、前記旅行計画装置は、旅行の良否を操作者に入力させ、入力された旅行の良否を集計して、集計結果に基づき良否情報を更新する。これによって、常に良否情報は、常に最新のものになる。また本発明によれば、前記旅行計画装置には旅行中の天候の良否が入力可能であり、前記良否情報の更新は天候が良好であった旅行の良否だけに基づいて行われる。この結果、良否情報が旅行時の天候等に左右されることが防止される。
【０１４４】
さらにまた本発明によれば、前記検索用記憶手段および前記旅行情報検索手段を含む旅行情報提供装置と、旅行者の前記地域への訪問度合を入力するための訪問度合入力手段を含む旅行情報提供用端末装置とが組合わされて、前記旅行計画装置を構成する。ゆえに、前記旅行情報提供用端末装置は、前記旅行情報検索手段に前記検索用記憶手段を検索させるために、前記訪問度合を操作者に入力させることができる。また、前記旅行情報提供装置は、旅行情報用端末装置から与えられる前記訪問度合に応答して、前記旅行者の前記地域への訪問度合に応じた旅行情報を検索することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施の一形態である旅行計画装置１の電気的構成を示すブロック図である。
【図２】旅行計画装置１内の端末装置３における旅行情報検索条件の入力手法および旅行計画の提示手法を示すフローチャートである。
【図３】前記検索条件の入力のために、端末装置３内の端末側表示装置１７に表示される第１地域指定用画面４１を示す図である。
【図４】前記検索条件の入力のために、端末側表示装置１７に表示される第２地域指定用画面４６を示す図である。
【図５】前記検索条件の入力のために、端末側表示装置１７に表示される第３地域指定用画面４９を示す図である。
【図６】前記検索条件の入力のために、端末側表示装置１７に表示される条件入力用画面５２を示す図である。
【図７】前記旅行計画の提供のために、端末側表示装置１７に表示される旅行計画提供画面６１を示す図である。
【図８】前記旅行計画の提供のために、端末側表示装置１７に表示される旅行計画提供画面６２を示す図である。
【図９】端末装置３における旅行の良否の入力手順を示すフローチャートである。
【図１０】端末側表示装置１７に表示されるアンケート画面８１を示す図である。
【図１１】旅行計画装置１内の提供装置４において、旅行計画の立案に関する処理を示すフローチャートである。
【符号の説明】
１ 旅行計画装置
３ 端末装置
４ 提供装置
１１ 端末側入力装置
１３ 端末側制御装置
１４ 端末側通信装置
１７ 端末側表示装置
２１ 提供側通信装置
２２ データベース部
２３ 提供側制御装置
２７ 旅行情報データベース
２８ 回数・頻度データベース
２９ 良否情報データベース[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to a travel planning device that provides travel information, a travel information providing device, and a travel information providing terminal device for automatically planning a travel plan for an area designated by an operator.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a travel planning apparatus that provides travel information related to travel has been proposed to assist in planning a travel plan. The travel planning apparatus includes an information center that provides travel information related to travel, and an in-vehicle terminal connected to the information center via a telephone line or the like. The travel information basically indicates one or more destinations, and also indicates the location of the destination, the average time the traveler stays at the destination, and the cost required at the destination. In order to provide travel information to the travel planning apparatus, first, an operator inputs various conditions related to travel from the in-vehicle terminal, and provides the information center from the in-vehicle terminal. The conditions include, for example, the time and cost required for the trip, the travel distance, and the personnel composition of the group to travel. The information center stores a plurality of the travel information in a database in advance, searches for travel information that satisfies a given condition from the travel information, and provides the searched travel information to the in-vehicle terminal. . As a result, travel information desired by the operator is provided to the operator.
[0003]
As one of the prior arts of the travel planning device, there is a travel plan output device disclosed in JP-A-9-218643. The travel plan output device constitutes the above-described travel plan device in combination with a terminal device mounted on the vehicle. The travel plan output device previously stores a plurality of travel plans each corresponding to human information as a database, and further stores the number of times the travel plan has been adopted in the past for each travel plan. Yes. The travel plan corresponds to the travel information and indicates one or more destinations. The personal information includes the number of travelers and the gender and age of each traveler.
[0004]
In order to cause the travel plan output device to provide a travel plan, first, an operator inputs a travel destination and personal information of the traveler to the in-vehicle terminal device. The destination and the human information are given from the terminal device to the travel plan output device, that is, an information center. The travel plan output device searches the database for a travel plan that matches the given destination and the human information. The travel plan searched in this way is given to the terminal device from the travel plan output device and presented to the operator. In the case where there are a plurality of suitable travel plans, a plurality of suitable travel plans that have been adopted a large number or a small number in the past are preferentially presented to the operator.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When there are a plurality of travel plans that match a given destination and human information, the above-described travel plan output device gives priority to the plurality of travel plans from those that have been adopted a small number of times or those that have been adopted in the past. To present. For this reason, when a person who frequently visits a specific area in a family or a predetermined group causes the travel plan output device to provide a travel plan multiple times, the destinations given to the travel plan device at each time are close to each other Also, the human information given to the travel planning device at each time is similar to each other. For this reason, at each time, the travel plan output device always preferentially provides the same travel plan. As a result, the operator needs to further search all provided travel plans and select a travel plan that is different from the previous search, so that the operator's operation is increased.
[0006]
In addition, when the travel plan output device preferentially presents the one that has been frequently used in the past, and further stores a plurality of travel plans related to one destination, any one of the travel plans is initially stored. When the plan is output with priority, the number of times that any one of the travel plans is adopted is larger than other travel plans other than the one of the plurality of travel plans. As a result, if the given destination and human information are always equal, any one of the travel plans is always presented with priority when the search is performed a plurality of times. As a result, since the number of searches for the other travel plans does not increase, the other travel plans are not presented preferentially, so it takes time to present the other travel plans.
[0007]
Further, in general, the operator of the travel plan output device believes that the preferentially presented travel plan is the most satisfying travel plan among the suitable multiple travel plans. There are many. However, since the travel plan presented most preferentially is only a travel plan that has been adopted many times in the past, it is not necessarily a travel plan that is suitable for the needs of travelers.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a travel plan that can always provide travel information that is most suitable for conditions set by a traveler and a request from a traveler over a long period of time without requiring the operator to search. And a travel information providing device and a travel information providing terminal device.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  First1According to the invention, a visit degree input means for inputting a visit degree which is at least one of the number of visits to the predetermined area and the visit frequency,
  A plurality of travel information indicating at least one of a plurality of predetermined destinations in the area and a plurality of pass / fail information indicating pass / fail of each of the travel information are stored in association with each other. Storage means for search,
  If the visit degree input by the visit degree input means is greater than a predetermined value, the degree of goodness of the pass / fail information is large from the plurality of travel information, and at least a sample number that is the total number of the pass / fail information is a predetermined value or less A travel information search means for preferentially searching for one travel information;
  And a travel information output means for outputting the travel information searched by the travel information search means.
[0014]
  First1According to the invention, the travel planning apparatus has the above-described configuration. For this reason, when the operator of the travel planning device simply inputs the frequency of visits to the area by the traveler, the travel planning device can detect the travel when the visit degree input by the visit degree input means is larger than a predetermined value. The information retrieval means preferentially retrieves and outputs at least one piece of travel information having a high degree of goodness of the pass / fail information from a plurality of pieces of travel information and having a total number of pass / fail information having a predetermined value or less. Furthermore, since the search procedure for the travel information to be output is determined according to the degree of visit, the traveler repeatedly visits the area, and the travel planning device outputs the travel information in advance each time the visit is made. Since the search procedure changes according to the degree of visit, the travel information to be output also changes. As a result, the travel planning device can always easily provide the travel information most suitable for the traveler according to the degree of visit to the area by the operator while simplifying the operator's search. And this state can be maintained for a long time.
[0019]
  First2In the travel planning apparatus of the present invention, each of the pass / fail information is an aggregate result of pass / fail of a plurality of trips performed in the past based on the travel information output from the travel information output means.
[0020]
  First2According to the invention, the travel planning apparatus determines the pass / fail information as described above. As a result, the travel information planning device can easily select the travel information to be output according to the result of the quality of the actual travel performed in the past and the degree of visit.
[0021]
  First3In the travel planning device of the invention, the area is composed of a plurality of predetermined small areas, and the plurality of travel information includes any one of the destinations indicated by the travel information of the plurality of small areas. It further includes area information indicating a small area, respectively.
