JP4722554B2 - POI information providing system, POI information providing method, information distribution server, terminal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication-type POI information distribution system including a terminal device and an information distribution server, and particularly to a POI category without an operation procedure for a user to search for and specify a category of a place of interest (POI). The present invention relates to a POI information providing system, a POI information providing method, an information delivery server, and a terminal device configured to deliver a POI category that matches a predetermined access frequency condition to a terminal device based on access statistics.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, mobile terminals such as mobile phones are equipped with browsers and can access the Internet to receive desired information. In such a system, the user operates a mobile terminal, finds a desired site using a search engine provided in the server, downloads the content of the site, and browses the content with a browser. ing. The content includes information belonging to various categories, and includes information on stores and events, provision of railway timetables, and train transfer guidance.

  In providing information about stores and events, the user searches for stores and events that fall under the category specified by entering the store or event category and the region to be searched by operating the mobile terminal. The information is distributed to the mobile terminal device. In providing the timetable, when the user operates the mobile terminal to designate a route, the timetable of the route is presented on the screen of the display device of the mobile terminal. Further, in the transfer guidance, the recommended route is presented by the user specifying the departure place and the destination.

  Information distribution server is also rich in functions, not just providing timetables and transfer guidance for railway lines and bus lines as described above, but also providing information distribution functions that provide the functions of conventional in-vehicle navigation systems to mobile terminals such as mobile phones A server is also realized. According to such a system, it is possible to provide a navigation service not only for the driver of the automobile but also for the pedestrian.

  A user of a mobile phone can obtain various desired information by using the service as described above. For example, it is possible to obtain information such as a map, business content, price, business hours, and the like regarding a location of interest (Point of Interest: hereinafter simply referred to as POI) in which the user is interested. The POI may be any store or facility such as a hotel, restaurant, department store, theme park, convenience store, gas station, exercise facility, or park. For this reason, POI has an enormous number of types (categories), and there are countless stores and places belonging to the category. The wider the range covered by the information distribution server, the larger the number.

  Therefore, the information distribution server is provided with a POI database in order to provide information regarding these countless POIs to the user. In this POI database, POIs are classified into categories, and this POI category is hierarchized into a large classification, a medium classification, a small classification, and the like because of its large number. The user selects a desired POI category from the menu screen displayed on the mobile terminal and requests data from the information distribution server. In order to select a specific desired POI category, a large classification, a medium classification, The POI category for which information distribution is desired is selected by following the sub-category and category hierarchy.

  In addition, when the user desires to distribute information related to a specific POI, it is usually intended to use the POI. Therefore, it is possible to obtain information related to the POI in the area desired by the user or around the current location. It is generally an objective. Accordingly, an operation for selecting the POI category and designating the area where the POI exists and the current position information of the POI are accompanied.

  When a mobile terminal used by a user is a mobile phone, a recent mobile phone has a GPS receiver and has a positioning function for receiving a signal from a GPS satellite and calculating its current position. The current position can be transmitted to the information distribution server by using it. If the mobile terminal is capable of receiving a navigation service, after obtaining desired specific POI information, a route search to the specific POI is received as a desired starting point such as the current position, home, or work place. You can also.

  Various such POI information providing systems have been proposed. For example, a system disclosed as an “information distribution method” in the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-132483) is known.

  The information distribution method disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a system including an information distribution computer system and a mobile phone as a terminal device. In this information distribution computer system, when guidance information of a certain POI is requested from an external mobile phone, the POI position information and the optimum route information for route search request to the information distribution computer system are added to the guidance information of the desired POI. A link with URL as link information is attached and sent back to the request source. When the link displayed together with the POI guidance information is selected on the mobile phone, the current location detected by the GPS receiver is the departure location, the POI location information is the destination, and the date and time measured by the timing unit is scheduled to depart A route search condition with the date and time is automatically set, and a route search request accompanied by the route search condition information is made to the information distribution computer system.

  That is, this information distribution computer system receives a POI search request from a mobile phone, and searches for a specific POI and distributes the POI guide information (map, business guide, etc.) to the mobile phone. The link information is added and distributed, and when the mobile phone selects the link, the optimum route from the current position to the POI is searched for and distributed.

  Further, a system disclosed as “information providing system and method” in the following Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-150475) is also known. The information providing system disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a system including a mobile terminal and a Web application server.

  In this information providing system, a user who uses a portable terminal selects a requested service from the displayed provided service menu. Information on the selected service is transmitted to the Web application server. GPS satellites output position information. The mobile terminal receives the position information, calculates the current position based on the received position information, and transmits the current position information to the Web application server via the Internet. The Web application server receives the information on the current position transmitted from the mobile terminal, and transmits information related to the service selected by the user using the mobile terminal and related to the current position to the mobile terminal.

  There is also known an information distribution server system in which a distribution condition for which a user desires to provide information can be registered in advance. Such a system is disclosed, for example, in the following Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-99816) as “information distribution server, mobile terminal and information distribution system”.

  The information distribution system disclosed in Patent Document 3 is a system including a mobile terminal mounted on a car and an information distribution server. An information distribution server in the information providing system includes a distribution unit for distributing information to a mobile terminal, a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal, and a mobile terminal. A plurality of distribution information to be distributed, a distribution area specifying information for specifying a distribution area for each distribution information, and a storage unit for storing distribution information specifying information for specifying a type of distribution information requested by the mobile terminal. When the position corresponding to the position information acquired by the position information acquisition means is included in the distribution area corresponding to the distribution area designation information and the type of the distribution information is a type corresponding to the distribution information specifying information, the distribution is performed. Information is configured to be distributed to the mobile terminal.

  That is, in this information distribution system, a mobile terminal registers in advance an information distribution server with a specific POI for which information distribution is desired and an area for which information distribution is desired, and the information distribution server monitors the position of the mobile terminal. When the mobile terminal reaches the registered area, the system is configured to deliver information on the designated (registered) POI.

  Furthermore, a system is also known that searches for POIs that are in operation by time period based on the time when a POI search request is received from the terminal device in consideration of the business hours of each POI when providing POI information to the terminal device. ing. For example, it is disclosed as “navigation device” in the following Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent No. 3354851).

