JP4345345B2 - Route guidance server, route guidance system, method, and program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a route guidance system, method, and program for providing a user with road guidance information to a destination. , And route guidance service To the ba Related.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Information services for providing information on restaurants, leisure facilities, etc. to car navigation devices via communication means such as mobile phones and automobile phones have been realized. For example, Patent Literature 1 describes a preference information collection device that selects only necessary information from information received via the Internet, a digital broadcasting network, or the like and provides it to the user. The preference information collection device described in Patent Literature 1 sorts information received via the Internet, a digital broadcasting network, or the like based on automatically obtained user preference information and provides it to the user.
[0003]
In addition, a personal optimization system that can efficiently provide necessary information to the user in consideration of the user's preference has been proposed. Non-Patent Document 1 describes, for example, a system that estimates user preferences based on user video reservation history information and recommends television programs that match the user preferences.
[0004]
When searching for a destination using a car navigation device, the predetermined destination is not determined in advance, but the user first searches for a destination candidate that matches the moving purpose, and the candidate included in the search result The destination may be selected from among them. For example, when there is a purpose of moving to eat vaguely, the user first acquires a store information list of restaurants around the current position using the car navigation device. Then, the user selects a restaurant that matches his / her preference from the store information list, and receives road guidance from the car navigation device to the location of the selected restaurant.
[0005]
However, in order to obtain restaurant information, the user takes time and effort such as inputting a keyword and confirming a search result display screen. Further, when a car navigation device, a mobile terminal, or the like is used, an operation burden is imposed on the user because the operation unit and display unit of the device are small. Furthermore, since the user is forced to perform the operation in a short time, an operation burden is applied.
[0006]
In order to reduce the number and burden of user operations, it is conceivable to apply the preference information collection device described in Patent Literature 1 and the system described in Non-Patent Literature 1 to a car navigation device. If the preference information collection device described in Patent Document 1 or the system described in Non-Patent Document 1 is used, the history information of the user's visited place is recorded, and the user's preference is based on the recorded history information. Information can be generated. Then, when searching for a destination candidate according to the user's request instruction, a candidate site that matches the user's preference condition is preferentially searched based on the preference information. Efficient candidate site search processing can be performed by preferentially providing the user with candidate site information that matches the preference conditions.
[0007]
Further, in Patent Document 2, a search condition is determined in consideration of a place where a user exists, information on an individual user, a time at that time, and the like, and a destination database is searched using the search condition. A car navigation device is described.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-109810 A (page 6-7, FIG. 6)
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-266551 (paragraphs 0068 and 0069, FIG. 13)
[Non-Patent Document 1]
Barry Smyth, Paul Cotter, "A Personalized Television Listings Service", Communications of the ACM, August 2000, Vol. 43, No. 8, p107-111
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
If the preference information collection device described in Patent Document 1 or the system described in Non-Patent Document 1 is applied, the number of operations and the burden on the user's operation are reduced by performing search processing based on the user's preference information. can do. However, in the case where the user's preference changes depending on the user's situation or the surrounding situation, such as when the user is a car driver, search processing that matches the user's preference may not be performed. For example, even when searching for restaurants, the user's favorite dishes may differ between the summer season and the winter season. In addition, the user's preference may differ between when the user is driving alone and when the user is dating. Therefore, it is desirable that a search process that matches the user's preference can be performed even when the user's preference changes depending on the user's situation and the surrounding situation.
[0010]
Furthermore, when applying the preference information collection device described in Patent Document 1 or the system described in Non-Patent Document 1, information such as destination candidates provided to the user is extracted in advance when searching. It is necessary to add conditions as meta information or the like. For example, when the information to be provided is information about restaurants such as restaurants, information such as the types and characteristics of food and drink provided by restaurants such as Chinese cuisine and Japanese cuisine, as keywords in advance. It is necessary to add. Therefore, a work load for adding additional information in advance to each piece of information such as a candidate site provided to the user is applied. In addition, information to be added as additional information needs to be provided in advance by a store owner such as a restaurant, but in general, store owners may not provide information that limits their own customer base. In some cases, additional information to be added cannot be obtained.
[0011]
Further, even in the car navigation device described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to add additional information for each destination to the destination database.
[0012]
Therefore, the present invention provides a route guidance server capable of providing road guidance information suitable for a user's purpose of movement even when the user's situation changes. , Sutra Route guidance system, method, and program The The purpose is to provide.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The route guidance server according to the present invention is a route guidance server (for example, realized by the server 20a) that manages information on a visited place where a moving user may visit. Interest User terminal used by the user (for example, realized by the client terminals 10a and 10b) Is generated when it is determined that the user has reached the visited place based on determining that the user's position has not changed for a predetermined time. Visit history information (for example, user visit history information), which is history information of the places visited by the user, From user terminal Visit history information collection means (for example, realized by the visit history update means 30) that collects via a communication network, and visit place history information collection means From multiple user terminals The collected visit history information is aggregated, and the visitor site estimation information indicating the estimation result by estimating the user group visiting the visit site and the situation when the user visited the visit site for each visit site (for example, , A visit destination estimation information generating unit (for example, realized by the spot visit purpose calculation unit 50) that generates a spot destination correspondence table), and a visit location estimation that stores the visit destination estimation information generated by the visit destination estimation information generation unit Information storage means (for example, realized by the spot purpose correspondence table storage means 60) Destination candidate information storage means for storing destination candidate information indicating a user's destination candidate and movement for receiving movement destination information indicating a user's movement purpose from a user terminal via a communication network A plurality of destination candidate information that matches the movement destination information is extracted from the destination candidate information storage unit based on the destination estimation information stored in the destination information receiving unit and the destination estimation information storage unit, and each extracted Destination extraction means for generating list information including destination candidate information, and destination candidate information for transmitting the list information generated by the destination extraction means to the user terminal that has received the movement destination information via the communication network With transmission means It is provided with.
[0014]
Each of the user group and the situation when the user visited the visited area is classified into a plurality of categories, and the visited area estimation information generation means uses the collected visit history information for each visited area. If there is information that matches any category in the user group, the total value (for example, the count value calculated in step S4206 in FIG. 11) corresponding to that category is increased, and the situation when the user visits the visited area If there is information that matches any of the categories, the aggregate value corresponding to that category is increased, and the accuracy of each category in the user group is determined based on the aggregate value (for example, “true” determined in step S4302 of FIG. 13). ”Or“ false ”determination value) and the accuracy of each category in the situation when the user visits the visited place may be calculated. According to such a configuration, it is possible to automatically generate the visited place estimation information by counting the visit history information. Accordingly, it is possible to automatically generate objective visit location estimation information indicating what kind of user group tends to visit the visit location and under what circumstances.
[0015]
The visited site estimation information generating means generates the visited site estimation information by using at least one of the user's gender, the user's age, and the vehicle type of the user's vehicle as a user group who visited the visited site. It may be. According to such a configuration, in consideration of the classification of the user's gender, the age of the user, the vehicle type of the user's driving vehicle, etc. Objective destination estimation information indicating whether there is a tendency to visit can be automatically generated.
[0016]
The visit location estimation information generation means is based on the user's driving time, the user's driving purpose, the number of passengers driving the vehicle, the current time zone, the current season, and the congestion of roads around the user's current location. The visit place estimation information may be generated as a situation when the user visits the visit place with at least one of the degrees. According to such a configuration, the user's driving time, the user's driving purpose, the number of passengers in the user's driving vehicle, the current time zone, the current season, and the congestion situation around the user are considered. Thus, it is possible to automatically generate objective site estimation information that indicates what kind of user group tends to visit the site under which circumstances.
[0023]
A route guidance system according to the present invention includes a route guidance terminal used by a user who receives provision of road guidance information, a route guidance server that manages information on a visited place where a moving user may visit, The route guidance terminal includes a route guidance terminal, Based on the determination that the user's position has not changed for a predetermined time, the visit location determination means for determining that the user has reached the visited location, and the visited location determination means that the user has reached the visited location. When judged Visit history information generating means for generating visit history information that is history information of the places visited by the user, and visit history information transmitting means for transmitting the visit history information to the route guidance server via the communication network. The route guidance server includes a visit history information collecting means for collecting visit history information from a route guidance terminal via a communication network, and a visited place history information collecting means. From multiple route guidance terminals The collected visit history information is aggregated, and for each visited place, the visitor group who visited the visited place and the situation when the user visited the visited place are estimated, and the visited place estimated information indicating the estimated result is generated. Visited site estimation information generating means, Visited site estimation information storage means for storing visited site estimation information generated by the visited site estimation information generating means, The destination candidate information storage means for storing the destination candidate information indicating the user's destination candidates and the destination information indicating the user's moving purpose are received from the route guidance terminal via the communication network. Based on the travel destination information receiving means and the visit destination estimation information stored in the visit destination estimation information storage means, a plurality of destination candidate information that matches the travel destination information is extracted from the destination candidate information storage means and extracted. Destination extracting means for generating list information including each destination candidate information, and a destination for transmitting the list information generated by the destination extracting means to the route guidance terminal that has received the movement destination information via the communication network A route guidance terminal for selecting a destination based on the list information received from the route guidance server and outputting road guidance information. Further comprising means It is characterized by that.