[0022]
  First3According to the invention, all the travel information in the travel planning device includes the area information. As a result, the travel planning apparatus can select travel information to be output in consideration of a small area where the destination is located.
[0023]
  First4In the travel planning apparatus of the invention, the visit degree input means further inputs a small area to be traveled out of the plurality of small areas, and the travel information search means is stored in the search storage means. Further, all the travel information including area information indicating the inputted small area is retrieved from the plurality of travel information, and the at least one travel information is retrieved from all the retrieved travel information. And
[0024]
  First4According to the invention, the travel planning apparatus has the above-described configuration. As a result, the travel planning apparatus can limit the travel information to be output to travel information indicating a destination in a small area where the traveler is going to travel. Therefore, the trouble of the operator when planning a trip to the small area is simplified.
[0025]
  First5In the travel planning apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of travel information further indicate a stay time expected to stay at the destination indicated by the travel information.
[0026]
  First5According to this invention, all the travel information in the said travel planning apparatus contains the said stay time, respectively. Therefore, the travel planning apparatus can select travel information to be output in consideration of the stay time.
[0027]
  First6In the travel planning apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of pieces of travel information further each indicate a destination position indicated by the travel information.
[0028]
  First6According to the invention, all the travel information in the travel planning device includes the location of the destination, for example, the latitude and longitude of the destination. Therefore, the travel planning device can select travel information to be output in consideration of the position of the destination.
[0029]
  First7In the travel planning device of the present invention, the plurality of travel information further indicate a stay time expected to stay at the destination indicated by the travel information and a position of the destination, respectively, and the visit degree input means Enter the location of the trip departure and the duration of the trip._,The travel information search means further sets the travel time required for the travel between the destination indicated by the travel information and the departure place for each of the searched travel information to the positions of the destination and the departure place. Of the travel information calculated based on the travel information, the travel information output is only travel information in which the travel time plus the stay time included in the travel information falls within the travel period. It is characterized by giving to a means.
[0030]
  First7According to the invention, the travel planning apparatus has the above-described configuration. For this reason, the travel planning device outputs only the at least one piece of travel information to be output when the sum of the travel time and the stay time is equal to or shorter than the travel period. As a result, the output travel information can be limited according to the travel period.
[0033]
  First8In the travel planning device of the invention, the search storage means stores the plurality of travel information and the plurality of identification information for identifying the plurality of travel information in association with each other and stored. The storage means and pass / fail information storage means for storing pass / fail information of the plurality of pieces of travel information in association with the plurality of identification information, respectively.
[0034]
  First8According to the invention, the search storage means of the travel planning apparatus has the above-described configuration. Thus, since the travel information and the pass / fail information are stored in separate storage means, updating and maintenance of the storage contents of the search storage means are facilitated.
[0037]
  First9The travel planning device of the invention includes a travel pass / fail input means for inputting the pass / fail of a trip made based on the travel information output from the travel information output means, and the pass / fail of the input trip is totaled. And a pass / fail information update means for updating the pass / fail information of the travel information output from the travel information output means based on the tabulation result.
[0038]
  First9According to the invention, the travel planning apparatus has the above-described configuration. Thereby, whenever a traveler makes a trip based on the trip information output by the trip planning device, the pass / fail information is updated after the trip. As a result, the quality information is always the latest that reflects the quality of past travel.
[0039]
  First0In the travel planning device of the invention, the travel quality input means further inputs the quality of the weather during the travel together with the quality of the travel._,The quality information updating means, when it is inputted that the weather during the trip is good, only counts the quality of the trip inputted together.
[0040]
  First0According to the invention, the travel planning apparatus has the above-described configuration. In this way, when the weather during travel is bad, even if the travel plan apparatus is given the quality of the trip, it is not used for updating the quality information. Thereby, the quality information is updated only when the main factor that the traveler determines the quality of the trip is in the destination itself indicated by the output travel information. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the quality information from being influenced by the weather during travel.
[0045]
  First1According to the present invention, a visit degree input means for inputting a visit degree that is at least one of the number of visits to a predetermined area and a visit frequency, and at least one of a plurality of predetermined destinations in the area are provided. A travel information providing device that is used in combination with a travel information providing terminal device that includes a travel information output means capable of outputting a plurality of travel information respectively indicated by the visit degree input from the visit degree input means. And
  The plurality of travel information and a plurality of pass / fail indicating respectively the pass / fail of the plurality of travel informationinformationAnd storage means for search stored in association with each other,
  When the visit degree input by the visit degree input means is larger than a predetermined value, the degree of goodness of the pass / fail information is large from the plurality of travel information, and the number of samples that is the total number of the pass / fail information is a predetermined value or less. A travel information search means for preferentially searching for information;
  A travel information providing apparatus comprising: travel information supply means for supplying the travel information searched by the travel information search means to the travel information output means for output.
[0046]
  First1According to the invention, the travel information planning device constitutes the travel planning device of the third invention in combination with the travel information providing terminal device. The travel information providing apparatus has the above-described configuration. For this reason, if the degree of visit is input from the terminal device for providing travel information, the travel information providing apparatus may include a plurality of travel information search means when the visit degree input by the visit degree input means is larger than a predetermined value. From the travel information, at least one travel information having a high degree of goodness of the pass / fail information and a sample number that is the total number of pass / fail information is selected and given to the travel information providing terminal device. As a result, the travel information providing device can always easily obtain travel information most suitable for the operator according to the degree of visit to the area by the operator over a long period of time while simplifying the operator's search effort. Can be provided.
[0051]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a travel planning apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The travel planning device 1 automatically formulates a travel plan for the area based on the visit degree of the traveler to the area where the traveler intends to travel. The degree of visit refers to at least one of the number of times the traveler has visited the area and the frequency at which the traveler has visited the area.
[0052]
The travel planning device 1 includes one or a plurality of terminal devices 3 and at least one providing device 4. The terminal device 3 is individually owned by an unspecified number of operators of the travel planning device 1, and is installed in the operator's house or mounted in the operator's car, for example. The operator himself or herself may or may not be a traveler. All the providing devices 4 are installed in an information center for providing information relating to travel to an unspecified number of the operators. In the following description, it is assumed that the travel planning device 1 includes one terminal device 3 and one providing device 4.
[0053]
The terminal device 3 includes a terminal-side input device 11, a navigation device 12, a terminal-side control device 13, a terminal-side communication device 14, and a terminal-side output device 15. The terminal side output device 15 includes a terminal side display device 17 and a printer 18. The providing device 4 includes a providing-side communication device 21, a database unit 22, a providing-side control device 23, a providing-side input device 24, and a providing-side display device 25. The database unit 22 includes a travel information database 27, a frequency / frequency database 28, a pass / fail information database 29, and an accommodation facility database 30.
[0054]
The terminal side input device 11 causes the operator to input instructions to the terminal device 3 and the providing device 4. The terminal side input device 11 is configured by, for example, a numeric keypad, a character input device, that is, a keyboard, or a screen input device. The screen input device includes a display unit and a designation unit, and causes the operator to designate any one of a plurality of options displayed on the display unit using the designation unit, and information according to the designated option Enter. The designation unit may be a means for moving a cursor displayed in the display unit, or may be a so-called touch panel superimposed on the display unit. Further, the terminal side display device 17 may also serve as the display unit.
[0055]
The navigation device 12 retrieves a map related to the travel plan provided from the providing device 4 from a plurality of maps provided in advance and displays the map on the terminal side display device 17. The navigation device 12 searches for a route between a plurality of points related to the travel plan, and displays the searched route on the terminal side display device 17 for route guidance. The terminal-side display device 17 further presents, for example, an input screen related to input of search conditions for searching the database unit 22 for planning a travel plan, and a travel plan provided from the providing device 4 to the operator. Display screen for displaying. The printer 18 prints the travel plan provided from the providing device 4 on a recording sheet. The terminal-side control device 13 controls all the devices 11, 12, 14, 15 in the terminal device 3.
[0056]
The terminal-side communication device 14 and the providing-side communication device 21 are used to send and receive various types of information between the providing device 4 and the terminal device 3. The terminal-side and provider-side communication devices 14 and 21 may be realized by, for example, a wireless device or may be realized by a device that combines a telephone and a modem. When the terminal device 3 is mounted on a vehicle, a mobile phone is preferably used as the phone.
