JP6660779B2 - Traffic information collection system, traffic information collection method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic information collecting system, a traffic information collecting method, and a program for collecting probe information of a vehicle.

  In recent years, mobile applications for car navigation using smartphones (hereinafter, referred to as “apps”) have become widespread. Instead of providing the user (driver) with route guidance to the destination, such an application acquires probe information including information on the position of the vehicle and the time of passage at the position, and transmits the acquired probe information to the car. Provided to operators that provide navigation services.

  The companies that provide car navigation services, that is, the companies that collect probe information (hereinafter referred to as “probe information collectors”), are generally IT (Information Technology) companies, and families of users who use the application. It manages customer information such as information and purchase history information. The probe information collector can analyze the user's behavior from the customer information held by the probe information collector and the behavior history information obtained from the probe information, and can provide an effective advertisement for each user. For example, suppose that it is known from the action history information and the purchase history information (for example, credit card use history information) that the user A frequently stops at a restaurant and eats out. It is also assumed that it is found from the action history information that the user A frequently travels on the road from the point a to the point b. In such a case, if a new restaurant opens along the road from point a to point b, the probe information collector may send coupon information of the restaurant to user A by e-mail or the like. In this way, effective advertising activities are performed.

JP 2015-097007 A

  On the other hand, there is a case where a business other than the probe information collector wants to use the probe information. A business operator who wants to use such probe information (hereinafter, referred to as a "probe information user") also has its own customer and wants to obtain probe information of the customer from a probe information collector. . However, probe information users are wary that customer information managed by themselves will leak to probe information collectors, and negotiations between the two parties will not be successful, or they will avoid contact with probe information collectors in the first place. Or

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and reduces traffic risk of customer information managed by a probe information user, and further obtains traffic information from which a probe information collector can obtain probe information. It is intended to provide a collection system, a traffic information collection method and a program.

  (1) In order to achieve the above object, a traffic information collecting system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a mobile terminal that acquires probe information including information on a position of its own terminal and a passing time at the position, and the probe A collection server used by an information collector, the collection server collecting the probe information acquired by the mobile terminal, and a usage server used by a user of the probe information, wherein the mobile terminal The use server that acquires the probe information that is acquired, an intermediary server that is used by an intermediary of the probe information, and the intermediary server that transmits the probe information collected by the collection server to the use server; A first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal, the first ID being managed by the use server. The mobile terminal transmits, to the collection server, second ID-related probe information that is the probe information in which the second ID that is the identifier of the user is associated with the second ID-related probe information from the mobile terminal. And transmits the received second ID-related probe information to the mediation server. The mediation server receives the second ID-related probe information from the collection server, and receives the second ID-related probe information from the received second ID-related probe information. Transmitting the second ID-related probe information determined to be associated with the first ID managed by the use server based on the second ID indicated by the second ID-related probe information to the use server, The server receives the second ID-related probe information from the mediation server.

  (8) A traffic information collecting method according to another embodiment of the present invention is used by a mobile terminal that acquires probe information including information on the position of its own terminal and the time of passage at the position, and a collector of the probe information. A collection server that collects the probe information acquired by the mobile terminal, and a utilization server used by a user of the probe information, wherein the probe information acquired by the mobile terminal is A traffic information collection system comprising: the use server to be acquired; and an intermediary server used by an intermediary of the probe information, the intermediation server transmitting the probe information collected by the collection server to the use server. A method for collecting traffic information, comprising a first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal, the first ID being identified by the use server. The mobile terminal transmits, to the collection server, second ID-related probe information that is the probe information in which the second ID that is the identifier of the user corresponding to the first ID is associated with the collection terminal. The second ID-related probe information is received from, and the received second ID-related probe information is transmitted to the mediation server, and the mediation server receives the second ID-related probe information from the collection server and receives the second ID-related probe information. The second ID-related probe information, which is determined to be associated with the first ID managed by the use server based on the second ID indicated by the second ID-related probe information, from the second ID-related probe information, Server, and the usage server receives the second ID-related probe information from the relay server. To.

  (9) A program according to another embodiment of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a mobile terminal provided in the traffic information collection system described above, and is a first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal. A first ID acquisition unit that acquires the first ID managed by a use server used by a user of the probe information including information on a position of the mobile terminal and a passage time of the position, and a first ID acquisition unit that acquires the first ID. An ID conversion unit that converts the first ID into a second ID; and an activation unit that transmits the second ID converted by the ID conversion unit to a program module that creates the probe information, and activates the program module. Make your computer work.

  (10) A program according to another embodiment of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a mobile terminal provided in the traffic information collection system described above, and is a first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal. A first ID acquisition unit that acquires the first ID managed by a use server used by a user of the probe information including information on a position of the mobile terminal and a passage time of the position, and a first ID acquisition unit that acquires the first ID. An ID conversion unit that converts the first ID into a second ID, a probe information acquisition unit that acquires probe information of the mobile terminal, the second ID that is converted by the ID conversion unit, and the probe information acquisition unit A probe information transmitting unit that associates the probe information with the probe information and transmits the probe information to a collection server used by a collector of the probe information. Causing a computer to function.

  (11) A program according to another embodiment of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as an intermediary server included in the traffic information collection system described above. A collection server that collects probe information including time information, a first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal, the first ID corresponding to the first ID managed by a use server used by a user of the probe information; A second ID transmitting unit that transmits a second ID that is a user identifier, and a probe that receives, from the collection server, second ID-related probe information that is the probe information associated with the second ID transmitted by the second ID transmitting unit. An information receiving unit, and the second ID-related probe information received by the probe information receiving unit. Causes the computer to function as a probe information transmission unit that transmits to the server.

  (12) A program according to another embodiment of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a collection server provided in the traffic information collection system described above, and is a first ID for identifying a user of a mobile terminal, The probe information associated with the second ID, which is the identifier of the user corresponding to the first ID, managed by a use server used by a user of the probe information including the position of the mobile terminal and the passage time of the position. A probe information receiving unit that receives certain second ID-related probe information from the mobile terminal; a second ID receiving unit that receives the second ID from an intermediary server used by an intermediary of the probe information; Out of the second ID-related probe information received by the second ID receiving unit, The first 2 ID associated probe information associated with the 2 ID, causes the computer to function as a probe information transmission unit that transmits to the mediation server.

  (13) A program according to another embodiment of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a use server included in the traffic information collection system described above, wherein the use server includes a location of a mobile terminal and a location of the location. The probe information used by the user of the probe information including the passing time information and identifying the user of the mobile terminal and associated with the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server. The computer functions as a probe information receiving unit that receives certain second ID-related probe information from a mediation server that mediates the probe information collected by a collection server.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain probe information from a probe information collector while reducing the risk of outflow of customer information managed by a probe information user.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a traffic information collection system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a mobile terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of a display screen of a mobile terminal. It is a figure showing an example of the 2nd ID related probe information transmitted from a probe information transmitting part to a collection server. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a collection server according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a mediation server according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of the related information created by the 2nd ID receiving part. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a use server according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of customer information stored in a customer information storage unit. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the traffic information collection system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an intermediary server according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a use server according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the traffic information collection system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a mediation server according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a collection server according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the traffic information collection system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a mediation server according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the traffic information collection system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

First, embodiments of the present invention will be listed and described.
(1) A traffic information collection system according to one embodiment of the present invention is used by a mobile terminal that acquires probe information including information on the position of its own terminal and the passing time at the position, and a collector of the probe information. A collection server, wherein the collection server collects the probe information acquired by the mobile terminal; and a utilization server used by a user of the probe information, wherein the probe information acquired by the mobile terminal is acquired. A user server of the mobile terminal, comprising: the use server to be used; and a mediation server used by a mediator of the probe information, the mediation server transmitting the probe information collected by the collection server to the use server. A first ID for identifying the user, and an identifier of the user corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server. The mobile terminal transmits the second ID-related probe information, which is the probe information associated with the second ID, to the collection server, and the collection server receives the second ID-related probe information from the mobile terminal, and receives the second ID-related probe information. The second ID-related probe information is transmitted to the mediation server, and the mediation server receives the second ID-related probe information from the collection server, and selects the second ID-related probe information from the received second ID-related probe information. The second ID-related probe information, which is determined to be associated with the first ID managed by the use server based on the second ID indicated by the probe information, is transmitted to the use server, and the use server includes Receives the second ID-related probe information from

  According to this configuration, the probe information of the mobile terminal collected by the collection server is transmitted to the use server via the mediation server. The use server manages a first ID which is a user identifier. On the other hand, the mobile terminal transmits probe information (second ID-related probe information) to the collection server in association with the second ID corresponding to the first ID. For this reason, the collection server can know the second ID but cannot know the first ID. The mediation server transmits, to the use server, second ID-related probe information determined to be associated with the first ID managed by the use server based on the second ID indicated by the second ID-related probe information acquired from the collection server. For this reason, the use server can obtain the probe information of the customer managed by itself without notifying the collection server of the first ID managed by itself. That is, the use server can obtain the probe information from the probe information collector after reducing the risk of outflow of customer information managed by the user of the probe information.