[0024]
In the route guidance method according to the present invention, a route guidance terminal used by a user who receives provision of road guidance information includes: Based on determining that the position of the user has not changed for a predetermined time, the step of determining that the user has reached the visited place and the route guidance terminal have determined that the user has reached the visited place. sometimes, A step of generating visit history information, which is history information of a visited place visited by a user, and a route guidance terminal serving as a route guidance server for managing information on visited places that a moving user may visit The step of transmitting the visit history information via the communication network, the route guidance server collecting the visit history information from the route guidance terminal via the communication network, and the route guidance server, From multiple route guidance terminals The collected visit history information is aggregated, and for each visited place, the visitor group who visited the visited place and the situation when the user visited the visited place are estimated, and the visited place estimated information indicating the estimated result is generated. Steps to do The route guidance terminal inputs travel purpose information indicating the travel purpose of the user, the route guidance terminal transmits the travel purpose information to the route guidance server via the communication network, and the route The guidance server extracts a plurality of destination candidate information that matches the travel destination information received from the end of the route guidance plan as destination candidates based on the visited place estimation information, and extracts the extracted destination candidate information. Including a step of generating list information, a step of the route guidance server transmitting the generated list information to the route guidance terminal that has received the movement purpose information via the communication network, and a route guidance terminal Selecting a destination based on the list information received from the guidance server and outputting road guidance information; It is characterized by including.
[0026]
A route guidance program according to the present invention is a route guidance program for executing management processing of information on a visited place where a moving user may visit, Destination candidate information storage means for storing destination candidate information indicating a user's destination candidate is provided. On the computer, Interest User terminals used by users Is generated when it is determined that the user has reached the visited place based on determining that the user's position has not changed for a predetermined time. Visit history information, which is the history information of the places visited by users, From user terminal Processing to collect via a communication network; From multiple user terminals The collected visit history information is aggregated, and for each visited place, the visitor group who visited the visited place and the situation when the user visited the visited place are estimated, and the visited place estimated information indicating the estimated result is generated. Processing to Based on the process of receiving the travel purpose information indicating the travel purpose of the user from the user terminal via the communication network and the visited place estimation information, the destination candidate information storage means matches the travel purpose information. Process for generating a plurality of destination candidate information, generating list information including each extracted destination candidate information, and transmitting the generated list information to the user terminal that has received the movement destination information via the communication network Processing to Is executed.
[0028]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a route guidance system (road guidance system) according to the present invention. The configuration shown in FIG. 1 shows, in particular, what kind of user has visited a spot in what situation based on information collected from the user in a route guidance system that provides route guidance information to the user. This is a configuration of a part that calculates information for each of all the spots that the user can visit and creates a database that stores the calculation results. Therefore, in this embodiment, the system shown in FIG. 1 is called a spot information management system. The spot means, for example, a store or a specific building, but an intersection may be included in the spot. Further, the entire map may be divided into cells in a lattice shape, and each cell may be a spot.
[0029]
The spot information management system collects history information of spots visited by a user traveling by a vehicle such as an automobile. Then, based on the collected history information, estimation data is generated for estimating which user has a tendency to visit the visited place (spot) in what situation. Hereinafter, estimating what kind of user tends to visit the spot in what kind of situation is simply referred to as purpose of visiting (or visiting tendency).
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 1, the spot information management system includes a user management unit 10 that manages information about each user, a spot database 20 that stores in advance data indicating all the spots that the user may visit, Based on the information input from the user management means 10 and the all-user visit history database 40 for storing information on the visit history of the user's spot, the visit history update means 30 for updating the information stored in the all-user visit history database 40. And, based on the history information stored in the all-user visit history database 40, the spot visit purpose calculation means 50 for generating estimated data obtained by estimating the visit purpose of the user to each spot, and the generated estimated data And spot purpose correspondence table storage means 60 for storing. The spot visit purpose calculation means 50 stores the estimated data generated by the spot visit purpose calculation means 50 in the form of a table as spot information. Hereinafter, the spot information in the table format stored in the spot purpose correspondence table storage means 60 is referred to as a spot purpose correspondence table.
[0031]
The user management means 10 stores identification information (hereinafter referred to as a user ID) for identifying the user, and personal information of the user such as gender and age. Moreover, the user management means 10 detects user situations, such as the number of passengers in a user vehicle. Further, the user management means 10 detects a surrounding situation such as a traffic jam situation on a road around the current location. Furthermore, the user management means 10 detects that the user has visited any spot.
[0032]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an apparatus configuration example for realizing the spot information management system shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the spot information management system includes client terminals 10a and 10b used by a user, and a server (management server) 20a managed by a road guidance management company or the like. Although two client terminals 10a and 10b are shown in FIG. 2, there can be many client terminals.
[0033]
Each of the client terminals 10a and 10b is realized by a car navigation terminal device, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, or the like. The server 20a is installed in an information processing center or the like of a road guidance service provider. Therefore, all the spots that can be visited by the user described above are all spots in the service providing area of the road guidance service provider (for example, in Tokyo, Kanto region, Honshu, all over Japan).
[0034]
The client terminals 10a and 10b and the server 20a are connected via the Internet using a communication protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) via a wireless transmission path. For example, by using a car navigation terminal device having a function of connecting to the Internet via a PHS (Personal Handy phone System) as the client terminals 10a and 10b, the client terminals 10a and 10b and the server 20a are connected via the Internet. Is done. The client terminals 10a and 10b and the server 20a may be connected via a communication network other than the Internet.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 2, the client terminals 10a and 10b include user management means 10A and 10B, respectively. The user management means 10, 10A, 10B are respectively a storage device (not shown) of the client terminals 10a, 10b, a control part (not shown) including information processing means such as a microcomputer, and a network interface part (not shown). Etc.). The storage devices of the client terminals 10a and 10b store programs and the like for causing the control units of the client terminals 10a and 10b to execute various user information management processes.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 2, the server 20 a includes a spot database 20, a visit history update unit 30, an all-user visit history database 40, a spot visit purpose calculation unit 50, and a spot purpose correspondence table storage unit 60. The spot database 20, the visit history update means 30, and the spot purpose correspondence table storage means 60 are realized by a database device (not shown) of the server 20a. The visit history update means 30 is realized by a control unit (not shown) and a network interface unit (not shown) of the server 20a. Further, the spot visit purpose calculation means 50 is realized by the control unit of the server 20a. Note that the server 20a may be configured by a plurality of servers to perform distributed processing instead of being configured by a single server.
[0037]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the user management unit 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the user management means 10 includes a user situation detection means 12 for detecting a user situation, a surrounding situation detection means 13 for detecting a surrounding situation around the current location, and a user attribute storage means for storing user personal information. 14 and spot visit detecting means 15 for detecting that the user has visited any spot.
[0038]
The user attribute storage unit 14 is realized by the storage device of the client terminals 10a and 10b. The user situation detection unit 12 and the surrounding situation detection unit 13 are realized by the control units of the client terminals 10a and 10b. The spot visit detection means 15 is realized by the control unit and the network interface unit of the client terminals 10a and 10b.
[0039]
The user situation detection means 12 has a function of detecting information such as the user's current location, driving time, driving purpose, and number of passengers. Hereinafter, information such as the user's current location, driving time, driving purpose, number of passengers, etc. detected by the user status detecting means 12 is referred to as user status information. The user status detection unit 12 acquires position information of the current location of the user by acquiring position information from the client terminals 10a and 10b GPS (Global Positioning System) terminals and the like. The means for acquiring the location information of the user's current location is not limited to GPS. For example, the user situation detection unit 12 may acquire the position information of the current location by a method using pseudolite. In addition, the user situation detection unit 12 may acquire location information of the current location using a location information service in mobile communication such as PHS.