  This navigation device includes a position detection means for detecting the position of a vehicle, a map information storage means for storing map information, and a route search means for searching for and guiding a route from a current position to a specified position. In the apparatus, by the operation of the user, the facility data storage means in which the time zone and the data of the facility used are stored correspondingly, and the current time is detected to be in the storage time zone stored in the facility data storage means. When the time zone detecting means and the time zone detecting means detect that the current time is in the storage time zone, the time zone detection means corresponds to the storage time zone in which the current time is among the use facilities stored in the facility data storage means. A facility selection means for selecting a stored use facility, and a facility search means for searching for a use facility closest to the current position from the use facilities selected by the facility selection means A.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-132483 (FIG. 1, paragraph [0006]) JP 2003-150475 A (FIG. 1, FIG. 2, paragraph [0013]) JP 2002-99816 A (FIGS. 1 and 2, paragraphs [0034] and [0036] to [0039]) Japanese Patent No. 3354851 (FIG. 1, paragraph [0014])

  In the POI information distribution system disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the user searches for a specific POI using a mobile terminal and requests the distribution of the related information, so that the user has a desired POI. Must be selected and specified. That is, an operation of selecting a desired POI category from the menu screen displayed on the mobile terminal is performed. In order to select a desired POI category, the POI category is enormous as described above. Therefore, a specific category for which information distribution is desired is performed by following the hierarchy of the POI category divided into major classification, middle classification, and minor classification. Will be selected. Further, when the user desires to distribute information related to a specific POI, the user usually intends to use the POI, and therefore searches for the POI in the area desired by the user or around the current location. . Therefore, it is necessary to select the POI category as described above, and to select and input the region where the POI exists and the current position information of the own, and there is a problem that the operation is complicated. It was.

  Patent Document 3 discloses an information distribution server system in which distribution conditions for providing information can be registered in advance. In registration, the user searches for and selects a POI to be registered. Therefore, the system has the same problems as the systems disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

  In addition, the system disclosed in Patent Document 4 can provide information in consideration of the POI business hours, but in order to obtain desired POI information, the user selects and designates the POI desired to be distributed. The operation is necessary, and there is a problem similar to that of the system disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3.

  That is, in the information distribution systems disclosed in Patent Document 1 to Patent Document 4, the number of POI categories and the absolute number of POIs belonging to each category are enormous as described above, so that the user can obtain a desired POI. There is a problem that the operation for searching for is complicated. In particular, when a mobile phone is used as a terminal device, there is a problem that the display screen of the mobile phone is small, the menu screen has a higher hierarchy, and the operation becomes more complicated.

  Further, when a user searches for a POI in the information distribution system disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4, the user determines the POI category of the POI category from the menu screen while determining which category the POI he / she wants to search belongs to. The search is conducted by following the hierarchy, but as a result, the target POI does not belong to the selected POI category, and it is often necessary to return to the menu screen of the previous hierarchy and search again. And the problem of increasing the trouble of POI search. Such a situation is often experienced by many users, and it is preferable that such operations for POI search be simple for the user.

  On the other hand, among users who search for POIs, there are users who prefer an operation mode in which the system automatically presents a POI category and desires to distribute information on POIs in which they are interested. For example, some users search for POIs without a specific purpose, know POIs that are interested by other users, and if they are interested, obtain information about the POI. There are modes to use. Such an operation mode is similar to an operation mode called so-called net surfing. The systems disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 have a problem that such functions cannot be handled.

  When the applicant of the present application operates a system including a terminal device and an information distribution server as in Patent Document 1 and performs statistical processing by collecting a log (history) of the user's POI search, the user actually performs the POI search. It has been found that the category being visited varies widely depending on the day of the week and the time of day. For example, at midnight on Friday, on the premise of weekend behavior, the frequency of POI searches related to shopping is high, or relaxation The related POI search frequency is high. Such an actual situation could not be known by a stand-alone system.

  As described above, the POI category itself is increasing with the enhancement of the database, the menu hierarchy for selecting the POI category is increased, and the POI selection step tends to increase. Furthermore, even what kind of POI category is not easily known, and there is a tendency that the whole picture cannot be grasped. Therefore, by introducing categories that are frequently used (searched) by many users at the time of POI search, it is possible to search for POI categories by time period, which makes it easy to quickly search for POIs that interest you. If it can be provided, the convenience for the user can be increased.

  The inventor of the present application has conducted various studies to solve the above-described problems, and as a result, the POI information providing system includes a “free POI category search mode”, a so-called “recommended” POI in addition to the normal “POI category search mode”. In addition, the POI search information (access information) of each user is collected and the search frequency for each POI and for each time zone is recorded as data. In the free POI category search mode, the POI category based on the access frequency is provided. The inventors have conceived that the above problems can be solved if the above information is provided to the user, and the present invention has been completed.

  That is, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems, and meets a predetermined access frequency condition based on POI category access statistics without a complicated operation procedure for a user to search for and specify a POI category. An object of the present invention is to provide a POI information providing system that distributes a POI category to a terminal device.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is
A first search input means for selecting a POI category from all the predetermined POI categories and performing a POI search, and selecting a POI category from POI categories that meet a predetermined access frequency condition A POI information providing system comprising a plurality of terminal devices having a second search input means for performing a POI search, and an information distribution server,
The information distribution server is
A POI database storing information on POIs classified into a plurality of POI categories according to the type of POI;
POI category statistical storage means for recording the number of searches for each POI category for each POI category based on POI search requests received from the plurality of terminal devices ;
POI search means for searching the POI with reference to the POI database,
If there is a POI search request via the second search input means, the PO I on the basis of the search request was time, the POI search unit, the POI category statistics stored corresponding time recorded in the unit By referring to the number of searches for each POI category in the band, a POI category that matches a predetermined access frequency condition is extracted and distributed to the terminal device.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the POI information providing system according to the invention of claim 1,
The time zone is divided into at least holidays, weekdays, and Fridays, and each hour is divided.

The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the POI information providing system according to the invention of claim 1,
The POI category statistics storage means statistically processes the number of searches for the POI category to which the POI belongs when performing a POI search based on a POI search request via the first search input means, and performs the second search. The statistical processing is not performed when a search request is made via the input means.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is the POI information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The predetermined access frequency condition is set to extract a predetermined number of POI categories in descending order of the number of searches.