  (2) Preferably, the mediation server includes: a mediation-side probe information receiving unit that receives the second ID-related probe information from the collection server; and a second ID-related probe information received by the mediation-side probe information receiving unit. And an intermediary-side probe information transmitting unit that transmits the second ID-related probe information associated with the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server to the use server.

  According to this configuration, the mediation server transmits the second ID-related probe information corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server to the use server from the second ID-related probe information collected from the collection server. For example, when there are a plurality of use servers, the intermediary server once receives all the second ID-related probe information collected by the collection server, and for each use server, the second ID-related probe information corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server. Probe information can be distributed, and the second ID-related probe information distributed to each use server can be transmitted. Therefore, the mediation server can transmit the probe information corresponding to the first ID to the use server without notifying the collection server of the first ID.

  (3) The mediation server further includes: a second ID transmitting unit that transmits the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server to the collection server; and a second ID transmitted by the second ID transmitting unit. An intermediary-side probe information receiving unit that receives the second ID-related probe information associated with the intermediary-side probe information from the collection server, and transmits the second ID-related probe information received by the intermediary-side probe information receiving unit to the use server. An intermediary-side probe information transmission unit, wherein the collection server receives the second ID-related probe information from the mobile terminal, and a collection-side probe information reception unit that receives the second ID from the intermediation server. An ID receiving unit, and among the second ID-related probe information received by the collecting-side probe information receiving unit, the collecting-side ID receiving unit receives The was the first 2 ID associated probe information associated with the first 2 ID, may include a collection-side probe information transmission unit that transmits to the mediation server.

  According to this configuration, the relay server transmits the second ID corresponding to the first ID to the collection server, thereby receiving the second ID-related probe information associated with the second ID from the collection server, and receiving the received second ID-related probe information. Is sent to the usage server. For example, the mediation server transmits the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server of the user requesting use of the probe information to the collection server. Thus, the use server can obtain the probe information of the mobile terminal used by the user specified by the first ID from the collection server via the mediation server. For this reason, the mediation server can transmit the probe information corresponding to the first ID to the use server without notifying the collection server of the first ID.

  (4) Preferably, the use server further converts the second ID indicated by the second ID-related probe information received from the mediation server into the first ID.

  According to this configuration, the use server converts the second ID into the first ID. This eliminates the need for the mediation server to convert the second ID into the first ID, and can reduce the processing load on the mediation server.

  (5) More preferably, the mobile terminal further converts the first ID into the second ID by encrypting the first ID using a predetermined encryption key, and the usage server further includes: The second ID is converted to the first ID by decrypting the second ID using a decryption key corresponding to a predetermined encryption key.

  According to this configuration, the mobile terminal converts the first ID into the second ID by encrypting the first ID. For this reason, it is difficult for the collection server that can know the second ID to infer the first ID from the second ID. In addition, by periodically updating the encryption key and the decryption key, it becomes more difficult for the collection server to infer the first ID. For this reason, the use server can more safely obtain the probe information from the collection server.

  (6) The mediation server further converts the second ID indicated by the second ID-related probe information received from the collection server into the first ID, and the converted first ID is managed by the use server. May be transmitted to the use server together with the second ID-related probe information determined to be associated with the first ID.

  According to this configuration, the mediation server converts the second ID into the first ID, and transmits the second ID-related probe information to the use server together with the first ID. For this reason, the use server does not need to convert the second ID into the first ID, and the processing load on the use server can be reduced.

  (7) Preferably, the mobile terminal further converts the first ID into the second ID by encrypting the first ID using a predetermined encryption key, and the mediation server further includes the predetermined ID. The second ID is converted to the first ID by decrypting the second ID using a decryption key corresponding to the encryption key of (i).

  According to this configuration, the mobile terminal converts the first ID into the second ID by encrypting the first ID. For this reason, it is difficult for the collection server that can know the second ID to infer the first ID from the second ID. In addition, by periodically updating the encryption key and the decryption key, it becomes more difficult for the collection server to infer the first ID. For this reason, the use server can more safely obtain the probe information from the collection server.

  (8) A traffic information collection method according to another embodiment of the present invention includes processing steps corresponding to the configuration of the above-described traffic information collection system. For this reason, the same operation and effect as the above-described traffic information collection system can be obtained.

  (9) A program according to another embodiment of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a mobile terminal provided in the traffic information collection system described above, and is a first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal. A first ID acquisition unit that acquires the first ID managed by a use server used by a user of the probe information including information on a position of the mobile terminal and a passage time of the position, and a first ID acquisition unit that acquires the first ID. An ID conversion unit that converts the first ID into a second ID; and an activation unit that transmits the second ID converted by the ID conversion unit to a program module that creates the probe information, and activates the program module. Make your computer work.

  According to this configuration, the mobile terminal transmits the second ID corresponding to the first ID to the program module and activates the program module. Therefore, the program module transmits the probe information to the collection server in association with the second ID instead of the first ID. For this reason, the collection server can know the second ID but cannot know the first ID. The mediation server can acquire the probe information associated with the first ID from the collection server and transmit the acquired probe information to the use server. For this reason, the use server can obtain the probe information of the customer managed by itself without notifying the collection server of the first ID managed by itself. That is, the use server can obtain the probe information from the probe information collector after reducing the risk of outflow of customer information managed by the user of the probe information.

  (10) A program according to another embodiment of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a mobile terminal provided in the traffic information collection system described above, and is a first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal. A first ID acquisition unit that acquires the first ID managed by a use server used by a user of the probe information including information on a position of the mobile terminal and a passage time of the position, and a first ID acquisition unit that acquires the first ID. An ID conversion unit that converts the first ID into a second ID, a probe information acquisition unit that acquires probe information of the mobile terminal, the second ID that is converted by the ID conversion unit, and the probe information acquisition unit A probe information transmitting unit that associates the probe information with the probe information and transmits the probe information to a collection server used by a collector of the probe information. Causing a computer to function.

  According to this configuration, the mobile terminal transmits the probe information to the collection server in association with the second ID corresponding to the first ID. For this reason, the collection server can know the second ID but cannot know the first ID. The mediation server can acquire the probe information associated with the first ID from the collection server and transmit the acquired probe information to the use server. For this reason, the use server can obtain the probe information of the customer managed by itself without notifying the collection server of the first ID managed by itself. That is, the use server can obtain the probe information from the probe information collector after reducing the risk of outflow of customer information managed by the user of the probe information.

  (11) A program according to another embodiment of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as an intermediary server included in the traffic information collection system described above. A collection server that collects probe information including time information, a first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal, the first ID corresponding to the first ID managed by a use server used by a user of the probe information; A second ID transmitting unit that transmits a second ID that is a user identifier, and a probe that receives, from the collection server, second ID-related probe information that is the probe information associated with the second ID transmitted by the second ID transmitting unit. An information receiving unit, and the second ID-related probe information received by the probe information receiving unit. Causes the computer to function as a probe information transmission unit that transmits to the server.

  According to this configuration, the probe information of the mobile terminal collected by the collection server is transmitted to the use server via the mediation server. The use server manages a first ID which is a user identifier. On the other hand, the mobile terminal transmits probe information (second ID-related probe information) to the collection server in association with the second ID corresponding to the first ID. For this reason, the collection server can know the second ID but cannot know the first ID. The mediation server transmits, to the use server, second ID-related probe information determined to be associated with the first ID managed by the use server based on the second ID indicated by the second ID-related probe information acquired from the collection server. For this reason, the use server can obtain the probe information of the customer managed by itself without notifying the collection server of the first ID managed by itself. That is, the use server can obtain the probe information from the probe information collector after reducing the risk of outflow of customer information managed by the user of the probe information.

  (12) A program according to another embodiment of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a collection server provided in the traffic information collection system described above, and is a first ID for identifying a user of a mobile terminal, The probe information associated with the second ID, which is the identifier of the user corresponding to the first ID, managed by a use server used by a user of the probe information including the position of the mobile terminal and the passage time of the position. A probe information receiving unit that receives certain second ID-related probe information from the mobile terminal; a second ID receiving unit that receives the second ID from an intermediary server used by an intermediary of the probe information; Out of the second ID-related probe information received by the second ID receiving unit, The first 2 ID associated probe information associated with the 2 ID, causes the computer to function as a probe information transmission unit that transmits to the mediation server.