[0040]
Moreover, the user condition detection means 12 has a function of detecting start and stop of the engine of the user vehicle. The user status detection means 12 detects the user's operating time by measuring the time from when the engine is in the starting state to when it is in the stopped state. For example, the user situation detection unit 12 measures the user's driving time by using a clock with a timer function. In addition, the user condition detection means 12 can detect the driving time per day by clearing the timer value every day.
[0041]
In this embodiment, a clock, a timer, a calendar, and the like are realized by a clock function of an OS (Operating System) installed in a car navigation terminal device, a PDA or the like that is the client terminals 10a and 10b. For example, it is realized by the control unit of the client terminals 10a and 10b executing processing according to the clock processing program of the OS based on an output signal of a clock IC or the like built in the client terminals 10a and 10b.
[0042]
Moreover, the user condition detection means 12 inputs the information, when a user performs input operation of the information for a driving purpose. For example, the user status detection means 12 displays “meals”, “shopping”, “business”, and “travel” as driving purpose candidates on the display units (not shown) of the client terminals 10a and 10b. And the user condition detection means 12 inputs the candidate selected and instruct | indicated by the user as driving purpose information. Note that the driving purpose candidates displayed on the display unit are not limited to “meal”, “shopping”, “business”, and “travel”.
[0043]
Moreover, the user condition detection means 12 has a function of detecting the number of passengers riding on the user vehicle. For example, the user status detection means 12 detects whether or not a passenger seat or a rear seat side door has been opened or closed. Then, the user status detection means 12 determines that the passenger is in the seat on the side where the door is opened and closed, and the number of passengers is 0, 1, 2, or 3 Is detected. In addition, the detection method of the number of passengers is not restricted to the method of detecting opening and closing of the door. Further, the number of passengers may be input or corrected in accordance with a user input instruction.
[0044]
In this embodiment, as the user situation information, the present location, the driving time, the driving purpose, and the number of passengers are input. However, the user situation information input by the user situation detecting means 12 is included in these information. Not limited. For example, the user status detection unit 12 detects the distance between the user's home location and the current location, and determines that the user is traveling if the distance exceeds a predetermined distance, and daily usage if the distance is equal to or less than the predetermined distance. You may judge. And the user condition detection means 12 may detect the information of the purpose of use indicating whether it is travel use or daily use as user condition information.
[0045]
The surrounding situation detection means 13 has a function of detecting information such as the time zone during driving, the season, and the traffic jam situation around the current location. Hereinafter, information such as the time zone, season, and traffic situation detected by the surrounding situation detection means 13 is referred to as surrounding situation information. The surrounding situation detection means 13 detects the current time zone based on time information from a clock or the like. For example, the surrounding situation detection means 13 detects information on time zones classified into midnight, morning, afternoon, and night every 6 hours from midnight.
[0046]
The surrounding situation detection means 13 detects current season information based on information from a clock or the like having a calendar function. For example, the surrounding state detection unit 13 detects information on seasons classified into spring, summer, autumn, and winter every three months. Further, the surrounding situation detection means 13 inputs information on the traffic jam situation around the place where the user is located based on information such as the current location of the user. For example, the surrounding situation detection means 13 obtains information on the surrounding traffic situation using a road information providing service such as VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System). For example, the surrounding situation detection means 13 receives traffic information, congestion, and normal three-stage information according to the degree of congestion on the road, etc. as traffic situation information by the road information providing service.
[0047]
In this embodiment, the case of detecting information on the time zone, the season, and the traffic jam situation is exemplified, but the surrounding situation detection unit 13 may detect other information as the surrounding situation information. For example, the surrounding situation detection means 13 may detect weather information as the surrounding situation information.
[0048]
The user attribute storage unit 14 stores the user ID, the user's gender, the user's age, and the vehicle type of the user vehicle as the user's personal information. Hereinafter, the user personal information stored in the user attribute storage unit 14 is referred to as user attribute information. The user attribute information is not limited to the user ID, sex, age, and vehicle type information. For example, the user attribute storage unit 14 may store information such as the user's occupation as the user attribute information. Further, the user attribute storage unit 14 may store information on the date of birth instead of the user's age as user attribute information. Then, the user management means 10 may calculate the user's age based on the date of birth when the process is executed.
[0049]
The spot visit detection means 15 detects arrival at a spot when the user arrives at any spot. Further, when the spot visit detection means 15 detects the arrival of the user at the spot, the spot visit detection means 15 transmits the current location information, user status information, surrounding status information, and user attribute information to the server 20a via the Internet.
[0050]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the spot visit detection means 15. As shown in FIG. 4, the spot visit detection means 15 includes a timer 151 for notifying the elapse of time every predetermined time, a current location history storage means 152 for storing user location history information, and whether or not the user has arrived at the visited location. Spot visit judging means 153 for judging whether or not.
[0051]
The timer 151 is realized by a clock IC mounted on the client terminals 10a and 10b and a control unit that executes processing based on the timer function of the OS mounted on the client terminals 10a and 10b. The current location history storage unit 152 is realized by the storage device of the client terminals 10a and 10b. The spot visit determination unit 153 is realized by the control unit and the network interface unit of the client terminals 10a and 10b.
[0052]
The timer 151 outputs information indicating that a predetermined time has passed every predetermined time. Hereinafter, information indicating that a predetermined time has elapsed is referred to as time elapsed information. For example, the timer 151 outputs time lapse information every minute. The current location history storage unit 152 stores user position information in time order. For example, the current location history storage unit 152 stores the current location of the user in a table format in association with the acquired time and position information. The spot visit determination means 153 determines whether or not the user has arrived at any spot. When the spot visit determining unit 153 determines that the spot has arrived, the spot visit determining unit 153 transmits various information as history information of the user's spot visit to the server 20a via the Internet.
[0053]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the spot visit purpose calculation means 50. As shown in FIG. 5, the spot visit purpose calculation means 50 includes spot-by-spot visit history temporary storage means 51 for temporarily storing user visit history information, and user visit history analysis means 52 for analyzing user visit history information. And spot purpose estimation means 53 for estimating the visit purpose of the user for each spot.
[0054]
The spot-by-spot visit history temporary storage means 51 is realized by a memory (not shown) of the server 20a. The user visit history analysis unit 52 and the spot purpose estimation unit 53 are realized by the control unit of the server 20a.
[0055]
The user visit history analysis means 52 analyzes the information stored in the all user visit history database 40 and counts what kind of user has visited for each spot, and the count value is temporarily stored by spot visit history storage means 51. To store.
[0056]
The spot purpose estimation unit 53 analyzes the count value stored in the spot-specific visit history storage unit 51 and estimates the visit purpose of the user for each spot. That is, the spot purpose estimation means 53 estimates for each spot what kind of user has a tendency to visit the spot under what circumstances.
[0057]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the user attribute information stored in the user attribute storage unit 14. As shown in FIG. 6, the user attribute storage unit 14 stores user ID 1401, gender 1402, age 1403, and vehicle type 1404 as user attribute information.
[0058]
The user ID 1401 is identification information given to the user in advance. Each user is registered in advance with a road guidance management company and given a user ID. For example, when the client terminals 10a and 10b perform user registration with the server 20a in accordance with a user input instruction, the client terminals 10a and 10b acquire a user ID from the server 20a via the Internet. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the user attribute storage unit 14 stores information of the identification number “01234” as the user ID 1401. The user ID may be information other than a number as long as the user can be identified. For example, the user ID may be information combining symbols and characters.
[0059]
The sex 1402 is information on the gender of the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the user attribute storage unit 14 stores “male” as the gender 1402. Age 1403 is the age information of the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the user attribute storage unit 14 stores “35 years old” as the age 1403.
[0060]
The vehicle type 1404 is a vehicle type of the user vehicle. The user attribute storage unit 14 stores, for example, vehicle type classification information (“sedan” in the example shown in FIG. 6) such as a compact car, a sedan, a coupe, or a van as the vehicle type 1404. The vehicle type 1404 is not limited to the information based on the classification method illustrated in FIG. 6, but may be information based on a classification method used by an automobile manufacturer or the like, for example.
[0061]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the content of information stored in the spot database 20. As shown in FIG. 7, the spot database 20 stores information on a spot ID 201, a spot name 202, and a spot location 203 for every spot that the user may visit.
[0062]
The spot ID 201 is identification information for identifying each spot. The spot database 20 stores identification information in the format of “SPT <number>” (“SPT98765” in the example shown in FIG. 7) as the spot ID 201. Hereinafter, the identification information of each spot is referred to as a spot ID. The spot ID is not limited to the “SPT <number>” format, and may be information using other symbols, characters, or the like.