[0057]
The database unit 22 roughly associates a plurality of travel information with search orders according to predetermined visit degrees, and further associates a plurality of pass / fail information indicating the pass / fail of each of the travel information individually, Remember. The single travel information indicates one or more destinations in a predetermined basic area. When a single trip information indicates a plurality of destinations, the trip information further indicates an order of going around the plurality of destinations. That is, in the above case, the travel information indicates so-called travel courses that go around a plurality of destinations.
[0058]
The providing side control device 23 controls all devices in the providing device 4. The providing side input device 24 and the providing side display device 25 are provided for the administrator of the providing device 4 to directly operate the providing device 4 for maintenance of the database unit 22 of the providing device 4, for example. The providing side input device 24 and the providing side display device 25 may be omitted.
[0059]
The general operation of the travel planning apparatus 1 is as follows. First, the operator of the travel planning device 1 operates the terminal side input device 11 as a search condition for searching the database unit 22, an area within a predetermined basic area where the traveler intends to travel, that is, The travel area and the visit degree of the traveler to the travel area are input. The terminal-side control device 13 transmits the search condition from the terminal-side communication device 14 to the providing-side communication device 21. The providing-side control device 23 searches the database unit 22 based on the search condition. The providing-side control device 23 makes at least one travel plan based on at least one piece of travel information obtained as a result, and transmits the prepared trip plan from the providing-side communication device 21 to the terminal-side communication device 14. . The terminal-side control device 13 displays the at least one travel plan on the terminal-side display device 17.
[0060]
When the at least one travel plan is presented, the operator operates any one of the at least one travel plans by operating the terminal side input device 11. Also, none of the at least one travel plan may be adopted. When any one of the travel plans is adopted, the terminal-side control device 13 causes the terminal-side communication device 14 to transmit information indicating which of the adopted travel plans is to the providing-side communication device 21. The providing-side control device 23 responds to the information and updates the search order of the at least one travel information used for planning any one of the travel plans. The terminal-side control device 13 causes the terminal-side display device 17 to display the adopted travel plan or causes the printer 18 to print it on a recording sheet.
[0061]
Further, after the traveler travels based on the adopted travel plan, the operator operates the terminal side input device 11 to input the quality of the travel. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the quality of travel is indicated by four stages of “double circle”, “circle”, “triangle”, and “peke”. “Peke”, “triangle”, “circle”, and “double circle” indicate that the trip was better in the rear in this order. The terminal-side control device 13 causes the terminal-side communication device 14 to transmit the inputted travel quality to the providing-side communication device 21. The providing-side control device 23 updates the pass / fail information of the at least one travel information used when making the one travel plan based on the given pass / fail of the trip. The above is the schematic operation of the travel planning apparatus 1.
[0062]
[Table 1]

[0063]
Table 1 shows the travel information database 27. The travel information database 27 stores a plurality of travel information and a plurality of regions / information codes in association with each other. The single travel information includes information type, required time, cost, destination and journey information, and location information.
[0064]
The region / information code is an identification code for identifying the associated travel information, and further indicates a region related to the travel information. Specifically, the region / information code is composed of 9-digit numbers, with the upper 6 digits being the region code and the lower 3 digits being the information code. The region code indicates a region related to the corresponding travel information. The information code is for distinguishing a plurality of pieces of travel information when there are a plurality of pieces of travel information related to a single region.
[0065]
The information type is for classifying whether single travel information including the information type indicates a single destination or a travel course. The required time is an average time for staying at the destination indicated by the travel information including the required time. The cost is a cost required at the destination indicated by the travel information including the cost, and includes, for example, an entrance fee or a usage fee for a building at the destination. The destination / journey information indicates what the destination indicated by the travel information including the information is, and when there are a plurality of the destinations, the order of visiting the plurality of destinations is also indicated. The position information indicates the exact position of the destination indicated by the single travel information including the position information. The position is represented by a combination of latitude and longitude, for example. When the information type is a travel course, the position information may be at least the position information of the destination to be visited first and the destination to be visited last in the travel course.
[0066]
[Table 2]

[0067]
Table 2 shows the frequency / frequency database 28. In the frequency / frequency database 28, a search order corresponding to the degree of visit is added to each region / information code of a plurality of travel information stored in the travel information database 27. In this embodiment, the number of hires by number of visits and the number of hires by frequency of visits are used as the search order. The number of visits indicates the number of times the traveler has visited the target area. The visit frequency indicates the frequency with which the traveler visits the target area. The number of hires indicates the number of times used for planning a travel plan that is presented to the operator of the travel planner and confirmed.
[0068]
[Table 3]

[0069]
[Table 4]

[0070]
Tables 3 and 4 show the first and second pass / fail information databases. The pass / fail information database 29 of the present embodiment only needs to have at least one of these two databases. The first pass / fail information database includes, as pass / fail information, all the input results of travel pass / fail, that is, travel pass / fail information, in each of the plurality of travel information areas / information codes stored in the travel information database 27 described above. Sometimes, how many times “double circle”, “circle”, “triangle”, and “peke” are input are stored in association with each other. In the second pass / fail information database, the number of samples, the cumulative score, and the average score are stored in association with each region / information code of the plurality of travel information as pass / fail information. The number of samples is the total number of trips that have been entered. The cumulative number is a numerical value of the input results of the quality of travel, and is the sum total of the numerical values of the input results of the quality of all past trips. Specifically, the result of a single trip may be 2 points for “double circle”, 1 point for “circle”, 0 point for “triangle”, “peke”. Converted to -1. The average score is the result of dividing the cumulative score by the number of samples.
[0071]
[Table 5]

[0072]
Table 5 shows the accommodation facility database 30. The accommodation facility database 30 stores a plurality of pieces of accommodation information related to accommodation facilities individually in association with regions / information codes. The accommodation information includes a facility name, a cost required for accommodation, and location information of the accommodation facility. The location information of the accommodation facility is represented by latitude and longitude, for example. As described above, the database unit 22 handles the accommodation facility in the same manner as one destination. The reason why the travel information database 27 and the accommodation facility database 30 are separated is to avoid the planning of a plurality of travel plans in which only the accommodation facilities are different from each other in the travel information search process described later. Note that the accommodation facility database 30 may be omitted when an accommodation facility is included as one of the destinations in the travel course indicated by the travel information.
[0073]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a search condition input method and a travel plan presentation method in the terminal device 3 of the travel planning device 1. In the following description, it is assumed that the terminal side input device 11 includes a screen input device and a keyboard. For example, when the operator operates a search condition input process start switch provided in the terminal device 3, the process proceeds from step a1 to step a2. In step a2, the terminal-side control device 13 initializes the entire terminal device 3. Specifically, the terminal-side control device 13 initializes all the devices 11, 12, 14, 15 in the terminal device 3. Further, the terminal-side control device 13 communicates between the communication devices 14 and 21 to the terminal-side communication device 14 so that data can be transmitted and received between the terminal-side communication device 14 and the providing-side communication device 21. Establish a route. Thereafter, the terminal-side control device 13 instructs all the devices 11, 12, 14, 15 in the terminal device 3 to start the travel information search process.
[0074]
In steps a3 to a9, the terminal device 3 causes the operator to input a travel region. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the basic area including all destinations is divided into three levels. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the basic region is the whole of Japan. In the present embodiment, first to third region designation screens 41, 46, and 49 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 are sequentially displayed as input screens related to travel region input. The first to third area designating screens 41, 46, and 49 are each one of screens that allow the operator to limit the travel area to a part of the basic area.
[0075]
Specifically, first, in step a <b> 3, the terminal-side control device 13 causes the terminal-side display device 17 to display the first region designation screen 41. In the first area designating screen 41, a plurality of first area designating options 42 each indicating an area obtained by dividing the basic area into a plurality of areas are arranged. Furthermore, in the first area designation screen 41, an input option 43 and a non-designation option 44 are shown.
[0076]
When limiting a part of the area within the basic area of the travel area, the operator selects at least one first area designating option 42 indicating a travel area or an area including the travel area, and further selects an input option 43. Select. If the travel area is not limited, only the non-designation option 44 is selected. In this case, the travel area is not limited, and the entire basic area is regarded as the travel area.