  According to this configuration, the collection server can receive the second ID corresponding to the first ID from the mediation server, and transmit the second ID-related probe information associated with the received second ID to the mediation server. The mediation server can transmit the second ID-related probe information to the use server. For this reason, the collection server can transmit the probe information corresponding to the first ID to the use server without knowing the first ID. That is, the use server can obtain the probe information from the probe information collector after reducing the risk of outflow of customer information managed by the user of the probe information.

  (13) A program according to another embodiment of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a use server included in the traffic information collection system described above, wherein the use server includes a location of a mobile terminal and a location of the location. The probe information used by the user of the probe information including the passing time information and identifying the user of the mobile terminal and associated with the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server. The computer functions as a probe information receiving unit that receives certain second ID-related probe information from a mediation server that mediates the probe information collected by a collection server.

  According to this configuration, the use server can obtain the probe information of the customer managed by itself from the mediation server without notifying the collection server of the first ID managed by itself. That is, the use server can obtain the probe information from the probe information collector after reducing the risk of outflow of customer information managed by the user of the probe information.

[Details of the embodiment of the present invention]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that each of the embodiments described below shows a preferred specific example of the present invention. Numerical values, constituent elements, arrangement positions and connection forms of constituent elements, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and do not limit the present invention. The present invention is specified by the claims. Therefore, among the components in the following embodiments, components not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept of the present invention are not necessarily required to achieve the object of the present invention. It is described as constituting a preferred form.

(Embodiment 1)
[1-1. Overall system configuration]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a traffic information collection system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The traffic information collection system 1 is a system that collects probe information including information on the position of a vehicle 2 such as an automobile running on a road and the time of passage at the position, and includes a mobile terminal 10, a collection server 20, and a mediation server. 30 and a plurality of use servers 40 (X, Y). The mobile terminal 10 is connected to a wide area communication network 3 such as the Internet via a wireless base station 4. The collection server 20, the mediation server 30, and the plurality of use servers 40 (X, Y) are also connected to the wide area communication network 3.

  The mobile terminal 10 is a portable information terminal such as a smartphone used by a driver of the vehicle 2 or a passenger, and an application such as car navigation for acquiring probe information is executed on the mobile terminal 10. . Services such as car navigation using the application are provided by a probe information collector who uses the collection server 20 or a business entity related to the probe information collector. The mobile terminal 10 acquires its own probe information at predetermined time intervals, and transmits the acquired probe information to the collection server 20. Although only one mobile terminal 10 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of vehicles 2 are running on the road. For this reason, a plurality of mobile terminals 10 exist.

  The collection server 20 is a server used by a probe information collector, and collects probe information acquired by the mobile terminal 10.

  The use server 40 is a server used by the probe information user, and acquires the probe information acquired by the mobile terminal 10. It is assumed that one or more use servers 40 exist, and here, use servers X and Y are illustrated. Note that the probe information users of the use servers X and Y are different.

  The mediation server 30 is a server used by a company that mediates probe information (hereinafter, referred to as “probe information mediator”), and transmits the probe information collected by the collection server 20 to the use server 40.

  The probe information collector, the probe information user, and the probe information intermediary described above are different from each other.

[1-2. Configuration of mobile terminal 10]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of mobile terminal 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The mobile terminal 10 identifies a user of the mobile terminal 10 by a first ID which is an identifier of the user. The first ID is managed by the use server 40, and the use server 40 stores the first ID and the customer information (purchase history information, family information, and the like) of the user in association with each other. The mobile terminal 10 acquires its own probe information and transmits to the collection server the second ID-related probe information that is the probe information in which the second ID corresponding to the first ID of the user of the mobile terminal 10 is associated. Here, the second ID is an identifier of the user of the mobile terminal 10 and is an identifier associated with the first ID.

  The mobile terminal 10 is a portable information terminal such as a smartphone as described above, and includes a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a communication interface, and the like.

  The mobile terminal 10 includes a first ID acquisition unit 11, a first ID transmission unit 12, an authentication result reception unit 13, an ID conversion unit 14, an activation unit 15, a second ID transmission unit 18, a probe information acquisition unit 16, And a probe information transmitting unit 17. Each of these processing units achieves its functions by executing a computer program stored in a RAM or the like on the CPU.

  On the mobile terminal 10, an activation application 10A and a car navigation application 10B are executed, the processing units 11 to 15 and 18 are realized by executing the activation application 10A, and the processing unit 16 is executed by executing the car navigation application 10B. And 17 are realized.

  The startup application 10A is prepared for each probe information user. That is, the activation application 10A for the probe information user (hereinafter, referred to as “probe information user X”) using the usage server X is provided on the mobile terminal 10 of the user whose usage server X manages the first ID. The activation for the probe information user (hereinafter, referred to as “probe information user Y”) that uses the usage server Y is installed in the mobile terminal 10 of the user who is installed and uses the usage server Y and manages the first ID. It is assumed that the application 10A is installed.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the mobile terminal 10. As shown in FIG. 3A, an icon 10C of the start application 10A and a car navigation application 10B are displayed on the home screen of the mobile terminal 10. The icon 10D is displayed. When the user taps the icon 10C of the start application 10A, the start application 10A starts, and an initial screen of the start application 10A as shown in FIG. 3B is displayed.

  The first ID acquisition unit 11 acquires a first ID. The first ID acquisition unit 11 acquires the first ID by, for example, receiving a first ID input by a user operating a software keyboard or the like of the mobile terminal 10. Note that the first ID acquisition unit 11 may receive an input of a password together with the first ID. For example, when the user taps the login button 10E on the initial screen of the startup application 10A shown in FIG. 3B, a first ID and password input screen as shown in FIG. 3C is displayed. On this screen, when the user inputs the first ID and the password, the first ID obtaining unit 11 obtains the input first ID and the password.

  The first ID transmitting unit 12 receives the user authentication by transmitting the first ID and the password acquired by the first ID acquiring unit 11 to the use server 40. When the first ID is managed by the use server X (when the start application 10A is the start application 10A for the probe information user X), the first ID transmission unit 12 transmits the first ID and the password to the use server X. , The user is authenticated by the use server X. When the first ID is managed by the use server Y (when the start application 10A is the start application 10A for the probe information user Y), the first ID transmission unit 12 transmits the first ID and the password to the use server Y. , The user is authenticated by the use server Y.

  The authentication result receiving unit 13 receives, from the use server 40, an authentication result of user authentication performed by one of the use servers 40.

  The ID conversion unit 14 converts the first ID into the second ID when the authentication result receiving unit 13 obtains the authentication result indicating that the user authentication is successful. For example, the ID conversion unit 14 may encrypt the first ID by a public key cryptosystem using a predetermined public key as an encryption key, and use the encrypted result as the second ID. Specifically, when the first ID is managed by the use server X, the first ID is encrypted using the public key for the use server X, and when the first ID is managed by the use server Y, the use The first ID is encrypted using the public key for the server Y. Note that the encryption method is not limited to the public key encryption method, but a common key encryption method for encrypting the first ID using a common key secretly managed with the use server managing the first ID as an encryption key. Other methods can be used. In addition, the ID conversion unit 14 has a conversion table of the first ID and the second ID, and may convert the first ID into the second ID using the conversion table. The encryption key or the conversion table may be updated periodically.

  The activation unit 15 activates the car navigation application 10B when the authentication result receiving unit 13 obtains an authentication result indicating that the user authentication is successful. At that time, the activation unit 15 transmits the second ID to the car navigation application 10B. Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 3D, the screen of the mobile terminal 10 displays the image of the route guidance provided by the car navigation application 10B, and thereafter provides the car navigation service.

  The second ID transmitting unit 18 transmits the second ID to the mediation server 30. At this time, together with the second ID, information indicating which probe information user the start application 10A is intended for is also transmitted. For example, the second ID transmission unit 18 transmits the information to the mediation server 30 by transmitting the identifier of the activation application 10A. Thus, the second ID and the probe information user can be linked on the mediation server 30 side.

  The probe information acquisition unit 16 acquires probe information of the mobile terminal 10. For example, the mobile terminal 10 obtains position information of the mobile terminal 10 at predetermined time intervals from a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like included in the mobile terminal 10, and the mobile terminal 10 includes passing time information of the position. Probe information is acquired by acquiring from a timer, a clock, or the like.