[0063]
The spot name 202 is the name of the spot. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the spot database 20 stores data “AA building” as the spot name 202. Note that the spot database 20 may store the address of the spot if the corresponding spot does not have a building name or the like. Moreover, in this embodiment, the case where a spot is a building is taken as an example.
[0064]
The spot place 203 is position information of each spot. Since each spot is generally represented with a predetermined range on a map or the like, the spot database 20 stores the latitude and longitude values of a predetermined representative point of each spot as the spot location 203. The spot database 20 stores the position information of the barycentric point when the predetermined range occupied by the spot is approximated by a rectangular shape or the like as the representative point of each spot. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the spot database 20 stores data “135 degrees 50 minutes east longitude, 35 degrees 01 minutes north latitude” as the spot location 203. In this embodiment, the spot position information stored in the spot location 203 is used, for example, when calculating the distance between the current location of the user and the spot.
[0065]
Note that the information stored in the spot database 20 as the spot location 203 is not limited to the position information of the representative point of the spot. For example, when the spot database 20 represents a predetermined range occupied by a spot by approximating it with a rectangular shape, the spot database 20 may store position information of each vertex of the rectangular shape as a latitude and longitude sequence.
[0066]
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the visit history information of each user stored in the all user visit history database 40. The all-user visit history database 40 stores all history information acquired by the server 20a from the client terminals 10a and 10b via the Internet. As shown in FIG. 8, the all-user visit history database 40 includes, for example, a user ID 301, driving time 302, driving purpose 303, number of passengers 304, time zone 305, season 306, traffic jam situation 307, gender 308, age 309. , Data indicating the vehicle type 310 and the spot ID 311 are stored.
[0067]
In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the user visit history database 40 includes user ID 301 “01234”, driving time 302 “2 hours”, driving purpose 303 “meal”, number of passengers 304 “1 person”, and time zone 305 “ Information of “afternoon”, season 306 “spring”, traffic jam 307 “crowded”, gender 308 “male”, age 309 “35 years”, vehicle type 310 “sedan”, and spot ID 311 “SPT98765” is stored.
[0068]
Of the data stored in the all-user visit history database 40, the information from the user ID 301 to the vehicle type 310 is data received by the server 20a from the client terminals 10a and 10b via the Internet. The spot ID 311 is data input from the spot database 20.
[0069]
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the spot purpose correspondence table stored by the spot purpose correspondence table storage means 60. As shown in FIG. 9, in the spot purpose correspondence table, as a user visit purpose item corresponding to the spot ID 901, driving time 902, driving purpose 903, number of passengers 904, time zone 905, season 906, traffic jam Data indicating items of the status 907, the sex 908, the age 909, and the vehicle type 910 is stored.
[0070]
In the spot object correspondence table, each item from the driving time 902 to the vehicle type 910 includes a plurality of sections. As will be described later, a value determined to be true or false is stored corresponding to each section. In the spot object correspondence table shown in FIG. 9, when the stored value is “true”, it indicates that there is a strong tendency that the classification matches the user's visit purpose. Further, when the stored value is “false”, it indicates that there is a strong tendency that the category does not match the purpose of the user's visit.
[0071]
Therefore, in the spot object correspondence table shown in FIG. 9, the spot represented by the spot ID 901 “SPT98765” indicates that the driving time is short or the user who has normal driving time tends to visit. Moreover, it shows that the user who intends to drive for shopping has a strong tendency to visit. Moreover, it shows that there is no passenger and there is a strong tendency for a user who is driving alone to visit. Further, the time zone indicates that the user has a strong tendency to visit in the morning or afternoon. The season indicates that the user has a strong tendency to visit in winter or spring. In addition, it indicates that the user has a strong tendency to visit in a congested state or a normal state. It also shows that both men and women tend to visit. Moreover, about age, it shows that the tendency for the user from 21 years old to 60 years old to visit is strong. Furthermore, it shows that a user whose vehicle type is a compact car or a sedan has a strong tendency to visit.
[0072]
Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a history information update process for collecting information on visited places from the client terminals 10a and 10b and updating the visit history information in the all-user visit history database 40. Here, a process executed by the client terminal 10a is taken as an example.
[0073]
In the client terminal 10a, when the timer 151 detects that the predetermined time has passed every predetermined time, the timer 151 outputs time elapsed information to the spot visit determination means 153 (step S1501).
[0074]
When the time elapsed information is input from the timer 151, the spot visit determination unit 153 inquires the user status detection unit 12 about the location information of the current location. When the user status detection unit 12 outputs the current location information in response to the inquiry, the spot visit determination unit 153 inputs the current location information (step S1502). When the location information of the current location is input, the spot visit determination unit 153 adds the input location information of the current location to the stored contents of the current location history storage unit 152 in association with the current time (step S1503).
[0075]
The spot visit determination unit 153 extracts the user location information within a predetermined time stored in the current location history storage unit 152 and checks whether the location information has changed (step S1504). The spot visit determination means 153 determines that the user vehicle is stopped when it detects that the position information has not changed, and if it detects that the position information has changed, It is determined that it is moving (step S1505).
[0076]
For example, the spot visit determination unit 153 extracts the location information of the user for the past 30 minutes from the current location history storage unit 152. If the position information has not changed in 30 minutes, the spot visit determination means 153 determines that the user vehicle is stopped. In addition, when there is a portion whose position information has changed in 30 minutes, the spot visit determination unit 153 determines that the user vehicle is moving.
[0077]
When it is determined in step S1505 that the user vehicle is moving, the spot visit determination unit 153 repeatedly executes the processing from step S1501 to step S1505. When it is determined in step S1505 that the user vehicle is stopped, the spot visit determination unit 153 transmits the visit history update request information, and the current location information, user status information, surrounding status information, and user The attribute information is transmitted to the server 20a via the Internet. At that time, the spot visit determination means 153 inputs the position information of the current location and the user situation information including the driving time, the driving purpose, and the number of passengers from the user situation detecting means 12. In addition, the spot visit determination unit 153 inputs the surrounding situation information including the time zone, the season, and the congestion situation from the surrounding situation detection unit 13. The spot visit determination unit 153 inputs user attribute information including gender, age, and vehicle type from the user attribute storage unit 14.
[0078]
Hereinafter, information including the current location information, user status information, surrounding status information, and user attribute information transmitted by the spot visit determination unit 153 is referred to as user visit history information.
[0079]
The spot visit determination means 153 transmits user visit history information as text data in CSV (Comma Separated Value) format in which each information is separated by commas, for example. For example, the spot visit determination means 153 transmits the user visit history information “01234, 2 hours, general road, 1 person, afternoon, spring, crowded, male, 35 years old, sedan, SPT98765” to the server 20a via the Internet. To do. Note that the spot visit determination unit 153 may transmit user visit history information as text data using a delimiter other than a comma. Moreover, the spot visit determination means 153 may transmit user visit history information as binary data.
[0080]
In the server 20a, the visit history update means 30 receives user visit history information. When the user visit history information is received, the visit history update means 30 compares each spot location 203 included in the spot database 20 with the location information of the current location included in the received user visit history information (step S1506). Then, the visit history update unit 30 determines whether there is a spot corresponding to the vicinity of the current location of the user among the spots stored in the spot database 20 (step S1507). For example, when the distance between each spot included in the spot database 20 and the current location is within a predetermined distance (for example, within 30 meters), the visit history update unit 30 The judgment corresponding to the vicinity of the current location of the user is made.
[0081]
If there is no spot in the vicinity of the current location in step S1507, the visit history information update process is not executed, and the processes from step S1501 to step S1507 are repeatedly executed.
[0082]
If there is a spot corresponding to the vicinity of the current location in step S1507, the visit history update unit 30 inputs the spot ID 201 of the spot corresponding to the vicinity from the spot database 20. Further, the visit history update means 30 updates the all user visit history database 40 based on the user situation information, the surrounding situation information, and the user attribute information included in the user visit history information (step S1508). That is, as shown in FIG. 8, information included in the user visit history information is added to the all user visit history database 40 with the spot ID input from the spot ID 201 of the spot as the spot ID 311.
[0083]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a visit history analysis process for analyzing information on each visit history stored in the all-user visit history database 40. The visit history analysis process shown in FIG. 11 is periodically executed by the server 20a every predetermined period. For example, the server 20a may periodically execute the visit history analysis process illustrated in FIG. 11 every day at 3 am. Further, for example, by using a command for periodically executing a predetermined process included in the OS of the server 20a as a standard, the server 20a periodically executes a visit history analysis process. For example, by using a UNIX (registered trademark) AT command or the like, the server 20a periodically executes a visit history analysis process.