[0077]
After displaying the first area designation screen 41, the terminal side control device 13 determines whether or not there is designation for limiting the travel area in step a4, that is, at least one first area designation option 42 and an input choice. It is determined whether or not 43 is selected. When these options 42 and 43 are selected, the process proceeds from step a4 to step a5. In step a5, the terminal-side control device 13 stores the area indicated by the selected first area designating option 42 as the travel area, and then displays the second area designating screen 46.
[0078]
The second area specifying screen 46 is different from the first area specifying screen 41 in that a plurality of first area specifying options 42 are replaced with a plurality of second area specifying options 47. Others are equal. The plurality of second area specifying options 47 are respectively associated with a plurality of areas obtained by further subdividing the area limited by using the first area specifying options 42 in the basic area. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the Kinki region is stored as the travel region at the time of step a5, and the second region designation option 47 is associated with each region in the Kinki region.
[0079]
When further limiting the travel area, the operator selects at least one second area specifying option 47 indicating the travel area or the area including the travel area, and further selects the input option 43. If the travel area is not further limited, only the non-designation option 44 is selected. After displaying the second area designation screen 46, the terminal-side control device 13 determines whether or not there is designation for limiting the travel area in step a6, that is, at least one second area designation option 47 and an input option. It is determined whether or not 43 is selected. When these options 47 and 43 are selected, the process proceeds from step a6 to step a7. In step a7, the terminal-side control device 13 stores the travel area stored in step a5 by replacing it with the area indicated by the selected second area specifying option 47, and then displays the third area specifying screen 49. To do.
[0080]
The third area designation screen 49 is different from the first area designation screen 41 in that a plurality of first area designation options 42 are replaced with a plurality of third area designation options 49. Others are equal. The plurality of third area designating options 49 are respectively associated with a plurality of areas obtained by further subdividing the limited area using the second area designating options 47. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the Keihanshin area is stored as the travel area at the time of step a7, and the third area designating options 49 are associated with areas in the Keihanshin area. The plurality of region codes described above are associated with regions associated with the third region designating options 49, respectively.
[0081]
When further limiting the travel area, the operator selects at least one third area specifying option 49 indicating the travel area, and further selects the input option 43. If the travel area is not further limited, only the non-designation option 44 is selected. After displaying the third area designation screen 49, the terminal side control device 13 determines whether or not there is designation for limiting the travel area in step a8, that is, at least one third area designation option 49 and an input option. It is determined whether or not 43 is selected. When these options 49 and 43 are selected, the process proceeds from step a8 to step a9. In step a9, the terminal-side control device 13 determines and stores the area indicated by the selected third area designating option 49 as the travel area instead of the area stored at the time of step a7. After storing, the process proceeds from step a9 to step a10.
[0082]
In Steps a4, a6, and a8, when it is determined that there is no designation for limiting the travel area, that is, when the non-designation option 44 is selected, the travel area stored at that time is determined as it is. The After confirmation, the process proceeds from step a4, a6, a8 to step a10.
[0083]
In step a10, the terminal-side control device 13 causes the terminal-side display device 17 to display the condition input screen 52 shown in FIG. The condition input screen 5 includes a travel time field 53 for inputting the travel time, a departure field field 54 for inputting the departure place of the travel, and a plurality of visit number options for inputting the number of visits and the frequency. 55 and a plurality of visit frequency options 56 and an input option 57.
[0084]
The operator operates the terminal side input device 11 to write the start date and end date of the travel time in the travel time field 53, and the place name and latitude / longitude of the departure point in the departure field field 54. Include. Further, the operator operates the terminal-side input device 11 to select any one of the plurality of visit frequency options 55 or one of the plurality of visit frequency options 56. Either one of the plurality of visit frequency options 55 and one of the plurality of visit frequency options 56 may be selected. Thereafter, the operator selects the input option 57. Further, when the terminal device 3 further includes a current position detection device, for example, a so-called GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, the current position of the terminal device 3 is detected, and the detected current position is used as the departure place. Good.
[0085]
After the condition input screen 42 is displayed, the terminal-side control device 13 determines in step a11 whether or not the input of the search condition has been completed, that is, whether or not the input option 57 on the condition input screen 57 has been selected. To do. The determination in step a11 is repeated until the input is completed. When the input option 57 is selected, the terminal-side control device 13 determines the number of visits and the visit frequency associated with the selected visit frequency and visit frequency options 55 and 56 by the traveler to the travel area. It is acquired as the degree of visit, and further, the input travel time and departure place are acquired. As described above, in steps a3 to a11, the travel area, the visit degree of the traveler to the travel area, the travel time, and the departure place are acquired as the search conditions.
[0086]
In step a12, the terminal-side control device 13 transmits the acquired search condition from the terminal-side communication device 14 to the providing-side communication device 21. As a result, the providing-side control device 23 searches the database unit 22 based on the search condition, and makes at least one travel plan based on at least one travel information obtained as a result. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the providing-side control device 23 makes a plurality of travel plans. The detailed operation of the providing side control device 23 will be described later.
[0087]
After transmitting the search conditions, in step a13, the terminal-side control device 13 determines whether or not a travel plan has been transmitted from the providing-side communication device 21 to the terminal-side communication device 14. The determination in step a13 is repeated until the terminal side communication device 14 receives the travel plan. If a plurality of travel plans are received, the process proceeds from step a13 to step a14. In step a14, the terminal-side control device 13 causes the terminal-side display device 17 to display a providing screen for presenting the travel plan to the operator.
[0088]
FIG. 7 shows a provision screen 61 displayed at the time of step a14 when the travel area is near Kyoto and Kobe, the travel period is 2 days and 1 night, and the traveler visits the travel area for the first time. . FIG. 8 shows that the travel area and the travel period are the same as in the example of FIG. In the case of visiting, the provision screen 62 displayed at the time of step a14 is shown.
[0089]
The travel plans shown on the provision screens 61 and 62 respectively include a travel process 71 and a travel cost 72. The travel itinerary 71 includes a visit list 73 in which a plurality of destinations scheduled to travel and accommodation facilities to be stayed are arranged in the order of visit, travel time between the plurality of destinations, and movement between the departure point and the destination. It includes an average duration list 74 that lists time, travel time between two destinations, and travel time between the destination and the accommodation. In the examples of FIGS. 7 and 8, among the numerical values indicating the time in the average required time list 74, the one below the arrow is the travel time, and the one below the name of the destination is the required time at the destination. It is.
[0090]
The provision screens 61 and 62 schematically include one of the plurality of travel plans 63 and 64 and a plurality of options related to the provision of the travel plan, respectively. The operator visually looks at any one of the travel plans shown on the displayed provision screen 61 and selects any one of a plurality of options. In addition, a plurality of travel plans to be provided have a predetermined order of provision, and the travel plan with the earliest provision order is shown at the time of step a14.
[0091]
Refer to FIG. 2 again. After the provision screen is displayed, the terminal-side control device 13 first determines whether or not the next candidate instruction option 65 among the plurality of options has been selected in step a15. If it is selected, the process proceeds from step a15 to step a16. If it is not selected, the process proceeds from step a15 to step a17. In step a16, the terminal-side control device 13 displays a new provision screen including a travel plan whose provision order is one later than any one of the travel plans included in the currently displayed provision screen, as a terminal display device 17. To display. After the new provision screen is displayed, the process proceeds from step a16 to step a17.
[0092]
Next, in step a17, the terminal-side control device 13 determines whether or not the previous candidate instruction option 66 among the plurality of options has been selected. If it is selected, the process proceeds from step a17 to step a18. If it is not selected, the process proceeds from step a17 to step a19. In step a18, the terminal-side control device 13 again displays a provision screen including a travel plan whose provision order is one earlier than any one of the travel plans included in the currently displayed provision screen on the terminal display device 17. Display. After the provision screen is displayed, the process proceeds from step a18 to step a19.
[0093]
Next, in step a19, the terminal-side control device 13 determines whether or not the list instruction option 67 among the plurality of options has been selected. If it is selected, the process proceeds from step a19 to step a20. If it is not selected, the process proceeds from step a19 to step a21. In step a20, the terminal-side control device 13 causes the terminal display device 17 to display a list screen including all travel plans. The list screen is, for example, a plurality of travel plans that are displayed in parallel in the same format as the provision screen, reduced in size. After displaying the list screen, the process proceeds from step a20 to step a21.
[0094]
Next, the terminal-side control device 13 determines whether or not the re-search instruction option 68 among the plurality of options has been selected in step a21. The re-search instruction option 68 is selected, for example, when the operator intends to change the search condition because there is no travel plan desired by the traveler among all the travel plans. When the re-search instruction option 68 is selected, the process returns from step a21 to step a3, and when not selected, the process proceeds from step a21 to step a22.