The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is the POI information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The predetermined access frequency condition is set to extract a predetermined number of POI categories in ascending order of the number of searches.

The invention according to claim 6 of the present application is the POI information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The predetermined access frequency condition is set so that the number of searches in the time zone in which the POI search request is made is extracted such that the POI category having the largest number of searches compared to the number of searches in other time zones is extracted. .

The invention according to claim 7 of the present application is
A first search input means for selecting a POI category from all the predetermined POI categories and performing a POI search, and selecting a POI category from POI categories that meet a predetermined access frequency condition A plurality of terminal devices having second search input means for performing a POI search; a POI database storing information on POIs classified into a plurality of POI categories according to the type of POI; and the plurality of terminal devices POI category statistics storage means for recording the number of searches for each POI category for each POI category based on the POI search request received from the POI category, and POI search means for searching the POI with reference to the POI database. A POI information providing method in a POI information providing system comprising an information distribution server provided I,
If there is a POI search request via the second search input means, the PO I on the basis of the search request was time, the POI search unit, the POI category statistics stored corresponding time recorded in the unit A step of referring to the number of searches for each POI category of the band, extracting a POI category that meets a predetermined access frequency condition, and distributing the POI category to the terminal device.

The invention according to claim 8 of the present application is the POI information providing method according to the invention of claim 7,
The time zone is divided into at least holidays, weekdays, and Fridays, and each hour is divided.

The invention according to claim 9 of the present application is the POI information providing method according to the invention of claim 7,
When the POI category statistics storage means performs a POI search based on a POI search request via the first search input means, the POI category statistics storage means statistically processes the number of searches for the POI category to which the POI belongs, and the second search The method further includes the step of not performing the statistical processing when there is a search request through the input means.

The invention according to claim 10 of the present application is the POI information providing method according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
The predetermined access frequency condition is set to extract a predetermined number of POI categories in descending order of the number of searches.

The invention according to claim 11 of the present application is the POI information providing method according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
The predetermined access frequency condition is set to extract a predetermined number of POI categories in ascending order of the number of searches.

The invention according to claim 12 of the present application is the POI information providing method according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
The predetermined access frequency condition is set so that the number of searches in the time zone in which the POI search request is made is extracted such that the POI category having the largest number of searches compared to the number of searches in other time zones is extracted. .

The invention according to claim 13 of the present application is
A first search input means for selecting a POI category from all the predetermined POI categories and performing a POI search, and selecting a POI category from POI categories that meet a predetermined access frequency condition An information distribution server connected via a network to a plurality of terminal devices having a second search input means for performing a POI search,
The information distribution server is
A POI database storing information on POIs classified into a plurality of POI categories according to the type of POI;
POI category statistical storage means for recording the number of searches for each POI category for each POI category based on POI search requests received from the plurality of terminal devices ;
POI search means for searching the POI with reference to the POI database,
If there is a POI search request via the second search input means, the PO I on the basis of the search request was time, the POI search unit, the POI category statistics stored corresponding time recorded in the unit By referring to the number of searches for each POI category in the band, a POI category that matches a predetermined access frequency condition is extracted and distributed to the terminal device.

The invention according to claim 14 of the present application is the information delivery server according to the invention of claim 13,
The time zone is divided into at least holidays, weekdays, and Fridays, and each hour is divided.

The invention according to claim 15 of the present application is the information distribution server according to the invention of claim 13,
The POI category statistics storage means statistically processes the number of searches for the POI category to which the POI belongs when performing a POI search based on a POI search request via the first search input means, and performs the second search. The statistical processing is not performed when a search request is made via the input means.

The invention according to claim 16 of the present application is the information distribution server according to any one of claims 13 to 15,
The predetermined access frequency condition is set to extract a predetermined number of POI categories in descending order of the number of searches.

The invention according to claim 17 of the present application is the information distribution server according to any one of claims 13 to 15,
The predetermined access frequency condition is set to extract a predetermined number of POI categories in ascending order of the number of searches.

The invention according to claim 18 of the present application is the information distribution server according to any one of claims 13 to 15,
The predetermined access frequency condition is set so that the number of searches in the time zone in which the POI search request is made is extracted such that the POI category having the largest number of searches compared to the number of searches in other time zones is extracted. .

The invention according to claim 19 of the present application is
Based on a POI database that stores information on POIs classified into a plurality of POI categories according to the type of POI, and POI search requests received from a plurality of terminal devices , each POI category is classified by time zone for the POI category. POI category statistics storage means for recording the number of searches, and POI search means for searching for POIs by referring to the POI database. POI categories are selected from POI categories that meet a predetermined access frequency condition and POIs are selected. If through the second search input means for searching had POI search request from the terminal device, based on the PO I search request had time, the POI search unit, the POI category statistics storage means The number of searches for each POI category in the corresponding time zone recorded in the A terminal device connected to an information distribution server that extracts a POI category that matches a frequency condition and distributes it to the terminal device,
The terminal device
A first search input means for selecting a POI category from all the predetermined POI categories and performing a POI search, and selecting a POI category from POI categories that meet a predetermined access frequency condition A POI category distributed from the information distribution server in response to a POI search request via the second search input means, having a second search input means for performing a POI search, and a display means; It displays on the said display means, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

In the invention according to claim 1, a first search input means for selecting a POI category from all predetermined POI categories and performing a POI search, and a POI category that meets a predetermined access frequency condition A POI information distribution server comprising a plurality of terminal devices having a second search input means for selecting a POI category from the above and performing a POI search, and an information distribution server is provided in accordance with the type of POI. POI database that stores information on POIs classified by POI category and POI category that records the number of searches for each POI category for each POI category based on POI search requests received from the plurality of terminal devices Statistic storage means and POI search means for searching for POI with reference to the POI database If there is a second search input means POI search request through, on the basis of the PO I search request had time, POI search means, corresponding time zone has been recorded in the POI category statistics storage means With reference to the number of searches for each POI category, a POI category that matches a predetermined access frequency condition is extracted and distributed to the terminal device.
Therefore, it becomes possible to obtain information on POI categories that meet a predetermined access frequency condition based on the access statistics for the POI categories, without a complicated operation procedure for the user to search and specify the POI categories.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the POI information providing system according to the first aspect, the time zone is divided into at least holidays, weekdays, and Fridays, and is divided every hour. Therefore, the POI category information that matches the predetermined access frequency condition according to holidays, weekdays, Fridays, and time periods based on the access statistics to the POI category without a complicated operation procedure for the user to search and specify the POI category. You will be able to get

In the invention according to claim 3, in the POI information providing system according to claim 1, the POI category statistical storage means performs a POI search based on a POI search request via the first search input means. The number of searches for the POI category to which the POI belongs is statistically processed, and the statistical processing is not performed when a search request is made via the second search input means. Accordingly, since the number of searches is statistically processed only when the user searches for a POI for a specific purpose, a statistical result reflecting the user's actual search can be obtained.