[0084]
In the server 20a, the user visit history analysis means 52 first initializes the spot visit history temporary storage means 51 stored by the user visit history analysis means 52 (step S4201). That is, all the information in the spot visit history temporary storage means 51 stored by the user visit history analysis means 52 is erased. Then, the user visit history analysis means 52 inputs spot list information from the spot database 20 (step S4202). For example, the user visit history analysis unit 52 inputs spot list information as CSV text data including the extracted spot ID.
[0085]
In the following processing, the user visit history analysis means 52 extracts spot IDs one by one from the spot list information. And in order to form the memory content of the visit history temporary storage means 51 according to spot, the process of step S4204-S4206 is performed one by one about extracted spot ID.
[0086]
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the spot-specific visit history temporary storage means 51. Similarly to the spot purpose correspondence table shown in FIG. 9, the spot visit history temporary storage means 51 includes spot ID 41011, driving time 41020, driving purpose 41030, number of passengers 41040, time zone 41050, season 41060, traffic jam situation. Data indicating each item of 41070, sex 41080, age 41090, and vehicle type 41100 is stored. Each item of driving time 41020, driving purpose 41030, number of passengers 41040, time zone 41050, season 41060, traffic jam 41070, gender 41080, age 41090, and vehicle type 41100 includes a plurality of categories.
[0087]
In the example illustrated in FIG. 12, the item of the operation time 41020 includes three sections of a short 41021, a normal 41022, and a long 41023. There are four categories of driving purpose 41030: meal 41031, shopping 41032, business 41033, and travel 41034. There are three categories of passenger numbers 41040: 0 person 41041, 1 person 41042, and 2 persons 41043. The item of the time zone 41050 has four divisions of midnight 41051, 41052 am, 41053 pm, and night 41054.
[0088]
The item of the season 41060 includes four sections of winter 41061, spring 41062, summer 41063, and autumn 41064. The item of the traffic congestion status 41070 includes three categories of traffic congestion 41071, congestion 41072, and normal 41073. The item of gender 41080 has two divisions, male 41081 and female 41082. The item of the age 41090 includes four categories of 4109, 21-40 years old 41092, 41-60 years 41093, and 61 years old and above 41094. The item of the vehicle type 41100 includes four sections of a compact 41101, a sedan 41102, a coupe 41103, and a van 41104.
[0089]
Based on the history information stored in the all-user visit history database 40, the user visit history analysis means 52 increases the count value of the corresponding category in the spot-by-spot visit history temporary storage means 51.
[0090]
The user visit history analysis means 52 ends the analysis process when the processes of steps S4204 to S4206 have been performed for all spots (step S4203). When there is an unprocessed spot ID, the user visit history analysis means 52 extracts one spot ID from the spot list information, makes it a noticed spot, and visits by spot in the spot-specific visit history storage means 51 An initialization process for clearing the contents of the added record by adding the record of the spot of interest to the history temporary storage means 51 is executed (step S4204).
[0091]
Specifically, in the initialization process of step S4204, the user visit history analysis unit 52 adds a record including each classification of the item of the vehicle type 41100 from the spot ID 41011 and the driving time 41020 to the spot-specific visit history storage unit 51. Then, the spot ID of the spot of interest extracted in step S4203 is set to the spot ID 41011, and the count value of each section of the item of the vehicle type 41100 is set to “0” from the driving time 41020.
[0092]
The user visit history analysis means 52 extracts all pieces of information in which the spot ID 311 matches the spot ID of the spot of interest from the history information stored in the all user visit history database 40 (step S4205). Hereinafter, among the history information, a set of records of history information that matches the spot ID of the spot of interest is referred to as a noticed record set.
[0093]
The user visit history analysis means 52 obtains information on driving time 302, driving purpose 303, number of passengers 304, time zone 305, season 306, traffic jam 307, gender 308, age 309, and vehicle type 310 from each noted record set. Then, the count value of the corresponding section in the spot-by-spot visit history temporary storage means 51 is increased (step S4206). Then, the process returns to step S4203.
[0094]
For example, if there are three items having information that the driving time is long in the record set of interest, the user visit history analysis unit 52 increases the count value of the long 41023 section in the item of the driving time 41020 by three. Here, for example, when the operation time is entered in units of 1 hour, if the operation time is less than 1 hour, it is classified as “short”, if it is 1 hour or more and less than 2 hours, it is classified as “normal”, If it is above, it is classified as “long”. The operation time classification method is not limited to the one-hour classification method. For example, the user visit history analysis means 52 may classify the driving time in units of 2 hours.
[0095]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a visit purpose estimation process for estimating the visit purpose of the user for each spot based on the stored contents of the spot-specific visit history storage unit 51. The spot purpose estimation unit 53 normalizes each count value from the short 41021 segment to the van 41104 segment in the stored contents of the spot visit history temporary storage unit 51 (step S4301).
[0096]
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the normalized spot-by-spot visit history storage means 51. As shown in FIG. 14, the spot purpose estimation unit 53 normalizes the value of each section in the stored contents of the spot-by-spot visit history temporary storage unit 51 so that the value ranges from 0 to 1. For example, when normalizing the section X in the stored contents of the spot-by-spot visit history temporary storage means 51, the spot purpose estimation means 53 calculates (count value of section X) / (all the field groups including the section X). Normalization is performed by calculating the total count value of the divisions).
[0097]
For example, the case of normalizing the field group “operation time 41020” shown in FIG. 12 will be described. The count value of each section included in the operation time 41020 is a short 41021 “10”, a normal 41022 “6”, and a long 41023 “4”, respectively. Therefore, the spot purpose estimation means 53 calculates a normalized count value (hereinafter referred to as a normalized value) as 10 / (10 + 6 + 4) = 0.5 for the short 41021 section. Then, the spot purpose estimation means 53 overwrites the calculated normalized value “0.5” on the short 41021 section (count value column). Similarly, the spot purpose estimation means 53 normally calculates and overwrites 6 / (10 + 6 + 4) = 0.3 with respect to 41022. Further, the spot purpose estimation means 53 calculates and overwrites the normalized value of 4 / (10 + 6 + 4) = 0.2 for the long 41023. The normalization value calculation method is not limited to the method illustrated here.
[0098]
When the stored contents of the spot-by-spot visit history temporary storage means 51 are normalized, the spot purpose estimation means 53 extracts a record for each spot from the spot-by-spot visit history temporary storage means 51 to determine the visit purpose of the user for each spot. Estimate (step S4302). Estimating the purpose of the visit is specifically to execute a process of determining whether or not the value of each category included in the stored contents of the spot-specific visit history temporary storage means 51 exceeds a predetermined reference value. Say. When the value of each category included in the stored content of the spot-specific visit history temporary storage unit 51 exceeds a predetermined reference value, the spot purpose estimation unit 53 sets the determination value of the category to “true”. On the other hand, if the predetermined reference value is not exceeded, the spot purpose estimating means 53 sets the determination value of the classification to “false”.
[0099]
For example, when the normalized value is 0.3 or more, the spot purpose estimation unit 53 assumes that the determination value is “true”. When the normalized value is smaller than 0.3, the spot purpose estimation unit 53 assumes that the determination value is “false”. For example, in the stored contents of the normalized spot-by-spot visit history storage means 51 shown in FIG. 14, the normalization value when the driving time is short and normal is 0.3 or more, so the spot purpose estimation means 53 Is determined to be “true”. Further, since the normalized value when the operation time is long is 0.2, the spot purpose estimation means 53 determines that it is “false”. The accuracy of the visit tendency indicating what kind of user visited the spot in what situation is classified into two values. As described above, the spot purpose estimation unit 53 calculates the accuracy of each category in the user layer and the accuracy of each category in the situation when the user visits the visited place, based on the total value.
[0100]
In addition, although the case where it classify | categorizes into 2 values of "true" or "false" based on each normalized value was demonstrated here, the purpose of visit (what kind of user visited the spot under what kind of situation) The method of estimating the visiting tendency shown) is not limited to the method shown in this embodiment. For example, the spot purpose estimation means 53 may determine by classifying the visit tendency into three values based on each normalized value using two threshold values, or may classify the visit tendency more.
