Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing Method, and Storage Medium

Abstract

An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a storage medium that can appropriately recommend to a user information on a movement method that can replace the user's usual movement method. The information processing apparatus includes: an acquisition unit that acquires user information related to the movement of the user from a user terminal used by the user; an estimation unit that estimates a first movement method for the user based on the user information; a determination unit that determines a third movement method different from the first movement method based on a second movement method that is a movement method adopted in the past by the user or another user having a movement history similar to that of the user; and a notification unit that notifies the user of the third movement method before the user starts moving using the first movement method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a technology for supporting the movement of a user, for example, there is a technology for guiding a path from a starting point to a destination according to the movement mechanism used by the user (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-112565 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, in the conventional technology, it is sometimes impossible to appropriately recommend to the user a movement method that can replace the normal movement method.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of such a situation, and one of its objects is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a storage medium that can appropriately recommend to the user a movement method that can replace the normal movement method.

[0009] Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium of the present invention adopt the following configuration.

[0011] (1): One aspect of the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including: an acquisition unit that acquires user information related to the movement of a user from a user terminal used by the user; an estimation unit that estimates a first movement method for the user based on the user information; a determination unit that determines a third movement method different from the first movement method based on a second movement method, which is a movement method adopted in the past by the user or another user having a movement history similar to that of the user; and a notification unit that notifies the user of the third movement method before the user starts moving using the first movement method.

[0012] (2): Based on the aspect (1) above, the user information includes at least information on intervals, and the determination unit extracts movement histories in which the departure point and the destination are the same and the movement distance from the departure point to the destination is close as movement histories similar to that of the user.

[0013] (3): Based on the moving time required for moving using the second moving method in the above (1) and (2) solutions, the determining unit determines the third moving method.

[0014] (4): Based on the cost required for moving using the second moving method in the above (1) to (3) solutions, the determining unit determines the third moving method.

[0015] (5): Based on the services that the user can utilize along with the movement in the above (1) to (4) solutions, the determining unit determines the third moving method.

[0016] (6): Based on the above (4) solution, the information processing apparatus further includes a reward giving unit that performs processing for giving a reward corresponding to the actual result of the user's utilization of the service to the provider of the service.

[0017] (7): Based on the above (1) to (6) solutions, the determining unit determines the third moving method for each of the multiple users, so that the traffic volume in the area where the users move is reduced when the multiple users respectively move using the notified third moving method.

[0018] (8): Another solution of the present invention relates to an information processing method that causes a computer to perform the following processing: obtaining user information related to the movement of a user from a user terminal used by the user; based on the user information, estimating the movement method of the user as a first moving method; based on the second moving method, which is the movement method used by the user or other users with a movement history similar to that of the user in the past, determining a third moving method different from the first moving method; and notifying the user of the third moving method before the user starts moving using the first moving method.

[0019] (9): Another solution of the present invention relates to a storage medium that stores a program, where the program causes a computer to perform the following processing: obtaining user information related to the movement of a user from a user terminal used by the user; based on the user information, estimating the movement method of the user as a first moving method; based on the second moving method, which is the movement method used by the user or other users with a movement history similar to that of the user in the past, determining a third moving method different from the first moving method; and notifying the user of the third moving method before the user starts moving using the first moving method.

[0020] Advantages of the Invention

[0021] According to (1), (2), (8), and (9), user information related to the movement of the user is obtained from the user terminal used by the user, and based on the user information, the movement method of the user is estimated as the first movement method. Based on the movement method adopted in the past by the user or other users having a movement history similar to that of the user, that is, the second movement method, a third movement method different from the first movement method is determined. Before the user starts moving using the first movement method, the third movement method is notified to the user, thereby enabling a movement method that can replace the normal movement method to be recommended to the user at an opportune time.

[0022] According to (3), the third movement method is determined based on the movement time required to move using the second movement method, thereby enabling a movement method that can reach the destination at an appropriate required time while increasing the added value of the movement time to be recommended to the user.

[0023] According to (4), the third movement method is determined based on the cost required to move using the second movement method, thereby enabling a movement method that can reach the destination at an appropriate amount of cost while increasing the added value of the movement time to be recommended.

[0024] According to (5), the third movement method is determined based on the service that the user can utilize by moving using this movement method, thereby enabling a service that can increase the added value of the time required to move to the destination to be recommended to the user.