  The probe information transmission unit 17 associates the second ID after conversion by the ID conversion unit 14 with the probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 16 and transmits the second ID to the collection server 20. The probe information associated with the second ID is hereinafter referred to as “second ID-related probe information”. The probe information transmitting unit 17 may transmit the second ID-related probe information to the collection server 20 one by one, or may transmit a plurality of second ID-related probe information to the collection server 20 in a lump.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the second ID-related probe information transmitted from the probe information transmitting unit 17 to the collection server 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the second ID-related probe information includes a probe ID, a second ID, position information, and time information. The probe ID is an identifier for identifying the sender of the probe information, and is, for example, the device ID of the mobile terminal 10. The second ID is an identifier of the user of the mobile terminal 10 acquired from the ID conversion unit 14. The position information and the time information are probe information acquired from the probe information acquisition unit 16. The second ID-related probe information may include other probe information such as speed information and steering angle information of the vehicle 2. The probe information transmitting unit 17 associates the second ID with the probe information acquired by the probe information acquiring unit 16 by including the second ID in the second ID-related probe information. The probe information transmitting unit 17 may include the device ID of the terminal device 10 with the second ID added as the probe ID in the second ID-related probe information. Thereby, the probe information transmission unit 17 can associate the second ID with the probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 16. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a second ID column in the second ID-related probe information.

  Note that the user of the mobile terminal 10 can also activate the car navigation application 10B by tapping the icon 10D without tapping the icon 10C on the home screen illustrated in FIG. 3A. In this case, since the activation application 10A has not been activated, the car navigation application 10B cannot receive the second ID from the ID conversion unit 14 of the activation application 10A. In such a case, the probe information transmitting unit 17 of the car navigation application 10B embeds a dummy value (for example, a predetermined constant or random number) in the second ID column of the second ID-related probe information, The second ID-related probe information may be transmitted to the collection server 20. Note that, even when the car navigation application 10B is installed in the mobile terminal 10 but the activation application 10A is not installed, similarly, the probe information transmission unit 17 of the car navigation application 10B transmits the second ID-related probe information. A dummy value may be embedded in the 2ID column to transmit the second ID-related probe information to the collection server 20.

[1-3. Configuration of Collection Server 20]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the collection server 20 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The collection server 20 receives the second ID-related probe information from the mobile terminal 10 and transmits the received second ID-related probe information to the mediation server 30.

  The collection server 20 is configured by a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk drive (HDD), a communication interface, and the like.

  The collection server 20 includes a probe information receiving unit 21, a probe information storage unit 22, a probe information request signal receiving unit 23, and a probe information transmitting unit 24. The processing units 21, 23, and 24 achieve their functions by executing a computer program stored in a RAM or the like on the CPU.

  The probe information receiving unit 21 receives the second ID-related probe information from the mobile terminal 10. The probe information receiving unit 21 writes the received second ID-related probe information into the probe information storage unit 22.

  The probe information storage unit 22 is a storage device that stores the probe information received by the probe information receiving unit 21, and is configured by an HDD or the like.

  The probe information request signal receiving unit 23 receives a probe information request signal, which is a signal requesting transmission of probe information, from the mediation server 30.

  The probe information transmitting unit 24 reads the second ID-related probe information from the probe information storage unit 22 in response to the probe information request signal received by the probe information request signal receiving unit 23. The probe information transmitting unit 24 transmits the read second ID-related probe information to the mediation server 30. For example, the probe information transmitting unit 24 transmits all the second ID-related probe information that has not been transmitted to the mediation server 30 to the mediation server 30 among the second ID-related probe information stored in the probe information storage unit 22. Whether or not the data has been transmitted to the mediation server 30 may be managed by the probe information transmitting unit 24 attaching a transmitted flag to the second ID-related probe information.

[1-4. Configuration of Mediation Server 30]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the mediation server 30 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The mediation server 30 receives the second ID-related probe information from the collection server 20. The mediation server 30 determines from the received second ID-related probe information that each use server 40 is associated with the first ID managed by the use server 40 based on the second ID indicated by the second ID-related probe information. The transmitted second ID-related probe information is transmitted to the usage server 40.

  The mediation server 30 is configured by a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, a communication interface, and the like.

  The mediation server 30 includes a probe information request signal transmitting unit 31, a probe information receiving unit 32, a probe information storing unit 33, a probe information distributing unit 34, a probe information transmitting unit 35, and a second ID receiving unit 38. And an information storage unit 39. The processing units 31, 32, 34, 35, and 38 achieve their functions by executing computer programs stored in a RAM or the like on the CPU.

  The second ID receiving unit 38 receives the second ID from the mobile terminal 10 and information indicating which probe information user the startup application 10A running on the mobile terminal 10 is directed to (for example, the startup application 10A). Identifier). The second ID receiving unit 38 creates relationship information indicating the relationship between the second ID and the ID of the probe information user based on the received information, and writes the created relationship information into the relationship information storage unit 39.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship information created by the second ID receiving unit 38. As shown in FIG. 7, the relationship information indicates the relationship between the second ID and the probe information user ID. For example, the second ID “111” is associated with the probe information user ID “X”, and the user identified by the second ID “111” uses the startup application 10A for the probe information user X. Is shown. In addition, the second ID “112” is associated with the probe information user ID “Y”, and the user identified by the second ID “112” uses the startup application 10A for the probe information user Y. Is shown.

  The related information storage unit 39 is a storage device that stores the related information created by the second ID receiving unit 38 as shown in FIG. 7, and is configured by an HDD or the like.

  The probe information request signal transmitting unit 31 transmits a probe information request signal to the collection server 20. The probe information request signal transmission unit 31 may periodically transmit the probe information request signal, such as at predetermined time intervals, or when there is a request from any of the use servers 40 to obtain probe information. May transmit a probe information request signal.

  The probe information receiving unit 32 receives the second ID-related probe information transmitted from the collection server 20 in response to the probe information request signal transmitted by the probe information request signal transmitting unit 31, and probes the received second ID-related probe information. Write to the information storage unit 33.

  The probe information storage unit 33 is a storage device that temporarily stores the second ID-related probe information received by the probe information receiving unit 32, and is configured by an HDD or the like.

  The probe information distribution unit 34 determines the use server 40 to which the second ID-related probe information temporarily stored in the probe information storage unit 33 is distributed. Specifically, the probe information distribution unit 34 refers to the relationship information illustrated in FIG. 7 and, based on the second ID included in the second ID-related probe information, determines the probe information user ID corresponding to the second ID. decide. The probe information distribution unit 34 determines the usage server 40 used by the determined probe information user ID as the usage server 40 to which the second ID related probe information is allocated. For example, when the second ID included in the second ID related probe information is “111”, the second ID “111” corresponds to the probe information user ID “X”. Therefore, the probe information distribution unit 34 determines to distribute the second ID-related probe information including the second ID “111” to the use server X used by the probe information user X. Similarly, the probe information distribution unit 34 decides to distribute the second ID-related probe information including the second ID “112” to the use server Y used by the probe information user Y.

  The probe information transmitting unit 35 transmits the second ID-related probe information temporarily stored in the probe information storage unit 33 to the use server 40 of each distribution destination based on the distribution destination determined by the probe information distribution unit 34. By the above processing, the probe information transmitting unit 35 can transmit, to the use server 40, the second ID related probe information associated with the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server 40 for each use server 40. it can.

[1-5. Configuration of Usage Server 40]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the use server 40 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The use server 40 receives the second ID-related probe information from the mediation server 30. The usage server 40 is configured by a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, a communication interface, and the like.

  The usage server 40 includes a probe information receiving unit 41, an ID conversion unit 42, a probe information storage unit 43, a customer information storage unit 44, and an authentication processing unit 45. The processing units 41, 42, and 45 achieve their functions by executing, on a CPU, a computer program stored in a RAM or the like.

  The probe information receiving unit 41 receives the second ID-related probe information from the mediation server 30.

  The ID converter 42 converts the second ID included in the second ID-related probe information received by the probe information receiver 41 into a first ID. For example, the ID conversion unit 42 may decrypt the second ID by a public key cryptosystem using a predetermined secret key as a decryption key, and use the decrypted result as the first ID. Specifically, when the usage server 40 is the usage server X, the second ID is decrypted by using the secret key for the usage server X as a decryption key. The second ID is decrypted using the secret key for server Y as a decryption key. By using the public key cryptosystem, the confidentiality of the conversion from the second ID to the first ID can be secured as long as the use server 40 appropriately manages the secret key. Note that the decryption method is not limited to the public key encryption method, such as a common key encryption method for decrypting the second ID using a common key secretly managed between the usage server 40 and the mobile terminal 10 as a decryption key. Other schemes can also be used. Further, the ID conversion unit 42 has a conversion table between the first ID and the second ID, and may convert the second ID into the first ID using the conversion table. The decryption key or the conversion table may be updated periodically.

  The probe information receiving unit 41 writes the received second ID-related probe information in the probe information storage unit 43 in association with the first ID converted by the ID conversion unit 42.