[0101]
The spot purpose estimation means 53 performs true / false determination on all records stored in the spot-specific visit history temporary storage means 51 stored in the spot-specific visit history temporary storage means 51, and stores the respective determination values. A table (see FIG. 9) is generated (step S4302). Then, the spot purpose estimation unit 53 stores the generated spot purpose correspondence table in the spot purpose correspondence table storage unit 60 (step S4303).
[0102]
As described above, in the spot information management system, for each spot, a spot object correspondence table in which information indicating what kind of user visited the spot for what purpose is generated. The route guidance system in which such a spot information management system is incorporated is based on the spot purpose correspondence table, even if it receives an ambiguous destination search request that does not designate a specific destination from the user. It is possible to search for a destination that matches the above information and provide the user with road guidance information to the appropriate destination.
[0103]
Further, the server 20a automatically generates a spot purpose correspondence table indicating a criterion for searching for a purpose suitable for the user's driving purpose based on the history information acquired from each of the client terminals 10a and 10b. Therefore, it is possible to automatically generate a spot purpose correspondence table in which the extraction condition at the time of search is automatically added as meta information or the like for each spot. For example, in the case of restaurant information such as restaurants, the spot purpose that automatically adds information such as the type and characteristics of food and drink as additional information without being provided in advance by the restaurant owner, etc. It is also possible to generate a correspondence table. Therefore, the work load of adding additional information to the information of each spot in advance is reduced. Further, since there is no need to receive information from the restaurant owner or the like, it is possible to generate a spot purpose correspondence table to which additional information indicating an objective user visit purpose is added.
[0104]
In this embodiment, in the spot object correspondence table, as the information of the type of user who visited the spot (user group who visited the place of visit), the user's gender, the user's age, and the vehicle type of the user's vehicle Although information has been set, some of them may be set instead of all of them. In addition, as information on the situation when the user visited the place to visit, the user's driving time, the user's driving purpose, the number of passengers of the vehicle the user is driving, the current time zone, the current season, the surroundings of the user's current location Information on the degree of congestion on the road is set, but some of them may be set instead of all of them. Furthermore, either the information on the type of the user who visited the spot or the information on the situation when the user visited the place of visit may be set in the spot object correspondence table.
[0105]
Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the second embodiment of the route guidance system. In this embodiment, the user inputs a vague request such as “I want to eat somewhere” using the client terminal 10a or the client terminal 10b. Then, the route guidance system narrows down destinations that match the user's request based on the spot purpose correspondence table stored in the spot purpose correspondence table storage means 60 according to the user's request, and performs road guidance to the destination. In this embodiment, a case where the user inputs a driving purpose using the client terminal 10a will be described below as an example.
[0106]
As shown in FIG. 15, in addition to the configuration shown in the first embodiment, the route guidance system includes destination search means 70 for performing a search for a destination and a destination search type path for receiving a user input instruction. It includes a guide unit 80 and a road guide unit 90 that provides road guidance to the destination.
[0107]
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the route guidance system shown in FIG. 15 in association with physical terminals and servers. As shown in FIG. 16, the route guidance system includes a client terminal 10a and a server 20a as in the first embodiment. The client terminal 10a includes a destination search type route guide unit 80 and a route guide unit 90 in addition to the configuration shown in the first embodiment. The destination search type route guidance unit 80 and the route guidance unit 90 are realized by an operation unit (not shown) and a control unit of the client terminal 10a. Further, the storage device of the client terminal 10a stores a program for executing various road guidance processes in addition to a program for executing various user information management processes.
[0108]
When the client terminal 10a is a navigation device, the destination search type route guidance unit 80 includes a program executed by an information processing unit such as a microcomputer in the navigation device, an operation unit and a display unit in the navigation device, and navigation. This is realized by a communication function in the apparatus. The route guidance unit 90 is realized by a program executed by an information processing unit such as a microcomputer in the navigation apparatus.
[0109]
The server 20a includes destination search means 70 in addition to the configuration shown in the first embodiment. The destination search means 70 is realized by the control unit and the network interface unit of the server 20a.
[0110]
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation unit and a display unit of the client terminal 10a. As shown in FIG. 18, the client terminal 10a selects a recommended spot search button 81 for inputting a spot search request, a road guide button 82 for inputting a road guidance request, and a user's driving purpose. An operation unit having a genre selection button 83 and a display unit 84 for displaying each piece of road guidance information. For example, when a selection input of “meal” is instructed using the genre selection button 83, the destination search type route guidance unit 80 recognizes that the user's driving purpose is “meal”.
[0111]
Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a road guidance process in which the route guidance system performs road guidance to the destination. While viewing the display screen displayed on the client terminal 10a, the user operates the operation unit to input the driving purpose and the like to the destination search type route guidance means 80 (step S601).
[0112]
In accordance with the user's selection input, the destination search type route guidance means 80 transmits request information for requesting a search for a spot that may be able to achieve the user's driving purpose to the server 20a via the Internet (step S602). . Hereinafter, a spot that can achieve the user's driving purpose searched by the server 20a is referred to as a recommended spot. For example, when the user presses the recommended spot search button 81 shown in FIG. 18, the destination search type route guidance means 80 transmits request information for searching for recommended spots to the server 20a via the Internet.
[0113]
In step S602, the user management means 10 transmits the current location information, user status information, current location surrounding status information, and user attribute information to the server 20a via the Internet. The user status information includes the driving purpose information input in step S601.
[0114]
Upon receiving the recommended spot search request information, current location information, user status information, surrounding status information, and user attribute information, the destination search means 70 of the server 20a executes recommended spot search processing (step S603). .
[0115]
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of a spot narrowing search process in which the destination search means 70 narrows down and searches recommended spots. The destination search means 70 extracts the user's current location information from the information received from the client terminal 10a (step 701). The destination search means 70 compares each spot location 203 included in the spot database 20 with the location information of the current location, and among the information of each spot stored in the spot database 20, a spot location located near the current location of the user. All spot IDs 201 are extracted (step S702).
[0116]
For example, the destination search means 70 determines whether or not the distance between each spot included in the spot database 20 and the current location is within a predetermined distance. If it is within the predetermined distance, the destination search means 70 determines that the spot is located in the vicinity of the user's current location. For example, if the spot where the spot database 20 stores information and the current location are within 2 km, the destination search means 70 determines that the spot is located in the vicinity of the user's current location, and sets the spot ID 201 of the spot. Extract.
[0117]
The destination search means 70 extracts all records in which the spot ID 901 matches the spot ID 201 extracted in step S702 from the spot purpose correspondence table storage means 60 (step S703). That is, the destination search means 70 extracts all the records of spots that are candidates for providing information as recommended spots. Hereinafter, a spot record extracted as a recommended spot candidate is referred to as a candidate spot record.
[0118]
The destination search means 70 extracts user status information, surrounding status information, and user attribute information from the information received from the client terminal 10a in step S602 (step S704). The destination search means 70 determines whether there is information corresponding to one in which the candidate spot record classification is “true” among the information included in the user situation information, the surrounding situation information, and the user attribute information ( Step S705). Then, the destination search means 70 calculates the total value of the number of pieces of information corresponding to “true” for each candidate spot record (step S705). Hereinafter, the total number of pieces of information corresponding to “true” is referred to as a score value.
[0119]
For example, the user situation information is the driving time “normal”, the driving purpose “shopping”, and the number of passengers “one person”, the surrounding situation information is the time zone “morning”, the season “autumn”, and the traffic jam situation “jamming”. A case where the user attribute information is sex “male”, age “35 years old”, and vehicle type “sedan” will be described as an example. When the records of the spot purpose correspondence table shown in FIG. 9 are extracted as candidate spot records, the driving time “normal”, the driving purpose “shopping”, the time zone “am”, the sex “male”, the age “21 to 40 years old” ”And 6 types of vehicle type“ sedan ”correspond to information that is“ true ”, the destination search means 70 calculates the score value as“ 6 ”.
[0120]
Note that the destination search means 70 may calculate the score value by performing predetermined weighting on a predetermined section, instead of calculating the total value of the number of sections that are “true” as a score value. For example, when a user wants to search for a recommended spot with an emphasis on the vehicle type, the score value may be calculated by adding two points more to the classification of the vehicle type than the classification other than the vehicle type.
[0121]
The destination search means 70 generates list information in which the information of each spot is arranged in the order of the score value (step S705). Hereinafter, the list information in which the information of each spot is arranged in the order of score values is referred to as spot list information. Further, when generating the spot list information, the destination searching means 70 narrows down and extracts spots whose score values are within a predetermined rank from the top, and obtains the spot list information including the extracted spot information. Generate. For example, the destination search means 70 generates spot list information obtained by narrowing down and extracting information on the top three spots based on the score value. Note that the destination search unit 70 may generate spot list information including spot information corresponding to all candidate spot records extracted in step S703.