[0025] According to (6), a reward corresponding to the actual result of the user's utilization of the service is given to the provider of the service, thereby enabling the motivation of the service provider to provide better services to the user to be increased.

[0026] According to (7), the third movement method for each of the multiple users is determined so that the traffic volume is averaged by the multiple users moving using the notified third movement method respectively, thereby enabling traffic congestion and traffic accidents near the movement path to be suppressed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the movement-related service providing system in the present embodiment.

[0028] Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the movement-related service providing system in the present embodiment.

[0029] Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the user management information in the present embodiment.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an example of supplier management information in this embodiment.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a flowchart showing an example of the process in which the service management device of this embodiment recommends a moving method to the users of the mobile-related service providing system.

[0032] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing an example of the display of service information in this embodiment.

[0033] Figure 7 This is a flowchart showing an example of the first reward granting process in this embodiment.

[0034] Figure 8 This is a flowchart showing an example of the second reward granting process in this embodiment.

[0035] Explanation of reference numerals:

[0036] 1... Mobile-related service providing system

[0037] 100... User terminal

[0038] 110... Communication unit

[0039] 120... Location information acquisition unit

[0040] 130... Input unit

[0041] 140... Display unit

[0042] 150... Control unit

[0043] 151... Collaboration unit

[0044] 160... Storage unit

[0045] 200... Service management device

[0046] 210... Communication unit

[0047] 220... Control unit

[0048] 221... Acquisition unit

[0049] 222... Setting unit

[0050] 223... Decision unit

[0051] 224... Notification unit

[0052] 225... Evaluation unit

[0053] 230... Storage unit

[0054] 300... Service provider. Detailed Implementation Manner

[0055] Hereinafter, embodiments of the information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that in the following description, one "movement" means starting from a certain starting point and reaching a certain destination. In addition, in the following description, the "movement method" includes at least a path from the starting point to the destination (hereinafter referred to as "movement path"), and may include a mechanism for moving on the journey of the movement path (hereinafter referred to as "movement mechanism") and the timing of performing the movement (hereinafter referred to as "movement timing").

[0056] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the movement-related service providing system 1 in the present embodiment. The movement-related service providing system 1 is a system that recommends a movement method with higher added value to users. More specifically, the movement-related service providing system 1 is a system that recommends the movement method to the user together with various services (hereinafter referred to as "movement-related services") received by moving from the starting point to the destination by a specified movement method. Here, the movement-related service may be any service as long as it is a service that the user can receive by moving by adopting the recommended movement method. For example, the movement-related service may be a service provided to the moving user, or a service provided to the user based on the actual results of moving by the recommended movement method.

[0057] In order to provide such movement-related services, the movement-related service providing system 1 in the embodiment includes a user terminal 100 used by the user, a service management device 200, and a service provider 300 of the movement-related service. The user terminal 100, the service management device 200, and the service provider 300 are communicably connected via the network N.

[0058] The user terminal 100 is a terminal device used by a user to utilize the mobile-related service provision system 1. For example, the user terminal 100 is a portable wireless communication terminal such as a smart phone or a tablet, and is connected to the network N via a wireless communication line such as a cellular network. For example, an application program (hereinafter referred to as "service application") that cooperates with the service management device 20 to provide mobile-related services to the user is installed in the user terminal 100. For example, the service application accepts the input of information related to the user who utilizes the mobile-related service provision system 1 (hereinafter referred to as "user information"), and transmits the input user information to the service management device 200. In addition, the user terminal 100 receives information related to the mobile-related service (hereinafter referred to as "service information") from the service management device 200, and notifies the received service information to the user. The user can identify the mobile method and the content of the mobile-related service recommended by the mobile-related service provision system 1 based on the notified service information.

[0059] The service management device 200 has a management function for various information related to the provision of mobile-related services. Specifically, the service management device 200 stores management information related to the users who utilize the mobile-related services (hereinafter referred to as "user management information") and management information of the service provider 300 that provides the mobile-related services (hereinafter referred to as "provider management information"). The user management information is generated based on the user information obtained from the user terminals 100 of each user, and the provider management information is generated based on the provider information obtained from each service provider 300. The service management device 200 extracts the mobile-related services recommended to the user based on the above management information, and recommends the extracted mobile-related services together with the mobile method (hereinafter referred to as "recommended mobile method") that can accept the mobile-related services to the user.