  The probe information storage unit 43 is a storage device that stores the second ID-related probe information, and is configured by an HDD or the like. The probe information storage unit 43 stores the second ID-related probe information in association with the first ID converted by the ID conversion unit 42. Thereby, the probe information storage unit 43 can manage the probe information for each first ID.

  The customer information storage unit 44 is a storage device that stores customer information for each first ID, and is configured by an HDD or the like. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of customer information stored in the customer information storage unit 44. As shown in FIG. 9, the customer information includes a first ID, a password, a name, an address, a purchase history, and information on a family structure. For example, the name of the user with the first ID “111” is “A river B male”, the password is “abc”, the address of the user is “E prefecture”, and the user purchased “product G” in the past. The customer information indicates that they are “single”.

  The authentication processing unit 45 receives the combination of the first ID and the password from the mobile terminal 10, and checks whether the received combination of the first ID and the password is included in the customer information stored in the customer information storage unit 44. Thereby, user authentication of the first ID is performed. The authentication processing unit 45 sends back the result of the user authentication to the mobile terminal 10. For example, when a combination of the first ID “111” and the password “abc” is received from the mobile terminal 10, the combination is included in the customer information shown in FIG. It is determined that the user authentication has succeeded, and the determination result is transmitted to the mobile terminal 10. When the combination of the first ID “111” and the password “xyz” is received from the mobile terminal 10, the combination is not included in the customer information shown in FIG. It is determined that the user authentication has failed, and the determination result is transmitted to the mobile terminal 10.

[1-6. Processing flow of traffic information collection system 1]
FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing flow of the traffic information collecting system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Hereinafter, based on this sequence diagram, an example of the flow of processing executed by the traffic information collection system 1 will be described. In the following description, it is assumed that the user of the mobile terminal 10 is a customer of the probe information user X, and that the activation application 10A for the probe information user X is installed in the mobile terminal 10.

  Referring to FIG. 3A, after the user taps icon 10C on mobile terminal 10 and activates start application 10A, login button 10E on the home screen shown in FIG. 3B is tapped. As a result, a first ID and password input screen as shown in FIG. 3C is displayed. When the user inputs the first ID and the password on this input screen, the first ID obtaining unit 11 of the mobile terminal 10 obtains the input first ID and the password (S1).

  The first ID transmission unit 12 of the mobile terminal 10 transmits the first ID and the password acquired by the first ID acquisition unit 11 to the use server X (S2).

  The authentication processing unit 45 of the use server X receives the combination of the first ID and the password from the mobile terminal 10 and, based on the received combination, refers to the customer information stored in the customer information storage unit 44 to perform user authentication. Processing is performed (S3).

  The authentication processing unit 45 returns the result of the user authentication processing to the mobile terminal 10 (S4). The authentication result receiving unit 13 of the mobile terminal 10 receives the authentication result.

  When the authentication result receiving unit 13 receives the authentication result indicating that the user authentication has failed (NO in S5), the subsequent processing is not performed.

  When the authentication result receiving unit 13 receives the authentication result indicating that the user authentication is successful (YES in S5), the ID conversion unit 14 converts the first ID acquired by the first ID acquisition unit 11 into a second ID (S6). .

  The second ID transmission unit 18 transmits the second ID and the identifier of the activation application 10A to the mediation server 30 (S7).

  The second ID receiving unit 38 of the mediation server 30 receives the second ID and the identifier of the activation application 10A transmitted from the second ID transmitting unit 18 and, based on the received information, the second ID and the probe information user's information. Relationship information indicating the relationship with the ID is created, and the created relationship information is written into the relationship information storage unit 39 (S8). An example of the relationship information is as shown in FIG.

  The activation unit 15 of the mobile terminal 10 activates the car navigation application 10B and transmits the second ID to the car navigation application 10B (S9).

  The probe information acquisition unit 16 of the mobile terminal 10 acquires probe information of the mobile terminal 10 (S10).

  The probe information transmitting unit 17 transmits, to the collection server 20, second ID-related probe information in which the second ID converted by the ID converting unit 14 and the probe information acquired by the probe information acquiring unit 16 are associated (S11). That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the probe information transmitting unit 17 creates the second ID-related probe information including the probe ID, the second ID, and the probe information (position information, time information, and the like), and creates the created second ID-related probe information. The information is transmitted to the collection server 20.

  The probe information receiving unit 21 of the collection server 20 receives the second ID-related probe information from the mobile terminal 10, and writes the received second ID-related probe information into the probe information storage unit 22 (S12).

  The processes in steps S10 to S12 are repeatedly executed as long as the mobile terminal 10 acquires the probe information, that is, as long as the car navigation application 10B is executed on the mobile terminal 10.

  The probe information request signal transmitting unit 31 of the mediation server 30 periodically transmits a probe information request signal to the collection server 20, and the probe information request signal receiving unit 23 of the collection server 20 transmits the probe information A request signal is received (S13).

  In response to the probe information request signal, the probe information transmitting unit 24 of the collection server 20 reads out all the second ID-related probe information that has not been transmitted to the relay server 30 from the probe information storage unit 22, and reads the read second ID-related probe information. To the mediation server 30. The probe information receiving unit 32 of the mediation server 30 receives the second ID-related probe information from the collection server 20, and writes the received second ID-related probe information into the probe information storage unit 33 (S14).

  The probe information distribution unit 34 of the mediation server 30 determines the use server 40 to which the second ID-related probe information temporarily stored in the probe information storage unit 33 is distributed (S15). The distribution method is as described above, but the probe information user ID corresponding to the second ID is referred to based on the second ID included in the second ID-related probe information with reference to the relation information created in the processing of step S8. To determine. The probe information distribution unit 34 determines the usage server 40 used by the determined probe information user ID as the usage server 40 to which the second ID related probe information is allocated.

  The probe information transmitting unit 35 of the mediation server 30 stores the second ID-related probe information temporarily stored in the probe information storage unit 33 based on the distribution destination determined by the probe information distribution unit 34, using the distribution server X of each distribution destination. And Y. That is, the probe information transmitting unit 35 transmits the second ID-related probe information associated with the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server X to the use server X, and corresponds to the first ID managed by the use server Y. The second ID-related probe information associated with the second ID is transmitted to the use server Y. The probe information receiving units 41 of the use servers X and Y receive the second ID related probe information from the mediation server 30 (S16, S17).

  The ID conversion unit 42 of the usage server X converts the second ID included in the second ID-related probe information received by the probe information receiving unit 41 into a first ID (S18).

  The probe information receiving unit 41 of the use server X writes the received second ID-related probe information in the probe information storage unit 43 in association with the first ID converted by the ID conversion unit 42 (S19).

  The ID conversion unit 42 and the probe information reception unit 41 of the use server Y also perform the same processing as Steps S18 and S19 (S20, S21).

[1-7. Effects of First Embodiment, etc.]
As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the probe information of the mobile terminal 10 collected by the collection server 20 is transmitted to the use server 40 via the mediation server 30. The use server 40 manages a first ID that is a user identifier. On the other hand, the mobile terminal 10 transmits probe information (second ID-related probe information) to the collection server 20 in association with the second ID corresponding to the first ID. For this reason, the collection server 20 cannot know the first ID, although it can know the second ID. The mediation server 30 transmits, to the use server 40, the second ID-related probe information determined to be associated with the first ID managed by the use server 40 based on the second ID indicated by the second ID-related probe information acquired from the collection server 20. Send. For this reason, the use server 40 can obtain the probe information of the customer managed by itself without notifying the collection server 20 of the first ID managed by itself. That is, the use server 40 can obtain the probe information from the probe information collector after reducing the risk of outflow of customer information managed by the probe information user.

  Further, the mediation server 30 transmits second ID-related probe information corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server 40 to the use server 40 from the second ID-related probe information collected from the collection server 20. For example, when there are a plurality of use servers 40, the mediation server 30 once receives all the second ID-related probe information collected by the collection server 20 and assigns the first ID managed by the use server 40 to each use server 40. The corresponding second ID-related probe information can be allocated, and the allocated second ID-related probe information can be transmitted to each use server 40. Therefore, the mediation server 30 can transmit the probe information corresponding to the first ID to the use server 40 without notifying the collection server 20 of the first ID.

  Further, the use server 40 converts the second ID into the first ID. For this reason, the mediation server 30 does not need to convert the second ID into the first ID, and the processing load on the mediation server 30 can be reduced.

  Further, the mobile terminal 10 converts the first ID into the second ID by encrypting the first ID. For this reason, it is difficult for the collection server 20 that can know the second ID to infer the first ID from the second ID. Further, by periodically updating the encryption key (public key) and the decryption key (secret key), it becomes more difficult for the collection server 20 to infer the first ID. For this reason, the use server 40 can obtain the probe information from the collection server 20 more safely.