[0122]
Further, the destination search means 70 may generate spot list information including only information on spots exceeding a predetermined score value. In this case, when there is no spot exceeding the predetermined score value, for example, the destination search means 70 includes a spot list including information for causing the client terminal 10a to display “No recommended spot was found”. Information may be generated. On the other hand, if there is no spot exceeding the predetermined score value, the destination search means 70 returns to the process of step S702, expands the search range of spots located in the vicinity of the current location, and goes from step S702 to step S705. The process may be executed again to generate spot list information.
[0123]
When the spot list information is generated, the destination search means 70 transmits the generated spot list information to the client terminal 10a via the Internet (step S706).
[0124]
When the spot list information is received, the destination search type route guidance means 80 of the client terminal 10a displays a list of recommended spots based on the received spot list information (step S604). For example, the destination search type route guidance means 80 displays a list of recommended spots on the display unit 84 shown in FIG. 18 based on the spot list information. When the user selects a spot to be specified from the list and presses the route guidance button 82, the destination search type route guidance means 80 recognizes the spot selected by the user as the spot that the user desires to visit. To do. Then, information indicating the recognized spot is output to the route guidance means 90.
[0125]
The route guidance means 90 searches for a route from the current location of the user to a spot that the user wishes to visit, and extracts route information (step S605). Then, the route information is output to the destination search type route guidance means 80. The destination search type road guide unit 80 displays road guide information such as a route display to the spot on the display unit 84 according to the route extracted by the road guide unit 90 (step S606).
[0126]
As described above, according to this embodiment, the client terminal 10a transmits the location information of the current location of the user, user situation information, surrounding situation information, and user attribute information to the server 20a in response to a user request. . The server 20a searches for and extracts a destination suitable for the user's driving purpose based on the information received from the client terminal 10a and the spot purpose correspondence table. Then, the client terminal 10a provides road guidance information to the user based on the destination information extracted by the server 20a. Therefore, the route guidance system can provide the user with road guidance information according to the current situation of the individual user and the situation around the user.
[0127]
In this embodiment, the case where the server 20a includes the destination search unit 70 has been described. However, the client terminal 10a may include a part of the function of the destination search unit 70. Further, the server 20a may include a part of the function of the route guidance means 90. For example, the server 20a may generate not only the spot list information but also the route information by searching for the route of the spot selected by the user.
[0128]
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the case where the user moves with a vehicle such as an automobile has been described as an example. However, the user's moving means is not limited to a vehicle such as an automobile. . For example, the user may move on foot. When the user moves on foot, for example, the user can receive road guidance information by carrying a mobile phone, a PDA, or the like as the client terminals 10a, 10b. Further, the user's moving means may be a train or an airplane.
[0129]
Furthermore, the configuration shown in the first embodiment and the second embodiment can be realized by software. For example, in the route guidance system, the server 20a collects, through a communication network, visit history information, which is history information of visited places visited by each user, from user terminals used by a plurality of users. And the collected visit history information is aggregated, and the visitor group who visits the visited place and the situation when the user visits the visited place are estimated and the estimated result is shown for each visited place. It is realizable by performing a process according to the route guidance program for performing the process which produces | generates ground estimation information. Further, for example, in the route guidance system, the client terminals 10a and 10b generate processing on the computer for generating user status information indicating the status of the user when the user visits the visited location, and the user visits the visited location. When generating a surrounding situation information indicating the situation around the current location of the user when visiting, detecting when the user has reached one of the visited locations, and detecting arrival at the visited location To execute a process according to a visit history information generation program for executing a process for generating visit history information including user status information, peripheral status information, and user attribute information indicating user attributes. Is feasible.
[0130]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the route guidance server Interest User terminals used by users Is generated when it is determined that the user has reached the visited place based on determining that the user's position has not changed for a predetermined time. Visit history information, which is the history information of the places visited by users, From user terminal Visit history information collection means and visit place history information collection means to collect via the communication network From multiple user terminals The collected visit history information is aggregated, and for each visited place, the visitor group who visited the visited place and the situation when the user visited the visited place are estimated and the visited place estimated information indicating the estimated result is generated. Means for generating information on the estimated visit location Destination candidate information storage means for storing destination candidate information indicating a user's destination candidate and movement for receiving movement destination information indicating a user's movement purpose from a user terminal via a communication network A plurality of destination candidate information that matches the movement destination information is extracted from the destination candidate information storage unit based on the destination estimation information stored in the destination information receiving unit and the destination estimation information storage unit, and each extracted Destination extraction means for generating list information including destination candidate information, and destination candidate information for transmitting the list information generated by the destination extraction means to the user terminal that has received the movement destination information via the communication network With transmission means Therefore, it is possible to search for and extract a destination suitable for the purpose of movement of the user according to the situation of the individual user and the situation around the user. Therefore, even when the user's situation changes, it is possible to provide road guidance information suitable for the user's purpose of movement.
[0132]
According to the present invention, in the route guidance system, the route guidance terminal is Based on the determination that the user's position has not changed for a predetermined time, the visit location determination means for determining that the user has reached the visited location, and the visited location determination means that the user has reached the visited location. When judged Visit history information generating means for generating visit history information that is history information of the places visited by the user, and visit history information transmitting means for transmitting the visit history information to the route guidance server via the communication network. The route guidance server collects the visit history information from the route guidance terminal via the communication network, and the visit history information collection means From multiple route guidance terminals The collected visit history information is aggregated, and for each visited place, the visitor group who visited the visited place and the situation when the user visited the visited place are estimated and the visited place estimated information indicating the estimated result is generated. Means for generating information on the estimated visit location The destination candidate information storage means for storing the destination candidate information indicating the user's destination candidates and the destination information indicating the user's moving purpose are received from the route guidance terminal via the communication network. Based on the travel destination information receiving means and the visit destination estimation information stored in the visit destination estimation information storage means, a plurality of destination candidate information that matches the travel destination information is extracted from the destination candidate information storage means and extracted. Destination extracting means for generating list information including each destination candidate information, and a destination for transmitting the list information generated by the destination extracting means to the route guidance terminal that has received the movement destination information via the communication network A route guidance terminal for selecting a destination based on the list information received from the route guidance server and outputting road guidance information. Further comprising means Since it comprised in this way, the destination suitable for the user's movement purpose can be searched and extracted according to a user's individual condition and the condition around the user. Therefore, even when the user's situation changes, it is possible to provide road guidance information suitable for the user's purpose of movement.
[0133]
Further, according to the present invention, the route guidance method uses a route guidance terminal used by a user who receives provision of road guidance information. Based on determining that the position of the user has not changed for a predetermined time, the step of determining that the user has reached the visited place and the route guidance terminal have determined that the user has reached the visited place. sometimes, A step of generating visit history information, which is history information of a visited place visited by a user, and a route guidance terminal serving as a route guidance server for managing information on visited places that a moving user may visit The step of transmitting the visit history information via the communication network, the route guidance server collecting the visit history information from the route guidance terminal via the communication network, and the route guidance server, From multiple route guidance terminals The collected visit history information is aggregated, and for each visited place, the visitor group who visited the visited place and the situation when the user visited the visited place are estimated, and the visited place estimated information indicating the estimated result is generated. Steps to do The route guidance terminal inputs travel purpose information indicating the travel purpose of the user, the route guidance terminal transmits the travel purpose information to the route guidance server via the communication network, and the route The guidance server extracts a plurality of destination candidate information that matches the travel destination information received from the end of the route guidance plan as destination candidates based on the visited place estimation information, and extracts the extracted destination candidate information. Including a step of generating list information, a step of the route guidance server transmitting the generated list information to the route guidance terminal that has received the movement purpose information via the communication network, and a route guidance terminal Selecting a destination based on the list information received from the guidance server and outputting road guidance information; Therefore, it is possible to search and extract a destination suitable for the user's moving purpose according to the individual situation of the user and the situation around the user. Therefore, even when the user's situation changes, it is possible to provide road guidance information suitable for the user's purpose of movement.