  In the invention according to claim 4, in the POI information distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the predetermined access frequency condition is such that a predetermined number of POI categories are extracted in descending order of the number of searches. Is set to Therefore, the user can easily know the POI category used by many people during the time period without a complicated operation procedure for searching and specifying the POI category.

  In the invention according to claim 5, in the POI information distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the predetermined access frequency condition is such that a predetermined number of POI categories are extracted in ascending order of the number of searches. Is set to Therefore, the user can easily know the unexpected POI category used in the time period without a complicated operation procedure for searching and specifying the POI category.

  In the invention according to claim 6, in the POI information distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the predetermined access frequency condition is that the number of searches in the time zone when the POI search request is made is: It is set to extract the POI category having the largest number of searches compared to the number of searches in other time zones. Therefore, the user can easily know the POI category in which a certain POI category is searched more frequently than the other time zones without a complicated operation procedure for searching and specifying the POI category. Become.

  In the invention according to claims 7 to 12, it is possible to provide the POI information providing method in the POI information providing system according to claims 1 to 6, respectively.

  In the inventions according to claims 13 to 18, it is possible to provide information distribution servers constituting the POI information providing system according to claims 1 to 6, respectively.

  In the invention concerning Claim 19, the terminal device which comprises the POI information provision system concerning Claim 1 can be provided now.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. In the following embodiments, a POI information providing system having a POI information providing function in a navigation system that performs a route search and route guidance using a mobile phone as a terminal device will be described as a specific example. Without limitation, it may be a system having a function of providing POI information independently, and the terminal device may be a portable terminal device such as a mobile phone, or may be a computer device such as a personal computer. .

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a POI category hierarchy provided in the POI information providing system. Since POI categories are enormous and not all of them can be illustrated, only a part of them is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the POI category hierarchy is classified into “play / entertainment / hobbies”, “shopping”, “gourmet / cafe / alcohol”, “fashion / fashion”, “life / life”, “accommodation”. / Hot springs, travel / tourism, and transportation.

  The medium categories belonging to the lower level of “Play / Entertainment / Hobbies” are “Leisure”, “Hobbies / Sports”, “Karaoke / Manga Cafe”, “Game / Bowling Other”, “Movie / Entertainment / Theatre”, It is divided into “gambling”, “night entertainment”, “event”, “meeting spot”, etc., and the subcategories belonging to the lower category of “leisure” in the middle category are “amusement park / theme park”, “park / green space” , “Zoo / botanical garden / aquarium”, “museum / art museum / orchard”, “complex facility / big town”, “camp / auto camp”, “higig / walk”, “sea / pool / boat” etc. ing. Each specific POI belongs to a lower level of the POI category of the small classification, and has a data structure to be searched.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the POI information providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the POI information distribution system 10 includes a terminal device 20 and an information distribution server 30 connected via a network 11 such as the Internet. The information distribution server 30 includes POI category information provided to the terminal device 20, POIDB 40, which is a database storing each POI and related information for each POI category, POI search means 38 for searching the POI category, and POI. The POI category statistical recording means 39 is provided for collecting POI search information (access information) of each user (terminal device 20) and storing the search frequency for each POI category and each time zone as a database.

  The terminal device 20 is a mobile phone equipped with GPS, for example, and can perform POI search around the current location. When the peripheral position search request is sent to the information distribution server 30 with the current position information attached, the information distribution server takes into account the current position of the terminal device 20 and displays a POI existing within a predetermined range, for example, within a radius of 2 km, for example. Be searchable. In the POI search, the terminal device 20 displays a POI category selection screen, and the user selects a desired POI category and causes the information distribution server 30 to search for a POI belonging to the POI category.

  In the present invention, in selecting a POI category, a search mode (“free POI category search”) that provides information on the POI category having a high use frequency (access) frequency for each day of the week and time zone from the information distribution server 30 to the mobile terminal device 20. Mode ”, so-called“ recommended POI search mode. ”Details of this search mode will be described later.

  The information distribution server 30 includes a control unit 31, a distribution data creation unit 32, a communication unit 34, a route search unit 33, and route search network data 35. The search network data 35 stores road network data 36 for searching routes for walking and automobiles, and traffic network data 37 for searching routes using transportation facilities.

  Although not shown, the control unit 31 is a microprocessor having a RAM, a ROM, and a processor, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The communication means 34 is an interface for communicating with the terminal device 20 and the POI information providing server 50 that provides various POI information via the networks 11 and 12. The distribution data creation means 32 is for editing the results of route search and POI search into data for distribution to the terminal device 20. The information distribution server 30 can collect POI information from various POI information providing servers 50 via the network 12 and register it in the POIDB 40 to enhance POI information that can be provided to the user.

  The route search means 33 is a multimodal route search engine, and has a route search function using both walking and transportation. Such a route search engine is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-258184. As a route search method, a known method called Dijkstra method is applied, and route search conditions and POI search conditions are transmitted from the terminal device 20.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the POI information stored in the POI database (DB) 40. The POIDB 40 stores various POI category classifications (for example, classification codes of large classification, medium classification, and small classification) described in FIG. 1 and data (POI information provided to the user) related to each POI. The POI information is information provided to the user. Data such as the POI category in which the POI is classified for each POI, the location / map number of the POI, business hours, business guidance, etc. are as shown in FIG. Accumulated in the configuration.