  Further, by transmitting and receiving the probe information via the mediation server 30, it is possible to reduce the anxiety of the leakage of the customer information held by the probe information user.

  Furthermore, since probe information can be transmitted and received while reducing the risk of outflow of customer information, activation of the probe information trading market can be promoted, and opportunities for effectively utilizing probe information can be increased.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the use server 40 performs the process of converting the second ID into the first ID. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the mediation server 30 converts the second ID into the first ID. Hereinafter, points different from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and description of the same points will be appropriately omitted.

  The configuration of the traffic information collection system according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the traffic information collection system 1 shown in FIG.

  The configuration of the mobile terminal 10 included in the traffic information collection system 1 is the same as the configuration of the mobile terminal 10 shown in FIG.

  The configuration of the collection server 20 included in the traffic information collection system 1 is the same as the configuration of the collection server 20 shown in FIG.

[2-1. Configuration of Mediation Server 30]
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the mediation server 30 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  The mediation server 30 is obtained by adding an ID conversion unit 36 to the configuration of the mediation server 30 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The ID conversion unit 36 achieves its functions by executing a computer program stored in a RAM or the like on the CPU.

  The ID conversion unit 36 reads the second ID-related probe information received by the probe information receiving unit 32 and temporarily stored in the probe information storage unit 33, and converts the second ID included in the read second ID-related probe information into the first ID. I do. For example, the ID conversion unit 36 may decrypt the second ID using a public key cryptosystem using a predetermined secret key as a decryption key, and use the decrypted result as the first ID. Specifically, the ID conversion unit 36 specifies the probe information user ID corresponding to the second ID from the relationship information stored in the relationship information storage unit 39. The ID conversion unit 36 decrypts the second ID using the secret key for the use server used by the probe information user of the ID as a decryption key. For example, when the second ID is “111”, the ID conversion unit 36 specifies the probe information user ID corresponding to the second ID “111” as “X” with reference to the relationship information shown in FIG. I do. Since the probe information user of the probe information user ID “X” uses the usage server X, the ID conversion unit 36 decrypts the second ID using the secret key for the usage server X as a decryption key and decrypts the second ID. Is the first ID. Note that the decryption method is not limited to the public key encryption method, such as a common key encryption method for decrypting the second ID using a common key secretly managed between the mediation server 30 and the mobile terminal 10 as a decryption key. Other schemes can also be used. In addition, the ID conversion unit 36 has a conversion table for the first ID and the second ID, and may convert the second ID to the first ID using the conversion table. The decryption key or the conversion table may be updated periodically.

  The ID conversion unit 36 writes the converted first ID into the probe information storage unit 33 in association with the second ID-related probe information.

  The probe information transmitting unit 35 divides the pair of the first ID and the second ID related probe information written in the probe information storage unit 33 by the ID conversion unit 36 into respective sets based on the allocation destination determined by the probe information allocation unit 34. It is transmitted to the use server 40 of the distribution destination.

[2-2. Configuration of Usage Server 40]
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the use server 40 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  The usage server 40 has a configuration obtained by removing the ID conversion unit 42 from the configuration of the usage server 40 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The probe information receiving unit 41 receives a pair of the first ID and the second ID-related probe information from the mediation server 30 and writes the pair in the probe information storage unit 43.

[2-3. Processing flow of traffic information collection system 1]
FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the traffic information collection system 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Hereinafter, based on this sequence diagram, an example of the flow of processing executed by the traffic information collection system 1 will be described.
The processing in steps S1 to S15 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  After step S15, the ID conversion unit 36 of the mediation server 30 reads the second ID-related probe information received by the probe information receiving unit 32 and temporarily stored in the probe information storage unit 33, and stores the read second ID-related probe information in the read second ID-related probe information. The included second ID is converted into the first ID (S31). The ID conversion unit 36 writes the converted first ID into the probe information storage unit 33 in association with the second ID-related probe information.

  The probe information transmitting unit 35 divides the pair of the first ID and the second ID related probe information written in the probe information storage unit 33 by the ID conversion unit 36 into respective sets based on the allocation destination determined by the probe information allocation unit 34. It is transmitted to the use servers X and Y of the distribution destination. The probe information receiving units 41 of the use servers X and Y receive a pair of the first ID and the second ID-related probe information from the mediation server 30 (S32, S33).

  The probe information receiving unit 41 of the use server X writes the received pair of the first ID and the second ID-related probe information into the probe information storage unit 43 (S34).

  The probe information receiving unit 41 of the use server Y writes the received pair of the first ID and the second ID-related probe information into the probe information storage unit 43 (S35).

[2-4. Effects of Second Embodiment, etc.]
As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the mediation server 30 converts the second ID into the first ID, and transmits the second ID-related probe information to the use server 40 together with the first ID. Therefore, the use server 40 does not need to convert the second ID into the first ID, and the processing load on the use server 40 can be reduced.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, the collection server 20 has transmitted all the untransmitted second ID-related probe information to the mediation server 30 in response to the probe information request signal. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the collection server 20 sends the second ID-related probe information requested by the mediation server 30. Hereinafter, points different from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and description of the same points will be appropriately omitted.

  The configuration of the traffic information collection system according to Embodiment 3 is the same as the configuration of the traffic information collection system 1 shown in FIG.

  The configuration of the mobile terminal 10 included in the traffic information collection system 1 is the same as the configuration of the mobile terminal 10 shown in FIG.

  The configuration of the use server 40 included in the traffic information collection system 1 is the same as the configuration of the use server 40 shown in FIG.

[3-1. Configuration of Mediation Server 30]
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the mediation server 30 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  The mediation server 30 includes a second ID transmission unit 37 instead of the probe information request signal transmission unit 31 in the configuration of the mediation server 30 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The second ID transmission unit 37 achieves its function by executing a computer program stored in a RAM or the like on the CPU.

  The second ID transmission unit 37 transmits a second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server 40 to the collection server 20. For example, the second ID transmission unit 37 refers to the relation information stored in the relation information storage unit 39 and periodically transmits the second ID corresponding to the probe information user ID “X” to the collection server 20. . Similarly, the second ID transmitting unit 37 periodically transmits the second ID corresponding to the probe information user ID “Y” to the collection server 20 with reference to the related information. Accordingly, the second ID transmitting unit 37 can periodically transmit the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use servers X and Y to the collection server 20. The transmission timing of the second ID corresponding to the probe information user ID “X” and the transmission timing of the second ID corresponding to the probe information user ID “Y” may be the same or different. However, when the second IDs corresponding to the plurality of probe information user IDs are transmitted to the collection server 20 at the same time, it is possible to make it difficult for the collection server 20 to identify the probe information user from the second ID. For this reason, it is desirable to transmit the second IDs corresponding to the plurality of probe information user IDs to the collection server 20 at the same time.

  The probe information receiving unit 32 receives the second ID-related probe information transmitted from the collection server 20 in response to the second ID transmitted by the second ID transmitting unit 37, and stores the received second ID-related probe information in the probe information storage unit 33. Write to.

[3-2. Configuration of Collection Server 20]
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the collection server 20 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

The collection server 20 includes a second ID receiver 25 instead of the probe information request signal receiver 23 in the configuration of the collection server 20 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The second ID receiving unit 25 achieves its function by executing a computer program stored in a RAM or the like on the CPU.
The second ID receiving unit 25 receives the second ID from the mediation server 30.

  The probe information transmitting unit 24 reads the second ID-related probe information associated with the second ID received by the second ID receiving unit 25 from the probe information storage unit 22, and transmits the read second ID-related probe information to the mediation server 30. For example, the probe information transmitting unit 24 selects, from among the second ID related probe information that has not been transmitted to the mediation server 30 stored in the probe information storage unit 22, the second ID related including the second ID received by the second ID receiving unit 25. Extract probe information. The probe information transmitting unit 24 transmits the extracted second ID-related probe information to the mediation server 30.

[3-3. Processing flow of traffic information collection system 1]
FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the traffic information collecting system 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Hereinafter, based on this sequence diagram, an example of the flow of processing executed by the traffic information collection system 1 will be described.
The processing in steps S1 to S12 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  After step S12, the second ID transmission unit 37 of the mediation server 30 transmits the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server 40 to the collection server 20. The second ID receiving unit 25 of the collection server 20 receives the second ID transmitted by the second ID transmitting unit 37 (S41). For example, the use server 40 has three use servers X, Y, and Z. The second ID transmitting unit 37 sends the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use servers X and Y to the collection server. 20. That is, the second ID transmission unit 37 refers to the relation information stored in the relation information storage unit 39 and sets the second ID corresponding to the probe information user ID “X” and the probe information user ID “Y”. The corresponding second ID is transmitted to the collection server 20.