[0134]
According to the present invention, the route guidance program is Destination candidate information storage means for storing destination candidate information indicating a user's destination candidate is provided. On the computer, Interest User terminals used by users Is generated when it is determined that the user has reached the visited place based on determining that the user's position has not changed for a predetermined time. Visit history information, which is the history information of the places visited by users, From user terminal Processing to collect via a communication network; From multiple user terminals The collected visit history information is aggregated, and for each visited place, the visitor group who visited the visited place and the situation when the user visited the visited place are estimated, and the visited place estimated information indicating the estimated result is generated. Processing to Based on the process of receiving the travel purpose information indicating the travel purpose of the user from the user terminal via the communication network and the visited place estimation information, the destination candidate information storage means matches the travel purpose information. Process for generating a plurality of destination candidate information, generating list information including each extracted destination candidate information, and transmitting the generated list information to the user terminal that has received the movement destination information via the communication network Processing to Therefore, it is possible to search and extract a destination suitable for the purpose of movement of the user according to the situation of the individual user and the situation around the user. Therefore, even when the user's situation changes, it is possible to provide road guidance information suitable for the user's purpose of movement.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a route guidance system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a device configuration for realizing the spot information management system shown in FIG. 1;
3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of user management means 10. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of spot visit detection means 15;
5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a spot visit purpose calculation means 50. FIG.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of user attribute information stored in the user attribute storage unit 14;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of information stored in a spot database 20;
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of visit history information for each user stored in the all-user visit history database 40;
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a spot purpose correspondence table stored in a spot purpose correspondence table storage means 60;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of history information update processing for updating visit history information stored in an all-user visit history database 40;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a visit history analysis process for analyzing information on each visit history stored in the all-user visit history database 40;
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents stored in a spot-specific visit history temporary storage means 51.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a visit purpose estimation process for estimating the overall visit purpose of each spot.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the stored contents of the normalized spot visit history temporary storage means 51.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the route guidance system according to the present invention.
16 is a block diagram showing an example of a device configuration for realizing the route guidance system shown in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of road guidance processing in which the route guidance system performs road guidance to a destination.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation unit of the client terminals 10a and 10b.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of a spot refinement search process in which the destination search means 70 refines and searches recommended spots.
[Explanation of symbols]
10a, 10b Client terminal
10, 10A, 10B User management means
12 User situation detection means
13 Surrounding situation detection means
14 User attribute storage means
15 Spot visit detection means
151 timer
152 Current location history storage means
153 Spot visit judging means
20a server
20 spot database
30 Visit history update means
40 All Users Visit History Database
50 Spot visit purpose calculation means
51 Temporary storage of visit history by spot
52 User visit history analysis means
53 Spot purpose promotion means
60 Spot purpose correspondence table storage means

Claims (7)

A route guidance server that manages information on places visited by a moving user,
The user terminal a Subscriber is used, based on the position of the user is determined not to change for a predetermined time, when it is determined that the user has reached the Destinations, it is generated user Visit history information collecting means for collecting visit history information that is history information of visited places from the user terminal via a communication network;
The visit location history information collecting means collects the visit history information collected from a plurality of user terminals , and for each visit location, the user layer that visited the visit location, and the user visits the visit location Visited site estimation information generating means for estimating the situation and generating the visited site estimation information indicating the estimation result,
Visited site estimation information storage unit for storing the visited site estimation information generated by the visited site estimation information generation unit ;
Destination candidate information storage means for storing destination candidate information indicating candidate destinations of the user;
Movement purpose information receiving means for receiving movement purpose information indicating the movement purpose of the user from the user terminal via the communication network;
Based on the visited place estimation information stored in the visited place estimation information storage means, a plurality of destination candidate information that matches the travel destination information is extracted from the destination candidate information storage means, and each extracted destination Destination extracting means for generating list information including candidate information;
Route candidate information transmission means for transmitting the list information generated by the destination extraction means to a user terminal that has received the movement destination information via a communication network ; server. Each of the audience and the situation when the user visits the destination is classified into multiple categories,
Visited site estimation information generation means
When there is information that matches one of the categories in the user group in the collected visit history information for each visited location, the aggregate value corresponding to that category is increased, and the situation when the user visits the visited location If there is information that matches one of the categories in, increase the aggregate value corresponding to that category,
The route guidance server according to claim 1, wherein the accuracy of each division in the user layer and the accuracy of each division in a situation when the user visits the visited place are calculated based on the total value.   The visited site estimation information generating means generates at least one of the user's gender, the user's age, and the vehicle model of the user's vehicle as a user group who visited the visited site. The route guidance server according to claim 1 or claim 2.   The visit location estimation information generation means is based on the user's driving time, the user's driving purpose, the number of passengers driving the vehicle, the current time zone, the current season, and the congestion of the roads around the user's current location. 4. The route guidance server according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the degrees is generated as visit site estimation information as a situation when a user visits the visit site. 5. . A route guidance system including a route guidance terminal used by a user who receives information on road guidance, and a route guidance server for managing information on a visited place where a moving user may visit ,
The route guidance terminal is
Based on the determination that the position of the user has not changed for a predetermined time, the visited place determination means for determining that the user has reached the visited place,
Visit history information generating means for generating visit history information, which is history information of a visited place visited by the user when the visited place determining means determines that the user has reached the visited place;
Visit history information transmitting means for transmitting the visit history information to the route guidance server via a communication network,
The route guidance server is:
Visit history information collecting means for collecting the visit history information from the route guidance terminal via a communication network;
When the visit location history information collecting means collects the visit history information collected from a plurality of route guidance terminals, and for each visit location, the user group who visited the visit location, and when the user visited the visit location A location estimation information generating means for estimating the situation of the location and generating the location estimation information indicating the estimation result,
Visited site estimation information storage unit for storing the visited site estimation information generated by the visited site estimation information generation unit ;
Destination candidate information storage means for storing destination candidate information indicating candidate destinations of the user;
Travel purpose information receiving means for receiving travel purpose information indicating the travel purpose of the user from the route guidance terminal via a communication network;
Based on the visited place estimation information stored in the visited place estimation information storage means, a plurality of destination candidate information that matches the travel destination information is extracted from the destination candidate information storage means, and each extracted destination Destination extracting means for generating list information including candidate information;
Destination candidate information transmitting means for transmitting the list information generated by the destination extracting means to a route guidance terminal that has received the movement destination information via a communication network;
The route guidance terminal further comprises road guidance information output means for selecting a destination based on the list information received from the route guidance server and outputting road guidance information. system. A step of determining that the user has arrived at the visited location based on the fact that the route guidance terminal used by the user receiving the information on the road guidance has determined that the position of the user has not changed for a predetermined time. When,
When the route guidance terminal determines that the user has arrived at the visited location, generating visit history information that is history information of the visited location visited by the user;
The route guidance terminal transmitting the visit history information via a communication network to a route guidance server that manages information on a visited place where a moving user may visit;
The route guidance server collecting the visit history information from the route guidance terminal via a communication network;
The route guidance server aggregates the visit history information collected from a plurality of route guidance terminals, and for each visited place, a user layer that visited the visited place, and a user visits the visited place. Generating a site estimation information that estimates the situation and indicates the estimation results ;
The route guidance terminal inputting travel purpose information indicating the travel purpose of the user;
The route guidance terminal transmitting the travel purpose information to the route guidance server via a communication network;
The route guidance server extracts a plurality of destination candidate information that matches the travel destination information received from the end of the route guidance plan as destination candidates based on the visited location estimation information, and extracts each extracted Generating list information including destination candidate information;
The route guidance server transmits the generated list information to a route guidance terminal that has received the travel purpose information via a communication network;
A route guidance method comprising: the route guidance terminal selecting a destination based on the list information received from the route guidance server, and outputting road guidance information . A route guidance program for executing management processing of information on a visited place where a moving user may visit,
A computer equipped with destination candidate information storage means for storing destination candidate information indicating a user's destination candidate ,
The user terminal a Subscriber is used, based on the position of the user is determined not to change for a predetermined time, when it is determined that the user has reached the Destinations, it is generated user Processing for collecting visit history information that is history information of visited places from the user terminal via a communication network;
The visit history information collected from multiple user terminals is aggregated, and the estimated results are estimated for each visited place by estimating the user group who visited the visited place and the situation when the user visited the visited place. Processing to generate the estimated visit location information ,
A process of receiving movement purpose information indicating a user's movement purpose from a user terminal via a communication network;
A process of extracting a plurality of destination candidate information that matches the moving destination information from the destination candidate information storage means based on the visited place estimation information and generating list information including each extracted destination candidate information When,
A route guidance program for executing the process of transmitting the generated list information to a user terminal that has received the movement purpose information via a communication network .

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