  The POI category information and POI information stored in the POIDB 40 are searched and referred to by the POI search means 38, and the POI category information and POI information requested by using the POI category and region designated by the terminal device 20 as search conditions are displayed. Selected and distributed to the terminal device 20.

  In this embodiment, as described above, the POI information providing system 10 has a “free POI category search mode”, a so-called “recommended POI search mode” in addition to the normal “POI category search mode”, and each user's POI search information (access information) is collected and the search frequency for each POI and for each time period is recorded as data. In the free POI category search mode, information on the POI category based on the access frequency is provided to the user. . Therefore, the information distribution server 30 is provided with a POI category-specific statistical recording means 39.

  When there is a POI category search request from the terminal device 20, the information distribution server 30 checks the time, and the number of search requests for each POI category and time zone for which the search request has been made (the number of accesses is the POI category-specific statistical recording means 39. 4 is a diagram showing data on the number of searches (number of accesses) for each POI category and each time zone recorded in the POI category statistical recording means 39 in this way. The POI category for recording the number of searches (number of accesses) is the small classification unit shown in FIG. 1. By this unit, the POI category and the searched POI category by time zone (holiday / weekday / friday, every hour) The log of the POI category accessed in (1) is statistically processed, and the number of searches is recorded.

  In FIG. 4, the number of searches (number of accesses) and its rank for each time zone are recorded, and based on the rank of the number of searches, that is, the access frequency, a free POI category search mode, which will be described later, a so-called “recommended POI search mode”. The POI category information is provided. The time period during which the access frequency is statistically processed is not limited to the above, but may be a holiday / holiday and each day of the week. The reason for dividing weekdays and Fridays is that Friday is a weekday but the day before a holiday, and the user's behavior pattern may be different from other weekdays.

By such statistical processing, it has been found that there are the following two types of trends in the user's peripheral search.
First, if you want to use the search results immediately,
The second is when performing a peripheral search as preparation for a later date (for example, the next day). It can be presumed that the second usage mode is a search for obtaining POI information as preparation for performing the next day (holiday) on Friday the weekend.

For example, the most notable one is that the POI category of “Izakaya” is searched for at 18 o'clock, regardless of holidays / weekdays / Friday.
In addition, at 00:00 on Friday, the POI category of “apparel / used clothes” has the third highest access frequency, which is completely different from other time zones. Since each store that is a POI belonging to the POI category is not open during this time period, it is probably in preparation for where to go shopping the next day. Accordingly, simply displaying the category display in accordance with the business hours deviates from the user's action.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 20 is distributed from a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, a positioning unit 23 including a GPS receiver, a display unit 24 including a liquid crystal display unit, and an information distribution server 30. Distribution data storage means 25 for storing data, distribution request editing means 26 for editing various requests to the information distribution server 30, and operation / input means 27.

  The control means 21 includes a microprocessor (CPU) having a RAM and a ROM (not shown), and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The operation / input means 27 is for operation / input means composed of numeric keys, alphabet keys, other function keys, selection keys, scroll keys, and the like. From the menu screen displayed on the display means 24 which is output means. Various input operations are performed by selecting a desired menu or operating keys. Accordingly, the display unit 24 also functions as a part of the operation / input unit 27. The communication unit 22 is an interface for communicating with the information distribution server 30 via the network 11.

  When the user wants to request the information distribution server 30 to search for the POI, the operation / input means 27 is operated to display the menu screen on the display means 24 and select the POI category to be searched. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a screen configuration of a service menu displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal device 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the service menu screen includes a peripheral search selection field 501 for selecting “surrounding search”, a current position map selection field 502 for selecting “current location map”, and a current location mail selection field 503 for selecting “current location mail”. Is displayed. In order to select a process for transmitting a mail including the current position data, the peripheral search is a selection field for searching the POI around the current position, the current position map is a selection field for selecting a unit map including the current position. It is a selection column.

  In this service menu screen, in addition to the above selection column, a recommendation selection column 504 for selecting a recommendation mode, a route search selection column 505 for selecting a “route search (navigation)” service, and transfer of transportation A transfer search selection field 506 for searching for a route, a “current position” selection field 507 for selecting a process for positioning the current position, a “call information” selection field 508 for selecting a process of call information, A “setting / registration” selection field 509 for selecting setting / registration processing is displayed. The following description will focus on the peripheral search function for obtaining information about POI.

  The user selects the peripheral search selection field 501 when desiring to search for POI. Then, a message 510 “You can select a nearby shop / facility and receive a map or a guide route” is displayed. When the neighborhood search selection field 501 is clicked, the display means 24 displays. The screen changes to the POI search menu screen shown in FIG. In the POI search menu screen, as shown in FIG. 6, a selection field 601 for selecting a peripheral search at the current position, a selection field 602 for searching a peripheral area with a My Category registered by the user, and a recommended category search are selected. A selection field 603 is displayed.

  The peripheral search at the current location in the selection field 601 is a normal search mode for selecting a desired category from the displayed POI categories. When the processing menu in the selection field 601 (periphery search at the current location) is selected in the terminal device 20, a transition is made to the POI category selection screen set in advance in this system, and the POI category display screens of the large classification to the small classification are sequentially displayed. The POI belonging to the POI category selected by the user is searched. The range searched at this time is each POI existing within a predetermined range centered on the current position measured by the terminal device 20, and the information distribution server 30 distributes the result to the terminal device 20. The terminal device 20 can specify an arbitrary POI from the distributed POI data and obtain information on the POI.

  When a process in the selection field 602 is selected, a POI category selected and registered in advance by a process such as a peripheral search is selected, and an arbitrary POI is specified from POIs belonging to the selected category to obtain information on the POI. Will be able to. When the processing menu in the selection field 602 is selected in the terminal device 20, the POI category registered by the user in the past POI search in advance is displayed in the message field 604. When it is desired to newly register the POI category searched in the vicinity search (selection column 601) in the current location as a new category, it can be registered by operating the new registration button 605 displayed in the message column 604. Information on the registered POI category is stored in the terminal device 20 memory.