[0095]
Next, in step a22, the terminal-side control device 13 determines whether or not a cancel instruction option 69 among a plurality of options has been selected. The cancel instruction option 67 is selected when the operator intends to terminate the process of the flowchart of FIG. When the cancel instruction option 69 is not selected, the process proceeds from step a22 to step a23. When the cancel instruction option 69 is selected, the process proceeds from step a22 to step a25, and the process of the flowchart ends.
[0096]
Next, in step a23, the terminal-side control device 13 determines whether or not the adoption instruction option 70 among the plurality of options has been selected. The adoption instruction option 70 is selected when the operator adopts the travel plan included in the currently displayed provision screen. When the employment instruction option 70 is not selected, the process returns from step a23 to step a15, and when selected, the process proceeds from step a23 to step a24.
[0097]
In step a24, the terminal-side control device 13 causes the terminal-side communication device 14 to transmit the region / information code of the travel information used for planning the adopted travel plan to the providing-side communication device 21. Further, the terminal-side control device 13 determines a route from the departure point to the first destination to be visited in the adopted travel plan, and a route from the last destination to be visited in the travel plan to the departure point. The navigation device 12 is caused to search for a route, and the search result is displayed on the terminal side display device 17. Note that the terminal-side control device 13 sends, to the navigation device 12, a map related to the adopted travel plan, for example, a map of a region visited in the travel plan, instead of the route search and the search result display. You may search from the some map with which it is equipped, and may display on the terminal side display apparatus 17. FIG. In addition to these, when the operator operates the terminal-side input device 11 to instruct the printing of the adopted travel plan, the terminal-side control device 13 displays on the terminal-side display device 17 at the time of the instruction. The travel plan to be printed is printed on recording paper by the printer 18. After the above process is completed, the process of the flowchart is terminated in step a25.
[0098]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method for inputting the quality of a trip in the terminal device 3 of the trip planning device 1. In the following description, it is assumed that the terminal side input device 11 includes a screen input device and a keyboard. For example, when the operator operates a start switch for a questionnaire input process for asking whether the trip is good or not provided in the terminal device 3, the process proceeds from step b1 to step b2. In step b2, the terminal-side control device 13 initializes the entire terminal device 3. Specifically, the terminal-side control device 13 performs all the devices in the terminal device 3 so that data can be transmitted and received between the terminal-side communication device 14 and the providing-side communication device 21. The communication device 14 is allowed to establish communication paths between the communication devices 14 and 21. Further, the terminal-side control device 13 instructs all devices in the terminal device 3 to start the questionnaire input process. In step b <b> 3, the terminal-side control device 13 causes the terminal-side display device 17 to display a questionnaire screen related to the travel quality input / output.
[0099]
FIG. 10 shows the questionnaire screen 81. The questionnaire screen 81 includes a plurality of satisfaction options 83 related to the input of travel quality, a plurality of advantages options 84 related to the input of travel advantages, and a plurality of disadvantage options 85 related to the input of travel disadvantages. , And an input option 86. As described above, in this embodiment, the quality of the trip, that is, the satisfaction level, is divided into four stages. Therefore, the plurality of satisfaction options 83 are “double circle”, “circle”, “triangle”, “ Each corresponds to "Peke". In addition, each of the plurality of merit options 84 is for inputting points that the traveler felt good in this trip, and if the travel course and the destination were selected, the accommodation location was good. The three cases correspond to the case where the weather is fine. The plurality of disadvantage options 84 are for inputting points that the traveler felt bad in this trip, and the accommodation location was bad when the travel course and destination were badly selected. The three cases correspond to the case where the weather is bad. The operator operates the terminal-side input device 11 to select one of all the satisfaction options 83, one of all the advantages options 84, and all the disadvantage options 85. Each one is selected. Thereafter, the operator selects an input option 86.
[0100]
Refer to FIG. 9 again. After the questionnaire screen 81 is displayed, the terminal-side control device 13 determines in step b4 whether or not the input of travel quality has been completed, that is, whether or not the input option 86 on the questionnaire screen 81 has been selected. The determination in step b4 is repeated until the input is completed. When the input option 86 is selected, the terminal-side control device 13 acquires information corresponding to each of the three selected options as a questionnaire input result, that is, information indicating whether or not the trip is good. Next, in step b5, the terminal control device 13 causes the acquired questionnaire input result to be transmitted from the terminal side communication device 14 to the providing side communication device 21. After the transmission, the process of the flowchart is terminated in step b6.
[0101]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing related to the planning of the travel plan and processing related to the update of the pass / fail information in the providing device 4. For example, when power is supplied to the providing apparatus 4 in order to start up the information center system, that is, the providing apparatus 4, the process proceeds from step b1 to step b2. Note that this flowchart is forcibly terminated when the supplied power is cut off, and the process starts again from step b1 when the power is supplied again.
[0102]
The providing side control device 23 initializes the providing device 4 in step c2. Next, in step a3, the providing side control device 23 determines whether or not the providing side communication device 21 has received the search condition transmitted from the terminal side communication device 14. The search condition is transmitted in step a12 in the flowchart of FIG. If the search condition is not received, the process proceeds from step c3 to step c9. If the search condition is received, the process proceeds from step c3 to step c4.
[0103]
In step c4, the providing-side control device 23 searches the database unit 22 based on the search condition, and makes a plurality of travel plans based on the plurality of travel information obtained as a result. Details of the search procedure will be described later. In step c5, the providing-side control device 23 determines whether there is a plan to stay on the trip to be planned based on the search condition. If there is a plan to stay, the process proceeds from step c5 to step c6. If there is no plan to stay, the process proceeds from step c5 to step c8.
[0104]
The providing-side control device 23 first searches the accommodation facility database 30 based on the search condition in step c6, and then in step c7, as a result of the search, there is an available accommodation facility, that is, an accommodation facility that can be accommodated. It is determined whether or not it has been obtained. If an available accommodation facility cannot be obtained, the process returns from step c7 to step c6, and the search procedure is changed and the search is performed again. When at least one vacant stay is obtained, the process proceeds from step c7 to step c8. The obtained accommodation facility is added to the travel plan prepared in step c4. In step c8, the providing side control device 23 causes the providing side communication device 21 to transmit the plurality of travel plans prepared in step c4 to the terminal side communication device 14 in the order of provision. As a result, in the terminal device 3, a plurality of travel plans are sequentially presented to the operator.
[0105]
In step c <b> 9, the providing-side control device 23 determines whether the providing-side communication device 21 has received the region / information code transmitted from the terminal-side communication device 14. The region / information code is transmitted in step a24 in the flowchart of FIG. If the area / information code is not received, the process proceeds from step c9 to step c11. If the area / information code is received, the process proceeds from step c9 to step c10.
[0106]
In step c10, the providing-side control device 23 selects the received region / information code, that is, the region used for the planning of the travel plan adopted by the operator, out of all the adoptions in the frequency / frequency database 28. Add 1 to the number of hires specified by both the information code and the degree of visit given at the time of planning the travel plan. When the visit degree is only the number of visits or visit frequency, 1 is added to one adoption number defined by the region / information code and the visit number or visit frequency, and the visit degree is only the visit number and visit frequency. In this case, 1 is added to each of the two adoption numbers defined by the region / information code, the number of visits, and the visit frequency.
[0107]
In step c11, the providing-side control device 23 determines whether or not the providing-side communication device 21 has received the questionnaire input result transmitted from the terminal-side communication device 14. The questionnaire input result is transmitted in step b5 in the flowchart of FIG. If the questionnaire input result is not received, the process returns from step c11 to step c3. If the questionnaire input result is received, the process proceeds from step c11 to step c12.
[0108]
In step c12, the providing-side control device 23 updates the pass / fail information database 29 based on the questionnaire input result. Specifically, first, based on the selection result of the advantages and disadvantages options, it is determined whether at least one of the good and bad points of the trip was a travel course and a destination. When at least one of the two points is a travel course and a destination, out of all the pass / fail information in the pass / fail information database 29, at the time of planning a trip made by the traveler who has input the questionnaire input result The pass / fail information corresponding to the region / information code of the used travel information is rewritten based on the questionnaire input result. If both of the two points are not the travel course and the destination, the pass / fail information database 29 is not rewritten. When the rewriting process of the pass / fail information database 29 is completed, the process returns from step c12 to step c3. Thereafter, the processes of steps c3 to c12 are repeated.