[0060] The service provider 300 is an operator that provides mobile-related services to the user via the service management device 200. The service provider 300 pre-registers the mobile-related services that can be provided together with their provision conditions in the service management device 200. The mobile-related services registered in the service management device 200 match the users who move using a mobile method that meets the provision conditions, and are notified to the users. It should be noted that the service provider 300 may register a service that does not distinguish between the users of the mobile-related service provision system 1 and other users as a mobile-related service, or may register a service that is only provided to the users of the mobile-related service provision system 1 as a mobile-related service. In addition, when providing the mobile-related service, the service provider 300 can notify the service management device 200 of information related to the service utilization of the user when it identifies that the user is a user of the mobile-related service provision system 1.

[0061] According to such a structure, the mobile association service providing system 1 can recommend to a user who starts moving to a destination a moving method (hereinafter referred to as "recommended moving method") that can receive various mobile association services during the movement. Therefore, according to the mobile association service providing system 1 of the embodiment, the user can utilize the moving time until reaching the destination to utilize various mobile association services, and thus the added value of the moving time can be improved. Hereinafter, the structure of the mobile association service providing system 1 that achieves such an effect will be described in detail.

[0062] Figure 2 FIG. 4 is an example of the system structure of the mobile association service providing system 1 in the present embodiment. The user terminal 100 includes a communication unit 110, a position information acquisition unit 120, an input unit 130, a display unit 140, a control unit 150, and a storage unit 160. These components are realized, for example, by a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program (software). Some or all of these components can be realized by hardware (including a circuitry unit) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or can be realized by the cooperation of software and hardware. The program can be pre-stored in a storage device (a storage device having a non-transitory storage medium) such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, or can be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or a CD-ROM, and installed by mounting the storage medium on a drive device.

[0063] The communication unit 110 is a wireless communication interface for connecting the user terminal 100 to the network N. For example, the communication unit 110 is wirelessly connected to a base station such as a cellular network and is connected to the network N via the base station. The communication unit 110 communicates with the service management device 200 and the service provider 300 via the network N.

[0064] The position information acquisition unit 120 acquires the position information of the user terminal 100. The position information acquisition unit 120 is, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor. The position information acquisition unit 120 outputs the acquired position information to the control unit 150.

[0065] The input unit 130 is constituted by an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, etc. The input unit 130 receives the input of various operations performed on the user terminal 100. The input unit 130 outputs the input information to the control unit 150.

[0066] The display unit 140 is constituted by a display device such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, etc. The display unit 140 displays various information output from the control unit 150. It should be noted that the display unit 140 may also be integrally constituted with the input unit 130 using a touch panel.

[0067] The control unit 150 controls the operation of the user terminal 100. Specifically, in addition to having the function of controlling the input / output between the communication unit 110, the position information acquisition unit 120, the input unit 130, the display unit 140, and the storage unit 160, the control unit 150 also includes a cooperation unit 151 that realizes the cooperation function between the service management device 200 and each service provider 300. The cooperation unit 151 is realized, for example, by the execution of a service application.

[0068] Specifically, the cooperation unit 151 sends the information required to receive the recommendation of the moving method from the mobile-related service providing system 1 to the service management device 200 as user information. For example, the cooperation unit 151 sends the position information of the user terminal 100 acquired by the position information acquisition unit 120, the moving mechanism, moving conditions, starting point, destination, moving time, etc. input by the user regarding their own movement to the service management device 200 as user information. On the other hand, the cooperation unit 151 has the following function: as information related to the recommended moving method and the mobile-related services received by moving according to the recommended moving method, it acquires service information from the service management device 200 and notifies the user. For example, the cooperation unit 151 causes the content of the acquired service information to be displayed on the display unit 140.

[0069] The storage unit 160 is constituted by a magnetic storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a semiconductor storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), etc. The storage unit 160 stores various information related to the operation of the user terminal 100. For example, the program of the service application is stored in the storage unit 160. In addition, for example, the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 120, the service information acquired from the service management device 200, etc. may also be stored in the storage unit 160.

[0070] Next, the structure of the service management device 200 will be described. The service management device 200 includes a communication unit 210, a control unit 220, and a storage unit 230. These components are implemented, for example, by a hardware processor such as a CPU executing a program (software). Some or all of these components can be implemented by hardware such as LSI, ASIC, FPGA, GPU (including circuitry), or can be implemented by the cooperation of software and hardware. The program can be pre-stored in a storage device such as an HDD or a flash memory (a storage device having a non-transitory storage medium), or can be stored in a removable storage medium such as a DVD or a CD-ROM (a non-transitory storage medium), and installed by assembling the storage medium in a drive device.