  The selection column 603 is a selection column for selecting a “free POI category search mode” or a “recommended” search mode provided in the present invention. When this selection is made, the user operates the terminal device 20 on the user side. Without the procedure of selecting the POI category, the information distribution server 30 extracts the POI category information that matches a predetermined access frequency condition based on the access statistics for the POI category and distributes it to the terminal device 20.

  The statistical data of the access frequency (number of searches) for the POI category is recorded in the POI category-specific statistical recording means 39 with the data structure described with reference to FIG. The predetermined access frequency condition may be, for example, the order in which the number of searches is increased by time zone (on each hour of holidays / weekdays / Friday) in which POI search is performed from each terminal device 20. When such an access frequency condition is set in the system, the POI category information provided to the terminal device 20 is determined in descending order of the access frequency for each POI category in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, for example, in the time zone on Friday at 23:00 (1 hour from 23:00 to midnight), the access frequency of the POI category is “coffee shop”, “convenience store”, “hair / makeup / nail”. Therefore, the information of this POI category is distributed to the terminal device 20 in order. The number of POI categories to be distributed is not limited to the top three but may be a predetermined number such as the top five or the top ten. Further, the structure of the data recorded in the POI category-specific statistical recording means 39 does not necessarily have to be arranged in the order of the number of searches as shown in FIG. 4, and the POI category-specific statistical recording means when distributing the data to the terminal device 20. The POI category having a high access frequency may be extracted by sorting the data recorded in No. 39.

  For example, “coffee shop” and “convenience store” are generally POI categories with high access frequency, but surprisingly “hair / makeup / nail” is ranked 3rd, and this is late at midnight on the weekend. Many users are searching for POI categories. Since some users do not even know that this POI category exists, it is conceivable that the number of users who are interested in the POI category increases by distributing to the terminal device 20 as a result of the “recommended category search”. In particular, some users may be interested in knowing that an unexpected POI category has been searched by a large number of users during an unexpected time period.

  By distributing the POI category information to the terminal device 20 according to such a procedure, a predetermined access frequency condition based on the access statistics for the POI category can be obtained without a complicated operation procedure for the user to search for and specify the POI category. It is possible to obtain information on the POI category that matches the above, and to easily know the POI category used by many people during the time period. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain information on POI categories that meet predetermined access frequency conditions by holiday, weekday, Friday, and time period.

  As another example of the predetermined access frequency condition, a POI category with a low access frequency may be extracted and distributed to the terminal device 20 in order to make the POI category known. As described above, when the mobile phone is the terminal device 20, since the display screen is small and the entire hierarchical structure of the POI category cannot be displayed, it is preferable to introduce the unknown categories sequentially. In addition, even if the access frequency is low, posting to the “recommended category” in the time zone where the frequency is the highest for the POI category also gives a hint to the user.

  For example, “Manga cafe” has the highest access frequency at 13th place at 2 o'clock on weekdays. Presumed to be used in place of accommodation. This POI category is a POI category that does not normally appear at the top of the ranking, but the system can be extracted as a POI category provided to the terminal device 20 when a “recommended category” search is performed from the terminal device 20 during this time period. It is sufficient to set the access frequency condition. Thereby, as a result of the “recommended category” search, the POI category “Manga cafe” can be added to the POI category data distributed to the terminal device 20.

  By distributing the POI category information to the terminal device 20 according to such a procedure, the user can select an unexpected POI category that is used during the time period without a complicated operation procedure for searching for and specifying the POI category. It becomes possible to know easily, and it becomes possible to easily know the POI category in which a certain POI category is searched most frequently in the time zone than other time zones.

  In addition, since the items that have been selected by selecting the “recommended category” search and reached the POI search are guided by the system side, unlike the items searched by following the normal hierarchical structure categories, the statistical processing of the POI search There is also the notion that it is not added to If such statistical processing is performed, the number of searches is statistically processed only when the user searches for a POI for a specific purpose, so that a statistical result reflecting the user's actual search can be obtained.

  In this case, the hyperlink from the “recommended category” may be configured so that the statistical processing of the POI search does not enter separately from the hyperlink of the hierarchical category. However, it is preferable that the POI search can be performed in the same manner from the viewpoint of the user.

  The operation procedure of the POI information providing system 10 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for collecting POI category search data from each terminal device 20 and performing statistical processing. The POI category search means 38 waits for reception of a POI category search request from each terminal device 20 in the process of step S10.

  If there is no POI category search request in step S11, the process returns to step S10. If there is a POI category search request in step S11, the current time, holidays, weekdays, and Fridays are distinguished in step S12. In the process of step S13, the number of searches for the corresponding POI category data in the POI category-specific statistical storage means 39 is added, and in the process of step S14, the rank of the POI category data (rank of the number of searches) is added. Determine if there is a change.

  If there is no change in the POI category data order in the determination process in step S14, the process returns. If there is a change in the POI category data order, the order data is changed in step S15 and the process returns. In this way, the POI category-specific statistical storage means 39 stores the access frequency and its rank for each POI category shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the information distribution server 30 provides POI category information when a search for “free POI category search mode” (recommended category search in FIG. 6) is designated from the terminal device 20. The POI category search means 38 waits for reception of a POI category search request from each terminal device 20 in the process of step S20.

  If there is no POI category search request in step S21, the process returns to step S20. If there is a POI category search request in step S21, "free POI category search mode" (recommended search) is executed in step S22. Is determined. If it is not a recommended search in the determination process in step S22, the POI search means 38 searches for a POI belonging to the POI category selected and designated by the terminal device 20 in the process in step S25. In this case, searching for a POI within a predetermined distance range from the current position of the terminal device 20 is as described above. Then, the process proceeds to step S26, and the distribution data creation means 32 edits the search result, that is, the POI data into distribution data, and proceeds to the process in step S27.

  In the discrimination process in step S22, if it is a recommended search, the current time is checked in the process in step S23, and the data in the corresponding time zone in the POI category-specific statistical storage means 39 is referred to in the process in step S24. A POI category that matches the access frequency condition is extracted. The access frequency condition is as described above. For example, the POI categories up to the fifth place are extracted in descending order of access frequency.

  When the POI category corresponding to the predetermined access frequency condition is extracted in the process of step S24, the distribution data creation unit 32 edits the extracted POI category data into distribution data, and distributes it to the terminal device 20 in the process of step S27. Then return. In this way, the information distribution server 30 can extract POI category data that matches a predetermined access frequency condition for each time period and provide it to the terminal device 20.