[0109]
The database search process in step c3 will be described in detail below. In the search process, a first search process using a travel information database 27 and a frequency / frequency database 28, a second search process using a travel information database 27 and a pass / fail information database 29, a travel information database 27, There is a third search process in which the frequency / frequency database 28 and the pass / fail information database 29 are used, and any one search process is performed.
[0110]
First, the first search process will be described. First, the providing-side control device 23 determines travel information to be searched from among all travel information based on the travel area of the received search conditions. Specifically, travel information including a region code indicating a region designated as a travel region in the region / information code is a search target. Since all the area codes correspond to a plurality of areas respectively associated with the third area designating options 50, no designation is made when the first to third area designating screens 41, 46, and 49 are displayed. When the option 44 for use is selected, there is no area code directly corresponding to the travel area. In this case, of all the regions associated with the region code, all regions within the travel region are targeted for search. As a result of these processes, the region / information code of the travel information to be searched is determined.
[0111]
Next, the providing-side control device 23 searches the number / frequency database 28 based on the degree of visit in the search condition, and selects a plurality of regions / information codes from among the regions / information codes of all the travel regions to be searched. Select an information code. The search method of the frequency / frequency database 28 includes the following three methods.
[0112]
The first search method is used when the degree of visit is only the number of visits or visit frequency. First, out of the number of visits in the frequency / frequency database 28 and the number of adopted travel information by frequency, that is, among all the columns in the matrix of the number of adopted cases in Table 2, the number of visits within the search condition or The same visit frequency is selected. Finally, out of the regions / information codes of all the travel target travel information, the regions / information codes respectively corresponding to the top five adoptions are selected in the descending order of the number of adoptions in the selected column. In addition, regions / information codes corresponding to the top five hiring cases may be selected in ascending order of hiring cases. The above is the first search method.
[0113]
The second search method is used when the visit degree is both the number of visits and the visit degree. First, out of all the columns in the matrix of the number of employments in the number / frequency database 28, the same number of visits and visit frequencies within the search condition are selected. Next, for each of the two columns selected from the region / information codes of all the search target travel information, the top five are selected in the descending order of the number of adoption in each column. All corresponding region / information codes are selected. The above is the second search method.
[0114]
The third selection method is used when the visit degree is both the number of visits and the visit degree. First, out of all the columns in the matrix of the number of employments in the number / frequency database 28, the same number of visits and visit frequencies within the search condition are selected. Next, the number of adoptions for each region / information code in the column of the number of employments with the same number of visits as the number of visits of the search condition, and each region in the column of the number of employments with the same visit frequency as the visit frequency of the search conditions The number of hires for each information code is added. Finally, out of all the region / information codes of the travel information to be searched, all the regions / information codes corresponding respectively to the top five hired cases are listed in order of increasing or decreasing sum of the hiring cases. To be elected. The above is the third search method.
[0115]
Subsequently, the providing-side control device 23 reads a plurality of pieces of travel information respectively corresponding to the plurality of regions / information codes selected by any one of the above-described procedures from the travel information database 27. Further, the providing-side control device 23 makes a plurality of travel plans based on the read plurality of travel information. Specifically, first, a large number of candidate plans including at least one of all read travel information are drawn up. Next, for each candidate plan, it is examined whether or not the travel time required for the trip when the traveler travels according to each candidate plan falls within the travel period within the search condition. Among all the candidate plans, the one that requires a travel time within the travel period is selected as a travel plan to be presented to the operator.
[0116]
The travel time for any one candidate plan is calculated as follows. First, the travel time required to travel from the starting point in the search condition to the first destination to be visited among all the destinations scheduled to be routed in the candidate plan, and out of all the destinations The travel time required to travel from the last visited destination to the departure place within the search condition is calculated. In addition, when it is planned to pass through a plurality of destinations respectively indicated by a plurality of travel information in the candidate plan, a travel time required for movement between the plurality of destinations is also calculated. The sum of these travel times and the required times at all the destinations is the travel time for the candidate plan. The travel time between the departure point and the destination and the travel time between the two destinations are respectively determined by using the position information of the departure point in the travel information and the position information of the destination in the travel information. Is calculated. The required time at each destination is stored in the travel information. In the case where one piece of travel information represents a travel course, the required time in the travel information is not only for the required time of each of the plurality of destinations indicated by the travel information, but also for moving between the plurality of destinations. Travel time is also included. The above is the calculation method of travel time.
[0117]
When the travel period is one day or longer, that is, when there is a plan to stay, when the travel plan is made, as described above, an available accommodation facility is checked and the accommodation facility is incorporated into the travel plan. At this time, if the travel plan is scheduled to go around a plurality of areas, an accommodation facility in the area between the area scheduled for the first day and the area scheduled for the second day may be selected. A plurality of pieces of travel information designed in this way are transmitted to the terminal device 3 in step c8. The above is the description of the first search process.
[0118]
The second search process will be described below. First, the providing-side control device 23 determines travel information to be searched from among all travel information based on the travel area of the received search conditions. The detailed procedure for determining the region / information code of the travel information to be searched is the same as the first search process.
[0119]
Next, the providing-side control device 23 searches the pass / fail information database 29 using a search method according to the degree of visit within the search condition among a plurality of predetermined search methods, and travel information for all search targets. A plurality of regions / information codes are obtained from the regions / information codes. In the search method, travel information indicating a destination that any past traveler visits once as the number of visits within the search condition decreases or the frequency of visits within the search condition increases. Let me choose. In addition, the search method may select travel information indicating a destination that a past traveler felt better as the number of visits in the search condition is higher or the visit frequency in the search condition is more frequent. . The search method according to the degree of visit differs depending on whether the pass / fail information database 29 is the first or second pass / fail information database.
[0120]
Subsequently, the providing-side control device 23 reads a plurality of pieces of travel information respectively corresponding to the plurality of regions / information codes selected by any one of the above-described procedures from the travel information database 27. Further, the providing-side control device 23 makes a plurality of travel plans based on the read plurality of travel information. The detailed method of the travel planning process is the same as that described in the first search method. The above is the description of the second search process.
[0121]
If the pass / fail information database 29 is the first pass / fail information database, specific search methods of the pass / fail information database 29 are, for example, as follows. In the following description, the plurality of search methods are the first search method used when the number of visits is the first time, or when the visit frequency is the first time in 10 years, when the number of visits is 2 to 4 times, Alternatively, the second search method used when the visit frequency is 2 to 9 years, the third search method used when the visit frequency is 5 to 9 times, or the visit frequency is once a year, visit It is assumed that there are four of the fourth search methods used when the number of times is 10 times or more, or when the visit frequency is twice or more a year.
[0122]
In the first search method, first, all search target regions / information codes are sorted in descending order of the number of corresponding samples, and then, from among all search target regions / information codes, “double circle ”And“ Maru ”are selected for five regions / information codes in which the sum of the numbers is 60% of the total number of samples in the sorted order. The number of samples is the sum of the number of “double circles”, the number of “circles”, the number of “triangles”, and the number of “pekes”. In the second search method, first, all search target regions / information codes are rearranged in order of corresponding “double circles”, and then, from among all search target region information / codes, they are arranged. The top 5 items are selected in the order of change.
[0123]
In the third search method, first, all search target regions / information codes are sorted in descending order of the ratio of the number of “double circles” to the corresponding number of samples, and then all search target regions / information codes are sorted. From the information codes, the top five items are selected in the sorted order. In the fourth search method, first, all search target regions / information codes are sorted in descending order of the ratio of the number of “double circles” to the corresponding number of samples, and then all search target regions / information codes are sorted. Of the information codes, the number of samples equal to or smaller than a predetermined number is selected for five items in the rearranged order. The predetermined number is variable depending on, for example, where the travel area is. The above is the description of the plurality of search methods when the first pass / fail database is used.
[0124]
If the pass / fail information database 29 is the second pass / fail information database, specific search methods for the pass / fail information database 29 are, for example, as follows. In the following description, it is assumed that the plurality of search methods are the first to fourth search methods used in the four cases described in the example in which the first pass / fail information database is used.