[0071] The communication unit 210 is a communication interface for connecting the service management device 200 to the network N. The communication unit 210 can be a wireless communication interface or a wired communication interface. The communication unit 210 communicates with the user terminal 100 and the service provider 300 via the network N.

[0072] The control unit 220 controls the operation of the service management device 200. Specifically, in addition to having a function of controlling the input / output between the communication unit 210 and the storage unit 230, the control unit 220 also includes an acquisition unit 221, a setting unit 222, a determination unit 223, a notification unit 224, and an evaluation unit 225 as a structure for implementing a cooperation function between the user terminal 100 and each service provider 300.

[0073] The acquisition unit 221 acquires user information from the user terminal 100 of each user. The acquisition unit 221 records, in the storage unit 230, information in which the identification information of the user is associated with the acquired user information as user management information. Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of user management information. For example, Figure 3 This shows an example in which user IDs, which are the identification information of users, and movement IDs, which are the identification information of each movement, correspond to user information including a starting point, a destination, a movement time, location information, a movement mechanism, and movement conditions. Here, the user ID can be acquired as user information from each user terminal 100, or can be assigned when the acquisition unit 221 acquires user information from each user terminal 100. In addition, the movement ID is the identification information of each movement identified by the starting point and the destination, the user ID, the movement time, etc. The acquisition unit 221 identifies each movement of each user based on the acquired user information, and assigns a movement ID to each identified movement. It should be noted that the assignment of the user ID and the movement ID can also be performed in the user terminal 100.

[0074] In addition, the acquisition unit 221 acquires information related to the mobility-related services provided by the service provider 300 (hereinafter referred to as "provider information") from the service provider 300. For example, the acquisition unit 221 acquires information such as the content and provision conditions of the mobility-related services provided by the service provider 300 as the provider information. In addition, the acquisition unit 221 may acquire information such as actual results of use of the mobility-related services as the provider information. The acquisition unit 221 records the provider information acquired from each service provider 300 in the storage unit 230 as provider management information. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of such supplier management information. Figure 4 As shown, the supplier management information is managed as information that establishes a correspondence between the identification information of the service provider 300, namely the supplier ID, the identification information of the mobile-related service provided by the service provider 300, namely the service ID, the service provision location indicating the place where the mobile-related service is provided, the service content of the mobile-related service, the provision conditions of the mobile-related service, and the score of the mobile-related service.

[0075] Here, the score of the mobility-related service is a score that quantifies the magnitude of the added value added by the mobility-related service. Figure 4 Although an example is shown in which the score value is set to a fixed value for each mobility-related service, the score value does not necessarily have to be a fixed value. For example, the score value may be set to a different value for each user for the same mobility-related service, or may be set to a variable value according to the provision period. In addition, the score value may be determined based on an arbitrary criterion.

[0076] The setting unit 222 sets the object movement method (hereinafter referred to as the "object movement method") for each user. In other words, the recommended movement method is suggested as a movement method that can replace the object movement method determined by the setting unit 222. Specifically, the setting unit 222 sets the usual movement method of the user estimated based on the user's past movement results as the object movement method. For example, the setting unit 222 specifies the highest movement frequency interval for each user based on user information, and specifies the movement path and movement mechanism that are most frequently used in the movement of the interval. The setting unit 222 sets the starting point and the end point of the interval thus specified as the starting point and the destination, and sets the movement method of moving on the distance from the starting point to the destination using the specified movement path and movement mechanism as the object movement method. It should be noted that the object movement method is an example of the first movement method in the present invention, and the setting unit 222 is an example of the estimation unit in the present invention.

[0077] It should be noted that, as described at the beginning, the movement method in this embodiment includes a movement path from the starting point to the destination, and may include a movement mechanism and a movement timing. In accordance with this meaning, the setting unit 222 can set the movement method of unspecified movement mechanisms as the target movement method, or can also set the movement method that specifies the movement timing in addition to the movement path and the movement mechanism as the target movement method. It should be noted that in the case of specifying the movement timing, similar to the movement path and the movement mechanism, the setting unit 222 can also specify the timing with the highest movement frequency as the movement timing of the target movement method.

[0078] In addition, the setting unit 222 can also set a specific movement method specified in advance by each user as the target movement method as another method for setting the target movement method. In this case, the specific movement method specified by the user can also be obtained from each user terminal 100 as user information. The setting unit 222 records the setting information of the target movement method set in this way in the storage unit 230.