  When the user obtains information on a specific POI by the above procedure and wants to know the route to the POI, the user selects the route search service from the menu screen of FIG. A search can be requested. In this case, the destination of the route search condition is location information acquired from the POI information, and the departure location can be any location such as the current location, home, or workplace.

  When there is a route search request from the terminal device 20, the route search means 33 searches the route from the designated departure point to the destination by referring to the search network data 35 in the information distribution server 30. The search network data 35 includes road network data 36 for searching for a route by foot or road and traffic network data 37 for searching for a route by transportation.

The road network data 36 is configured as follows. For example, when the road is composed of roads A, B, and C as shown in FIG. 9, the end points, intersections, and bending points of the roads A, B, and C are used as nodes, and the roads connecting the nodes are directed links. Link cost data and configuration, which is expressed as node data (node latitude / longitude), link data (link number), and link cost of each link (link distance or time required to travel the link) Is done.
That is, in FIG. 9, ◯ and ◎ indicate nodes, and ◎ indicates a road intersection. Directional links connecting the nodes are indicated by arrow lines (solid line, dotted line, two-dot chain line). As for the links, there are links facing in the upward and downward directions of the road, but in FIG. 9, only the links in the direction of the arrows are shown for the sake of simplicity.

When route search is performed using such road network data as a route search database, links linked from the starting node to the destination node are traced to accumulate the link cost, thereby minimizing the accumulated link cost. Search and guide the route. That is, in FIG. 9, when a route search is performed with the departure point as the node AX and the destination as the node CY, the road travels from the node AX along the road A, turns right at the second intersection, enters the road C, and reaches the node CY The link cost is accumulated sequentially, and a route that minimizes the accumulated link cost is searched for and guided.
Although other routes from the node AX to the node CY are not shown in FIG. 9, in reality there are other such routes, so a possible route from the node AX to the node CY is similarly searched. Of these routes, the route with the lowest link cost is determined as the optimum route. This method is performed by, for example, a known method called the Dijkstra method.

  On the other hand, the traffic network data 37 for route search of the transportation system is configured as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, in the case of traffic routes A, B, and C, each station (each airport on an aircraft route) provided on each traffic route A, B, and C is a node, and the nodes are connected. A section is represented by a directional link, and node data (latitude / longitude) and link data (link number) are network data. In FIG. 10, ◯ and ◎ indicate nodes, ◎ indicates a transit point (such as a transfer station) on a traffic route, and a directional link connecting each node is indicated by an arrow line (solid line, dotted line, two points). This is indicated by a chain line). As for the links, there are links facing in the upward and downward directions of the traffic route, but in FIG. 10, only the links in the direction of the arrows are shown for the sake of simplicity.

  However, the traffic network basically has a different link cost compared to the road network. In other words, in the road network, the link cost is fixed and static. However, in the traffic network, as shown in FIG. 10, trains and airplanes (hereinafter referred to as individual trains and airplanes) that operate traffic routes are used. A plurality of means of transportation). The time of departure from one node and the time of arrival at the next node are determined for each means of transportation (specified by timetable data and operation data), and individual routes do not necessarily link to adjacent nodes. There is a case. This is the case, for example, with express trains and trains that stop at each station. In such a case, a plurality of different links exist on the same traffic route, and the required time between nodes may differ depending on the transportation means.

  In the transportation network illustrated in FIG. 10, a plurality of transportation means (routes) Aa to Ac... Exist on the same link of the transportation route A, and a plurality of transportation means (routes) Ca to Cc. Will do. Therefore, unlike a simple road network, the transportation network of a transportation facility has a data amount proportional to the total number of transportation means (routes such as individual airplanes and trains). For this reason, the data of the traffic network becomes a huge amount of data compared to the data amount of the road network. Accordingly, much time is required for route search accordingly.

In order to search for a route from a certain departure point to a certain destination using such traffic network data, all the means of transportation that can be used (ride) when arriving from the departure point to the destination are searched. It is necessary to specify the means of transportation that matches the search conditions.
For example, in FIG. 10, when a specific departure time is designated with the departure point as the node AX of the traffic route A and a route search is performed with the node CY of the traffic route C as the destination, the route operates on the traffic route A. Of the transportation means Aa to Ac..., All transportation means after the departure time are sequentially selected as the departure route. Based on the arrival time at the transit node on the transit route C, among all the transit means Ca to Cc... Operating on the transit route C, all combinations of transit means after the time that can be boarded at the transit node. The total time required for each route, the number of transfers, and the like are guided.

  As in the embodiment described above, it may be implemented as a navigation system using a mobile phone as a terminal device as in the POI information distribution system 10 of the present invention, and the action in advance of the previous time point such as a weekend or the next day may be implemented. Considering that there may be a user using POI search for preparation, a personal computer (PC) is used as a terminal device in the present invention, and a POI used by displaying a POI search screen on a browser of the PC. You may comprise as an information provision system. In this case, it is preferable to be able to search by specifying an arbitrary place without positioning or inputting the current position information.

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the POI category hierarchy provided in a POI information provision system. It is a figure which shows the structure of the POI information provision system concerning the Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of the POI information accumulate | stored in POI category database (DB). It is a figure which shows an example of the data of the frequency | count of access according to POI category and time zone recorded on the statistics recording means according to POI category. It is a figure which shows the screen structure of the service menu displayed on the display means of a portable terminal device. It is a figure which shows the structure of the menu screen for POI search (periphery search) displayed on the display means of a portable terminal device. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which collects the data of POI category search from each terminal device, and performs a statistical process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in which the information delivery server 30 provides POI category information, when the search of free POI category search mode is designated from the terminal device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the concept of the data of a road network. It is a schematic diagram which shows the concept of the data of a traffic network.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... POI information provision system 11, 12, ... Network 20 ... Terminal device 21 ... Control means 22 ... Communication means 23 ... Positioning means 24 ... Display means 25 .... Delivery data storage means 26 ... Delivery request editing means 27 ... Operation / input means 30 ... Information delivery server 31 ... Control means 32 ... Delivery data creation Means 33 ··· Route search means 34 ··· Communication means 35 ··· Network data for search 36 ··· Road network data 37 ··· Traffic network data 38 ··· POI search means 39 ... POI category-specific statistical recording means 40 ... POIDB (database)
50... POI information providing server