[0125]
In the first search method, first, all search target regions / information codes are sorted in descending order of the number of samples, and finally, the average score is 1 or more among all search target regions / information codes. Some are selected in the order in which they are sorted. In the second search method, all search target regions / information codes are sorted in descending order of the average score, and finally, from all search target regions / information codes, the number of samples is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. Items are selected for the five items in the sorted order. In the third search method, all search target regions / information codes are sorted in descending order of the average score, and finally, the top five items in the sorted order among all search target regions / information codes. Is chosen. In the fourth search method, first, all search target regions / information codes are sorted in descending order of the average score, and finally, a predetermined number of samples is selected from all search target regions / information codes. The following items are selected in the order in which they are rearranged. Each of the predetermined numbers is variable depending on where the travel area is. The above is an explanation of a plurality of search methods when the second pass / fail information database is used.
[0126]
The third search process will be described below. First, the providing-side control device 23 uses only the frequency / frequency database 28 and selects a plurality of regions / information codes from all regions / information codes by the same processing as the first search processing. Further, the providing-side control device 23 uses only the pass / fail information database 29 and selects a plurality of regions / information codes from all regions / information codes by the same processing as the second search processing. Subsequently, the providing-side control device 23 reads a plurality of pieces of travel information respectively corresponding to all the regions / information codes selected using the above-described two databases 28 and 29 from the travel information database 27. . Finally, the providing-side control device 23 makes a plurality of travel plans based on the read plurality of travel information. The detailed method of the travel planning process is the same as that described in the first search method. The above is the third search process.
[0127]
When the providing-side control device 23 makes a travel plan using the above-described search process based on a plurality of search conditions that differ only in the degree of visit, the travel plans for each search condition differ from each other. For example, when the search conditions are those described in the description of FIG. 7, the travel information with the first provision order is created based on 111101-006 and 111110-003 among the region / information codes in Table 1. Suppose that In this case, as described in the explanation of FIG. 8, when only the visit frequency is different from the search condition of the example of FIG. Of the region / information code, it is created based on 111101-007 and 111110-004.
[0128]
A specific procedure of the accommodation facility database search process performed in step c6 of the flowchart of FIG. 11 will be described below. First, the providing-side control device 23 selects at least one accommodation information to be searched from all the accommodation information based on the travel area within the search condition. The specific selection procedure of the search target accommodation information is the same as the specific search method of the search target travel information described above. Next, the providing-side control device 23 searches for all accommodation information to be searched for information indicating an available accommodation facility, and reads the retrieved accommodation information from the accommodation information database 30.
[0129]
The vacancy information indicating whether or not there is a vacancy in the accommodation facility is examined as follows, for example. The information center and the accommodation facility have built a system capable of exchanging vacancy information in advance. In order to be able to exchange vacancy information, for example, the information center can exchange vacancy information with a travel agency that can obtain vacancy information of an accommodation facility instead of an accommodation facility, for example. A system may be constructed. In order to construct the system, for example, a so-called online system is installed in the information center and the accommodation facility, or information processing apparatuses provided in both are connected via the Internet. The information center accesses the accommodation facility or the travel agency as needed to acquire the vacant information, and inputs the acquired vacant information to the providing device 4. This may be performed automatically by the providing device 4 or by an operator of the information center.
[0130]
When one providing device 4 provides a travel plan to an unspecified number of terminal devices 3, the providing-side control device 23 is used to plan the provided travel plan in order to update the pass / fail information database 29. It is necessary to associate the travel information with the questionnaire results regarding the travel plan. For this reason, the providing-side control device 23 associates the travel information and the questionnaire result with the following procedure, for example.
[0131]
The providing-side control device 23 associates an identification code for identifying the terminal device 3 with each of a large number of unspecified terminal devices 3 in advance. In addition, use of the travel planning device 1 is performed so that a questionnaire result on the quality of travel based on the travel plan provided to any one terminal device 3 is returned from the any one terminal device 3 to the providing device 4. Establish a method. When the region / information code of the travel information used for planning the travel plan adopted by any one of the terminal devices 3 is received in step c9, the providing side control device 23 determines the region / information code and the terminal device. 3 identification codes are stored in association with each other. Thereafter, when a questionnaire result is received from any one of the terminal devices 3 in step c11, the providing-side control device 23 stores the region / information code stored in association with the identification code of any one of the terminal devices 3. The quality information of the travel information corresponding to is updated based on the received questionnaire result. Accordingly, even when the travel planning device 1 includes an unspecified number of terminal devices, the providing-side control device 23 can update the pass / fail information based on the questionnaire result.
[0132]
In step c8, the providing-side control device 23 may provide the terminal device 3 with an outline of the planned travel plan, for example, only the travel itinerary. In this case, after the determination in step a <b> 23 is affirmed, the terminal device 3 first transmits information indicating which one of the adopted travel plans is to the providing device 4. When the information is received, the providing-side control device 23 transmits all information related to any one of the adopted travel plans to the terminal device 3. The terminal-side control device 13 displays all the information on the terminal-side display device 17 in step a24.
[0133]
When providing a travel plan by this procedure, the providing-side control device 23 adds a questionnaire regarding the travel plan and an identification for identifying the questionnaire to all the information regarding the one of the adopted travel plans. You may add code. The providing-side control device 23 stores the identification code of the questionnaire in association with the region / information code of the travel information used for planning any one of the travel plans. When transmitting the questionnaire result in step b5, the terminal-side control device 13 also transmits the questionnaire identification code. The providing-side control device 23 updates the pass / fail information of the travel information corresponding to the region / information code associated with the received identification code of the questionnaire based on the received questionnaire. In this way, even when the travel planning device 1 includes an unspecified number of terminal devices and the travel plan is transmitted and received between the providing device 4 and the terminal device 3 in the above-described procedure, the providing-side control device 23 can update pass / fail information based on the questionnaire result.
[0134]
The case classification for proper use of the search procedure of the pass / fail information database 29 is not limited to the above-described example, and the case classification may be made more finely according to the visit frequency. Of course, each of the plurality of search procedures in the pass / fail information database 29 is not limited to the above-described example, and may be another procedure. The number of visits in the number / frequency database 28 and the degree of visit in the pass / fail information database 29 are not limited to the examples in Table 2 and Table 3, and may be further detailed. The search condition may include personal information indicating the number of persons participating in the trip and the personnel composition. That is, the human information indicates whether the trip is a solo trip, an Abek trip, a family trip, or a group trip, and the age of the traveler. In this case, the providing device 4 sets in advance a frequency / frequency database and a pass / fail information database corresponding to each of the human information, and the number of times / frequency associated with the human information equal to the human information in the search condition. Create a travel plan using the frequency and quality information database. Thereby, the providing device 4 can provide travel information based on the search conditions further subdivided by adding the human information.
[0135]
Further, there are a plurality of pieces of travel information relating to any one area. The providing-side control device 23 determines in advance whether the number of adopted cases according to the degree of visits individually corresponding to each of the regions / information codes of the plurality of travel information, or the number of samples of pass / fail information individually corresponding to each of the regions / information codes. When the predetermined value is exceeded, the number of visits or visit frequency for each of the plurality of travel information may be fixed. That is, after the location, the frequency / frequency database 28 and the pass / fail information database 29 store travel information to be provided according to the number of visits or visit frequency. In this case, since the travel information to be provided for each of a plurality of predetermined visit degrees is associated in advance, the providing-side control device 23 matches the visit degree in the search condition among the plurality of visit degrees. And provide travel information corresponding to the selected degree of visit. This facilitates the processing of the providing-side control device 23.
[0136]
The questionnaire screen 81 includes the advantages option 84 and the disadvantages option 85 for the following reason. Generally, a traveler considers whether a trip is good or bad by taking into account not only the impression of the destination around the trip, but also the weather during the trip and the impression of the accommodation facility. For this reason, the use of the pass / fail information determined based on the weather or the impression of the accommodation facility as the main factor for updating the pass / fail information database 29 may cause a decrease in the accuracy of the pass / fail information database 29. For this reason, in order to use only the pass / fail information with the impression of the destination as the main factor in updating the pass / fail information database 29, the advantage option 84 and the disadvantage option 85 are added. That is, the providing-side control device 23 updates the pass / fail information database 29 by updating the pass / fail information database 29 using pass / fail information only when the destination is listed as a good or bad trip. The result is prevented from being influenced by the weather.