  The probe information transmission unit 24 of the collection server 20 reads out the second ID-related probe information associated with the second ID received by the second ID reception unit 25 from the probe information storage unit 22 and stores the read second ID-related probe information in the mediation server 30. Send to The probe information receiving unit 32 of the mediation server 30 receives the second ID-related probe information from the probe information transmitting unit 24, and writes the received second ID-related probe information into the probe information storage unit 33 (S42). For example, the second ID received by the second ID receiving unit 25 includes a second ID corresponding to the probe information user ID “X” and a second ID corresponding to the probe information user ID “Y”. The probe information transmitting unit 24 reads out the second ID-related probe information including the second ID from the probe information storage unit 22 and transmits the read second ID-related probe information to the mediation server 30.

  After step S42, the processing of steps S15 to S21 is performed. These processes are the same as those shown in FIG.

  The second ID transmitting unit 37 may receive the request from the use server 40 and transmit the second ID to the collection server 20. For example, the second ID transmission unit 37 that has received the request to transmit the probe information from the usage server X specifies the second ID corresponding to the usage server X from the relationship information (FIG. 7) stored in the relationship information storage unit 39, The specified second ID may be transmitted to the collection server 20. Thereby, the second ID transmission unit 37 can transmit the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server X to the collection server 20.

[3-4. Effects of Third Embodiment]
As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the mediation server 30 transmits the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server 40 to the collection server 20. Further, the mediation server 30 receives the second ID-related probe information associated with the second ID from the collection server 20 and transmits the received second ID-related probe information to the use server 40. For example, the mediation server 30 transmits the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the probe information user's use server 40 to the collection server 20. Thus, the use server 40 can obtain the probe information of the mobile terminal used by the user specified by the first ID from the collection server 20 via the mediation server 30. Therefore, the relay server 30 can transmit the probe information corresponding to the first ID to the use server 40 without notifying the collection server 20 of the first ID.

(Embodiment 4)
In the third embodiment, the use server 40 performs the process of converting the second ID into the first ID. In contrast, in the fourth embodiment, the mediation server 30 converts the second ID into the first ID. Hereinafter, points different from the first to third embodiments will be mainly described, and description of the same points will be appropriately omitted.

  The configuration of the traffic information collection system according to Embodiment 4 is the same as the configuration of traffic information collection system 1 shown in FIG.

  The configuration of the mobile terminal 10 included in the traffic information collection system 1 is the same as the configuration of the mobile terminal 10 shown in FIG.

  The configuration of the collection server 20 included in the traffic information collection system 1 is the same as the configuration of the collection server 20 shown in FIG.

  The configuration of the use server 40 included in the traffic information collection system 1 is the same as the configuration of the use server 40 shown in FIG.

[4-1. Configuration of Mediation Server 30]
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the mediation server 30 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

  The mediation server 30 is obtained by adding an ID conversion unit 36 to the configuration of the mediation server 30 according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. The ID conversion unit 36 achieves its functions by executing a computer program stored in a RAM or the like on the CPU.

  The ID conversion unit 36 performs the same processing as the ID conversion unit 36 of the mediation server 30 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. That is, the ID conversion unit 36 reads the second ID-related probe information received by the probe information receiving unit 32 and temporarily stored in the probe information storage unit 33, and replaces the second ID included in the read second ID-related probe information with the first ID. Convert to

[4-2. Processing flow of traffic information collection system 1]
FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing flow of the traffic information collecting system 1 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Hereinafter, based on this sequence diagram, an example of the flow of processing executed by the traffic information collection system 1 will be described.

  The processing of steps S1 to S12, S41, S42 and S15 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  After step S15, the ID conversion unit 36 of the mediation server 30 reads the second ID-related probe information received by the probe information receiving unit 32 and temporarily stored in the probe information storage unit 33, and stores the read second ID-related probe information in the read second ID-related probe information. The included second ID is converted into the first ID (S31). The ID conversion unit 36 writes the converted first ID into the probe information storage unit 33 in association with the second ID-related probe information. This processing is the same as that shown in FIG.

  After step S31, the processing of steps S31 to S35 is performed. These processes are the same as those shown in FIG.

[4-3. Effects of Fourth Embodiment]
As described above, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the same effects as in the third embodiment can be obtained. In addition, the mediation server 30 converts the second ID into the first ID, and transmits the second ID-related probe information to the use server 40 together with the first ID. Therefore, the use server 40 does not need to convert the second ID into the first ID, and the processing load on the use server 40 can be reduced.

[5. Appendix]
The traffic information collecting system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  In the above-described embodiment, the mobile terminal 10 is a mobile information terminal such as a smartphone. However, the mobile terminal 10 is not limited to the mobile information terminal, and may be configured to acquire probe information and transmit the probe information to the collection server 20. Other devices may be used as long as they can be used. For example, the mobile terminal 10 may be a fixed car navigation device fixed to the vehicle 2 or a portable car navigation device.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the ID conversion unit 14 of the mobile terminal 10 converts the first ID into the second ID, but the conversion from the first ID to the second ID may be performed by another device. For example, the mediation server 30 or the use server 40 may include the ID conversion unit 14. In this case, the mobile terminal 10 transmits the first ID to the mediation server 30 or the use server 40, and has the ID conversion unit 14 of one of the servers convert the first ID into the second ID. The mobile terminal 10 receives the second ID after the conversion of the first ID from the mediation server 30 or the use server 40.

  Further, the probe information distribution unit 34 of the mediation server 30 determines the probe information user ID corresponding to the second ID with reference to the relationship information (FIG. 7) stored in the relationship information storage unit 39. The probe information user ID may be determined without using the related information. For example, the second ID in which the remainder obtained by dividing the second ID by “7” is “6” is associated with the first ID managed by the use server X, and the remainder obtained by dividing the second ID by “7” is “0”. Is associated with the first ID managed by the use server Y. As described above, when the second ID has a predetermined rule, the probe information user ID can be determined from the second ID by performing a modulo operation or the like. The same applies to a case where the probe information user ID can be derived from the second ID using a hash function or the like. In such a case, the second ID transmission unit 18 of the mobile terminal 10 and the second ID reception unit 38 and the related information storage unit 39 of the mediation server 30 may not be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the probe ID included in the second ID-related probe information transmitted by the probe information transmitting unit 17 of the mobile terminal 10 is an identifier for identifying a sender of the probe information. Although the device ID is the device ID of the terminal 10, the probe ID is not limited to this. For example, the mediation server 30 obtains a large amount of probe IDs from the collection server 20 in advance, and the probe information transmission unit 17 transmits the obtained probe IDs to the collection server 20 while including the obtained probe IDs in the second ID-related probe information. You may. Thereby, for example, a plurality of probe IDs can be associated with one second ID. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the collection server 20 to specify the second ID from the probe ID, and the anonymity of the second ID can be improved. In the third and fourth embodiments, when the second ID transmitting unit 37 of the mediation server 30 transmits the second ID to the collection server 20, a dummy second ID can be transmitted. For example, when transmitting the second ID corresponding to the probe information user ID “X” to the collection server 20, the second ID transmitting unit 37 transmits the second ID corresponding to the probe information user ID “Y” and other probes. The second ID corresponding to the information user ID may be mixed and transmitted to the collection server 20. This makes it difficult for the collection server 20 to capture which probe information user ID has received the second ID.

  In the first and second embodiments, the collection server 20 transmits the second ID-related probe information to the relay server 30 in response to the probe information request signal transmitted from the relay server 30. The transmission timing of the probe information is not limited to this. For example, the collection server 20 may periodically (at predetermined time intervals) transmit the second ID-related probe information to the mediation server 30. When the second ID-related probe information is periodically transmitted, the probe information request signal receiving unit 23 of the collection server 20 and the probe information request signal transmitting unit 31 of the mediation server 30 may not be provided.

  The relation information stored in the relation information storage unit 39 of the mediation server 30 indicates the relation between the second ID and the ID of the probe information user, but directly indicates the relation between the second ID and the first ID. You may. In this case, the second ID transmitting unit 18 of the mobile terminal 10 transmits a set of the second ID and the first ID to the mediation server 30 (S7 in FIG. 10). The second ID receiving unit 38 of the mediation server 30 receives the first ID and the second ID from the mobile terminal 10, creates relation information indicating the correspondence between the first ID and the second ID, and stores the created relation information in the relation information. Write to the unit 39. The probe information distribution unit 34 of the mediation server 30 determines the use server 40 to which the second ID-related probe information is distributed based on the second ID. As described above, the second ID has a predetermined rule. In this case, the probe information user ID can be determined from the second ID by performing a modulo operation, calculating the value of a hash function, or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the second ID and the probe information are included in the second ID-related probe information. However, the second ID and the probe information may be handled as different data. The probe information in this case may be referred to as second ID-related probe information.