Claims (19)

A first search input means for selecting a POI category from all the predetermined POI categories and performing a POI search, and selecting a POI category from POI categories that meet a predetermined access frequency condition A POI information providing system comprising a plurality of terminal devices having a second search input means for performing a POI search, and an information distribution server,
The information distribution server is
A POI database storing information on POIs classified into a plurality of POI categories according to the type of POI;
POI category statistical storage means for recording the number of searches for each POI category for each POI category based on POI search requests received from the plurality of terminal devices ;
POI search means for searching the POI with reference to the POI database,
If there is a POI search request via the second search input means, the PO I on the basis of the search request was time, the POI search unit, the POI category statistics stored corresponding time recorded in the unit A POI information providing system characterized in that a POI category that matches a predetermined access frequency condition is extracted by referring to the number of searches for each POI category in the band and distributed to the terminal device.   2. The POI information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the time zone is divided into at least a holiday, a weekday, and a Friday, and is divided every hour. The POI category statistics storage means statistically processes the number of searches for the POI category to which the POI belongs when performing a POI search based on a POI search request via the first search input means, and performs the second search. 2. The POI information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the statistical processing is not performed when a search request is made via an input means.   The POI information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined access frequency condition is set so as to extract a predetermined number of POI categories in descending order of the number of searches.   The POI information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined access frequency condition is set so that a predetermined number of POI categories are extracted in ascending order of search times.   The predetermined access frequency condition is set so that the number of searches in the time zone in which the POI search request is made is extracted such that the POI category having the largest number of searches compared to the number of searches in other time zones is extracted. The POI information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A first search input means for selecting a POI category from all the predetermined POI categories and performing a POI search, and selecting a POI category from POI categories that meet a predetermined access frequency condition A plurality of terminal devices having second search input means for performing a POI search; a POI database storing information on POIs classified into a plurality of POI categories according to the type of POI; and the plurality of terminal devices POI category statistics storage means for recording the number of searches for each POI category for each POI category based on the POI search request received from the POI category, and POI search means for searching the POI with reference to the POI database. A POI information providing method in a POI information providing system comprising an information distribution server provided I,
If there is a POI search request via the second search input means, the PO I on the basis of the search request was time, the POI search unit, the POI category statistics stored corresponding time recorded in the unit A POI information providing method comprising the step of referring to the number of searches for each POI category in the band, extracting a POI category that meets a predetermined access frequency condition, and distributing the extracted POI category to the terminal device.   8. The POI information providing method according to claim 7, wherein the time zone is divided into at least a holiday, a weekday, and a Friday, and is divided every hour. When the POI category statistics storage means performs a POI search based on a POI search request via the first search input means, the POI category statistics storage means statistically processes the number of searches for the POI category to which the POI belongs, and the second search 8. The POI information providing method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of not performing the statistical processing when a search request is made through the input means.   10. The POI information providing method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined access frequency condition is set to extract a predetermined number of POI categories in descending order of the number of searches.   10. The POI information providing method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined access frequency condition is set to extract a predetermined number of POI categories in ascending order of search times. 11.   The predetermined access frequency condition is set so that the number of searches in the time zone in which the POI search request is made is extracted such that the POI category having the largest number of searches compared to the number of searches in other time zones is extracted. 10. The POI information providing method according to any one of claims 7 to 9. A first search input means for selecting a POI category from all the predetermined POI categories and performing a POI search, and selecting a POI category from POI categories that meet a predetermined access frequency condition An information distribution server connected via a network to a plurality of terminal devices having a second search input means for performing a POI search,
The information distribution server is
A POI database storing information on POIs classified into a plurality of POI categories according to the type of POI;
POI category statistical storage means for recording the number of searches for each POI category for each POI category based on POI search requests received from the plurality of terminal devices ;
POI search means for searching the POI with reference to the POI database,
If there is a POI search request via the second search input means, the PO I on the basis of the search request was time, the POI search unit, the POI category statistics stored corresponding time recorded in the unit An information distribution server characterized by referring to the number of searches for each POI category in a band, extracting a POI category that meets a predetermined access frequency condition, and distributing the extracted POI category to the terminal device.   14. The information distribution server according to claim 13, wherein the time zone is divided into at least a holiday, a weekday, and a Friday, and is divided every hour. The POI category statistics storage means statistically processes the number of searches for the POI category to which the POI belongs when performing a POI search based on a POI search request via the first search input means, and performs the second search. 14. The information distribution server according to claim 13, wherein the statistical processing is not performed when a search request is made via an input means.   16. The information distribution server according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined access frequency condition is set to extract a predetermined number of POI categories in descending order of the number of searches.   The information distribution server according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the predetermined access frequency condition is set so as to extract a predetermined number of POI categories in ascending order of the number of searches.   The predetermined access frequency condition is set so that the number of searches in the time zone in which the POI search request is made is extracted such that the POI category having the largest number of searches compared to the number of searches in other time zones is extracted. The information delivery server according to any one of claims 13 to 15. Based on a POI database that stores information on POIs classified into a plurality of POI categories according to the type of POI, and POI search requests received from a plurality of terminal devices , each POI category is classified by time zone for the POI category. POI category statistics storage means for recording the number of searches, and POI search means for searching for POIs by referring to the POI database. POI categories are selected from POI categories that meet a predetermined access frequency condition and POIs are selected. If through the second search input means for searching had POI search request from the terminal device, based on the PO I search request had time, the POI search unit, the POI category statistics storage means The number of searches for each POI category in the corresponding time zone recorded in the A terminal device connected to an information distribution server that extracts a POI category that matches a frequency condition and distributes it to the terminal device,
The terminal device
A first search input means for selecting a POI category from all the predetermined POI categories and performing a POI search, and selecting a POI category from POI categories that meet a predetermined access frequency condition A POI category distributed from the information distribution server in response to a POI search request via the second search input means, having a second search input means for performing a POI search, and a display means; A terminal device displaying on the display means.

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