[0137]
In the above description, the providing device 4 makes a travel plan based on at least one travel information selected according to the search condition, and provides the travel plan to the terminal device 3. However, the at least one travel information is provided. May be given to the terminal device 3 as it is. Furthermore, the search condition includes a travel region and a travel period in addition to the visit degree, but the search condition may include at least the visit degree, and the travel region and the travel period may be omitted. When the travel region or the travel period is omitted, the providing-side control device 23 performs the travel information search process without performing the process related to the omitted condition.
[0138]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the travel planning device sets a plurality of pieces of travel information relating to destinations in a predetermined area as at least one of a visit degree, a search order corresponding to the visit degree, and pass / fail information, respectively. A search storage means stored in association with each other is included. The operator inputs the degree of visit to the area by the traveler as a search condition of the search storage means in the trip planning device. Travel within the travel planning deviceinformationThe search means selects travel information to be provided to the operator from all travel information according to the degree of visit.For example, when the visit degree input by the visit degree input means is smaller than a predetermined value, the travel information search means selects at least one piece of travel information having a predetermined visit degree from a plurality of pieces of travel information. Further, for example, when the visit degree input by the visit degree input means is smaller than a predetermined value, the travel information search means selects at least one travel information from a plurality of pieces of travel information in descending order of the search order. Further, for example, when the visit degree input by the visit degree input means is larger than a predetermined value, the travel information search means has a good degree of good / bad information from a plurality of travel information by the travel information search means, and the total number of good / bad information At least one piece of travel information whose sample number is less than or equal to a predetermined value is selected.Thereby, the travel information most suitable for the traveler is always easily provided according to the degree of visit to the area by the traveler.
[0139]
According to the present invention, the search order of each piece of travel information is determined according to the number of times travel information is output. As a result, the travel information to be output is easily selected according to the number of travel information output in the past and the degree of visit. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the travel planning device determines pass / fail information of each piece of travel information based on a result of sum of pass / fail of travel actually performed based on each piece of travel information. As a result, the travel information to be output is easily selected according to the result of the quality of the actual travel performed in the past and the degree of visit.
[0140]
Further, according to the present invention, all travel information includes area information indicating a small area where the destination in the area is located. As a result, the travel information to be output can be selected in consideration of the small area where the destination is located. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the travel information to be output is selected from travel information having a destination in a small area input as one of the search conditions. This makes it possible to easily plan a travel plan for a small area desired by the traveler.
[0141]
Further, according to the present invention, all travel information further indicates the stay time at the destination and the position of the destination. As a result, it is possible to select travel information to be output in consideration of the stay time and the location of the destination. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the travel information to be output uses the stay time and the location of the destination, and takes into account the travel time and the location of the departure point respectively input as one of the search conditions. Determined. As a result, a travel plan is created so that the destination can be reciprocated with the departure place within the travel time desired by the traveler.
[0142]
According to the present invention, the travel information and at least one of the search order and the pass / fail information are stored in separate storage means. This facilitates updating and maintenance of the storage contents of the storage means.
[0143]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the travel planning device causes the operator to input the quality of the trip, totals the quality of the inputted trip, and updates the quality information based on the total result. As a result, the pass / fail information is always the latest. Further, according to the present invention, the quality of the weather during the trip can be input to the travel planning device, and the quality information is updated based only on the quality of the trip where the weather was good. As a result, it is possible to prevent the quality information from being influenced by the weather during travel.
[0144]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, a travel information providing device including the search storage means and the travel information search means, and a travel information providing means for inputting a visit degree input means for inputting a visit degree of the traveler to the area. The travel planning apparatus is configured in combination with a terminal device for business use. Therefore, the terminal device for providing travel information can cause the operator to input the degree of visit in order for the travel information search means to search the storage means for search. In addition, the travel information providing device can search for travel information according to the degree of visit to the area by the traveler in response to the degree of visit given from the travel information terminal device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a travel planning apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a travel information search condition input method and a travel plan presentation method in the terminal device 3 in the travel planning device 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first region designation screen 41 displayed on the terminal side display device 17 in the terminal device 3 for inputting the search condition.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second region designation screen 46 displayed on the terminal side display device 17 for inputting the search condition.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a third region designation screen 49 displayed on the terminal side display device 17 for inputting the search condition.
6 is a diagram showing a condition input screen 52 displayed on the terminal side display device 17 for inputting the search condition. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a travel plan providing screen 61 displayed on the terminal side display device 17 for providing the travel plan.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a travel plan providing screen 62 displayed on the terminal side display device 17 for providing the travel plan.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for inputting the quality of travel in the terminal device 3;
10 is a diagram showing a questionnaire screen 81 displayed on the terminal side display device 17. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process related to planning a travel plan in the providing device 4 in the travel planning device 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 travel planning equipment
3 Terminal equipment
4 Providing device
11 Terminal side input device
13 Terminal-side control device
14 Terminal side communication device
17 Terminal side display device
21 Providing communication device
22 Database section
23 Providing side control device
27 Travel Information Database
28 times / frequency database
29 Pass / Fail Information Database

Claims (11)

A visit degree input means for inputting a visit degree that is at least one of the number of visits to the predetermined area and the visit frequency;
A plurality of travel information indicating at least one of a plurality of predetermined destinations in the area and a plurality of pass / fail information indicating pass / fail of each of the travel information are stored in association with each other. a search storage means which is,
If the visiting degree inputted by the visiting degree input means big than the predetermined degree of the good is large of the acceptability information from the plurality of travel information, and the the total number of quality information number of samples is less than a predetermined value A travel information search means for preferentially searching for at least one travel information;
And a travel information output means for outputting the travel information searched by the travel information search means. 2. The travel planning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the pass / fail information is a result of counting pass / fail of a plurality of trips performed in the past based on the travel information output from the travel information output unit . The region is composed of a plurality of predetermined subregions, and the plurality of travel information includes region information indicating any one subregion having a destination indicated by the travel information among the plurality of subregions. The travel planning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising each of them. The visit degree input means further inputs a small area to be traveled out of the plurality of small areas,
The travel information search means searches all travel information including area information indicating the input small area from the plurality of travel information stored in the search storage means, 4. The travel planning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one travel information is searched from travel information . Wherein the plurality of travel information, the expected residence time to stay at the destination indicated the travel information, travel planning device according to claim 1, wherein the further respectively. Wherein the plurality of travel information, the position of the destination indicating the travel information, travel planning device according to claim 1, wherein the further respectively. The plurality of travel information further indicate a stay time expected to stay at the destination indicated by the travel information and a position of the destination, respectively.
The visit degree input means further inputs the position of the departure place of the trip and the travel period,
The travel information search means further sets the travel time required for the travel between the destination indicated by the travel information and the departure place for each of the searched travel information to the positions of the destination and the departure place. Of the travel information calculated based on the travel information, only the travel information in which the time obtained by adding the stay time included in the travel information within the travel time is within the travel period is output as the travel information. travel planning device according to claim 1, characterized in providing the means. The search storage means includes:
Travel information storage means for storing the plurality of travel information and a plurality of identification information for identifying the plurality of travel information in association with each other;
Quality information of the plurality of travel information, travel planning device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a quality information storage unit that is stored in association with each of the plurality of identification information. Travel quality input means for inputting the quality of a trip made based on the travel information output from the travel information output means;
And a pass / fail information update unit that counts the pass / fail of the input trip and updates the pass / fail information of the travel information output from the travel information output unit based on a travel pass / fail count result. The travel planning apparatus according to claim 1 . The travel quality input means further inputs the quality of the weather during the travel together with the quality of the travel,
10. The travel planning apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein, when the weather information during the trip is inputted as good, the quality information updating unit counts only the quality of the trips inputted together . A visit degree input means for inputting a visit degree that is at least one of the number of visits and a visit frequency to a predetermined area, and a plurality of points respectively indicating at least one of a plurality of predetermined destinations in the area A travel information providing device that is used in combination with a travel information providing terminal device including travel information output means capable of outputting travel information, and provided with a visit degree input from the visit degree input means;
A storage unit for search in which the plurality of travel information and a plurality of pass / fail information respectively indicating pass / fail of the plurality of travel information are stored in association with each other;
When the visit degree input by the visit degree input means is larger than a predetermined value, the degree of goodness of the pass / fail information is large from the plurality of travel information, and the number of samples that is the total number of the pass / fail information is a predetermined value or less. A travel information search means for searching information preferentially;
The travel information retrieved travel information retrieval by means, travel line information providing apparatus you; and a travel information supplying means for outputting given to the travel information output means.

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