  In addition, some or all of the components constituting each of the above devices may be configured from one system LSI. The system LSI is an ultra-multifunctional LSI manufactured by integrating a plurality of components on one chip, and is specifically a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. . A computer program is stored in the RAM. When the microprocessor operates according to the computer program, the system LSI achieves its function.

  Further, the present invention may be the method described above. Further, the present invention may be a computer program that realizes these methods by a computer, or may be a digital signal including the computer program.

  Further, in the present invention, the computer program or the digital signal may be recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, such as an HDD, a CD-ROM, or a semiconductor memory.

Further, each step included in the program may be executed by a plurality of computers.
Further, the above embodiments and the above modifications may be combined.

  The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Traffic information collection system 2 Vehicle 3 Wide area communication network 4 Radio base station 10 Mobile terminal 11 First ID acquisition unit 12 First ID transmission unit 13 Authentication result reception unit 14 ID conversion unit 15 Activation unit 16 Probe information acquisition unit 17 Probe information transmission unit 18 Second ID transmitting unit 20 Collection server 21 Probe information receiving unit 22 Probe information storing unit 23 Probe information request signal receiving unit 24 Probe information transmitting unit 25 Second ID receiving unit 30 Mediation server 31 Probe information request signal transmitting unit 32 Probe information receiving unit 33 probe information storage unit 34 probe information distribution unit 35 probe information transmission unit 36 ID conversion unit 37 second ID transmission unit 38 second ID reception unit 39 relational information storage unit 40, X, Y use server 41 probe information reception unit 42 ID conversion unit 43 Probe information storage unit 44 Customer information storage unit 45 Authentication Processing section

Claims (13)

A mobile terminal that acquires probe information including information on the position of the own terminal and the passing time of the position,
A collection server used by a collector of the probe information, wherein the collection server collects the probe information acquired by the mobile terminal,
A utilization server used by a user of the probe information, wherein the utilization server acquires the probe information acquired by the mobile terminal,
An intermediary server used by an intermediary of the probe information, the intermediary server transmitting the probe information collected by the collection server to the use server,
A first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal, and a second ID-related probe information as the probe information in which a second ID which is an identifier of the user corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server is associated with the first ID. The mobile terminal transmits to the collection server,
The collection server receives the second ID-related probe information from the mobile terminal, transmits the received second ID-related probe information to the mediation server,
The mediation server receives the second ID-related probe information from the collection server, and manages the use server based on the second ID indicated by the second ID-related probe information from the received second ID-related probe information. Transmitting the second ID-related probe information determined to be associated with the first ID to the use server;
The traffic information collection system, wherein the use server receives the second ID-related probe information from the mediation server. The mediation server,
An intermediary-side probe information receiving unit that receives the second ID-related probe information from the collection server;
The second ID-related probe information associated with the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server among the second ID-related probe information received by the intermediary-side probe information receiving unit is transmitted to the use server. The traffic information collection system according to claim 1, further comprising: an intermediary-side probe information transmitting unit that transmits the traffic information. The mediation server,
A second ID transmitting unit that transmits the second ID corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server to the collection server;
An intermediary-side probe information receiving unit that receives, from the collection server, the second ID-related probe information associated with the second ID transmitted by the second ID transmitting unit;
An intermediary-side probe information transmitting unit that transmits the second ID-related probe information received by the intermediary-side probe information receiving unit to the use server;
The collection server,
A collection-side probe information receiving unit that receives the second ID-related probe information from the mobile terminal;
A collection-side ID receiving unit that receives the second ID from the mediation server;
A collection for transmitting the second ID-related probe information associated with the second ID received by the collection-side ID reception unit to the intermediary server among the second ID-related probe information received by the collection-side probe information reception unit. The traffic information collection system according to claim 1, further comprising a side probe information transmission unit. The traffic information collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the use server further converts the second ID indicated by the second ID-related probe information received from the mediation server into the first ID. . The mobile terminal further converts the first ID into the second ID by encrypting the first ID using a predetermined encryption key,
The traffic information collection system according to claim 4, wherein the use server further converts the second ID into the first ID by decrypting the second ID using a decryption key corresponding to the predetermined encryption key. The mediation server further converts the second ID indicated by the second ID-related probe information received from the collection server into the first ID, and converts the converted first ID to the first ID managed by the use server. The traffic information collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the traffic information is transmitted to the use server together with the second ID-related probe information determined to be associated. The mobile terminal further converts the first ID into the second ID by encrypting the first ID using a predetermined encryption key,
The traffic information collection system according to claim 6, wherein the mediation server further converts the second ID into the first ID by decrypting the second ID using a decryption key corresponding to the predetermined encryption key. A mobile terminal that acquires probe information including information on the position of the own terminal and the passing time of the position,
A collection server used by a collector of the probe information, wherein the collection server collects the probe information acquired by the mobile terminal,
A utilization server used by a user of the probe information, wherein the utilization server acquires the probe information acquired by the mobile terminal,
A traffic information collection method by a traffic information collection system, comprising: an intermediary server used by an intermediary of the probe information, the intermediation server transmitting the probe information collected by the collection server to the use server. ,
A first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal, and a second ID-related probe information as the probe information in which a second ID which is an identifier of the user corresponding to the first ID managed by the use server is associated with the first ID. The mobile terminal transmits to the collection server,
The collection server receives the second ID-related probe information from the mobile terminal, transmits the received second ID-related probe information to the mediation server,
The mediation server receives the second ID-related probe information from the collection server, and manages the usage server based on the second ID indicated by the second ID-related probe information from the received second ID-related probe information. Transmitting the second ID-related probe information determined to be associated with the first ID to the use server;
The traffic information collecting method, wherein the use server receives the second ID-related probe information from the mediation server. A program for causing a computer to function as a mobile terminal included in the traffic information collection system according to claim 1,
A first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal, the first ID being managed by a use server used by a user of probe information including information on a position of the mobile terminal and a passing time at the position; 1 ID acquisition unit,
An ID conversion unit that converts the first ID acquired by the first ID acquisition unit into a second ID;
A program for transmitting the second ID converted by the ID conversion unit to a program module that creates the probe information, and causing the computer to function as an activation unit that activates the program module. A program for causing a computer to function as a mobile terminal included in the traffic information collection system according to claim 1,
A first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal, the first ID being managed by a use server used by a user of probe information including information on a position of the mobile terminal and a passing time at the position; 1 ID acquisition unit,
An ID conversion unit that converts the first ID acquired by the first ID acquisition unit into a second ID;
A probe information acquisition unit that acquires probe information of the mobile terminal,
A probe information transmission unit that associates the second ID after conversion by the ID conversion unit with the probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit and transmits the probe information to a collection server used by a collector of the probe information; A program for operating the computer. A program for causing a computer to function as an intermediate server provided in the traffic information collection system according to claim 1,
A first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal, which is used by a user of the probe information, to a collection server that collects probe information including information on a position of the mobile terminal and a passing time at the position from the mobile terminal. A second ID transmitting unit that transmits a second ID that is an identifier of the user corresponding to the first ID managed by a use server;
A probe information receiving unit that receives, from the collection server, second ID-related probe information that is the probe information associated with the second ID transmitted by the second ID transmitting unit,
A program for causing the computer to function as a probe information transmitting unit that transmits the second ID-related probe information received by the probe information receiving unit to the use server. A program for causing a computer to function as a collection server included in the traffic information collection system according to claim 1,
A first ID for identifying a user of a mobile terminal, the user corresponding to the first ID managed by a use server used by a user of probe information including information on a position of the mobile terminal and a passing time at the position; A probe information receiving unit that receives, from the mobile terminal, second ID-related probe information that is the probe information associated with the second ID that is the identifier of the probe information;
A second ID receiving unit that receives the second ID from a mediation server used by a mediator of the probe information;
A probe information transmitting unit that transmits, to the intermediary server, the second ID-related probe information associated with the second ID received by the second ID receiving unit, of the second ID-related probe information received by the probe information receiving unit; And a program for causing the computer to function. A program for causing a computer to function as a use server provided in the traffic information collection system according to claim 1,
The use server is used by a user of the probe information including information on a position of the mobile terminal and a passing time at the position,
The probe, wherein the collection server collects second ID-related probe information that is a first ID for identifying a user of the mobile terminal and is probe information associated with a second ID corresponding to a first ID managed by the use server. A program for causing the computer to function as a probe information receiving unit that receives information from a mediation server that mediates information.