[0079] The determination unit 223 determines a recommended movement method for the target movement method set for each user. Specifically, the determination unit 223 extracts, for the user (hereinafter referred to as the "target user") for whom the recommended movement method is to be recommended, the movement methods adopted in the past by the target user or other users having a movement history similar to that of the target user as other movement methods similar to the target movement method (hereinafter referred to as "similar movement methods"), and determines the recommended movement method based on the extracted similar movement methods. Here, the similar movement method refers to a movement method in which the constituent elements of the movement method (movement path, movement mechanism, movement timing, etc.) are similar, and the degree of similarity required can be arbitrarily set. It should be noted that the similar movement method is an example of the second movement method in the present invention.

[0080] For example, the determination unit 223 can also extract the movement methods whose departure points and destinations are the same as those of the target movement method as similar movement methods. In addition, for example, the determination unit 223 can also extract the movement methods whose movement distances from the departure point to the destination are close to those of the target movement method as similar movement methods. In addition, for example, the determination unit 223 can also extract the movement methods that satisfy the above two conditions as similar movement methods.

[0081] For example, the determination unit 223 may also determine, as the recommended movement method, a movement method that satisfies the movement conditions of the target movement method among the extracted similar movement methods. Additionally, for example, the determination unit 223 may also determine, as the recommended movement method, a representative movement method obtained through statistical processing of multiple similar movement methods (e.g., an averaged movement method of multiple similar movement methods). Additionally, for example, the determination unit 223 may also determine, as the recommended movement method, the movement method with the highest metric value related to the movement-associated service that the user can accept among the multiple similar movement methods. It should be noted that the recommended movement method is an example of the third movement method in the present invention. The determination unit 223 notifies the recommended movement method determined in this way to the notification unit 224.

[0082] The notification unit 224 generates service information for notifying the recommended movement method notified from the determination unit 223 to the user, and notifies the generated service information to the user terminal 100 of the user. Specifically, the notification unit 224 generates service information including information indicating the recommended movement method and information related to the movement-associated service that the user can utilize by moving using the recommended movement method. Additionally, the notification unit 224 notifies the generated service information to the user terminal 100 of the user before the user starts moving using the target movement method related to this service information.

[0083] The evaluation unit 225 performs a process for awarding a prescribed reward to the user or the service provider 300 of the movement-associated service related to the recommended movement method regarding the movement performed by the user based on the recommended movement method. For example, the process for awarding the reward may be a process of awarding points or a process of issuing coupons. The evaluation unit 225 is an example of a "reward awarding unit".

[0084] Figure 5 It is a flowchart showing an example of the process in which the service management device 200 of the present embodiment recommends a recommended movement method to the user of the movement-associated service providing system 1. It should be noted that hereinafter, the user who is the object of recommending the recommended movement method is referred to as the "target user". Additionally, at the start time of this flowchart, in the service management device 200, sufficient user information corresponding to being able to determine the recommended movement method regarding the target user is stored as user management information.

[0085] First, the setting unit 222 determines whether the time to start the process of recommending a recommended movement method for the target user (hereinafter referred to as the "process start time") has arrived (step S101). Here, the process start time is determined in such a way that the recommended movement method for the target movement method can be notified to the target user before the target user starts moving using the target movement method. Specifically, the process start time is set to a time earlier than the time obtained by tracing back the time required for the process of determining the recommended movement method from the time when the target user starts moving using the target movement method (hereinafter referred to as the "movement start time"). It should be noted that the movement start time of the target user is registered in the service management device 200 by the user before the process start time arrives.

[0086] In the case where it is determined in step S101 that the process start time has not arrived, the setting unit 222 repeatedly executes step S101 until it is determined that the process start time has arrived. On the other hand, in the case where the setting unit 222 determines in step S101 that the process start time has arrived, the setting unit 222 sets the target movement method for which the recommended movement method is to be recommended for the target user based on the user information obtained about the target user (step S102).

[0087] After the setting unit 222 sets the target movement method for the target user, then the determination unit 223 extracts similar movement methods similar to the set target movement method from the movement methods of past movements (step S103). For example, the determination unit 223 can extract movement methods in past movements that are the same or similar in part or all of their movement paths, movement times, movement mechanisms, movement conditions, etc. as similar movement methods. In addition, the determination unit 223 can also extract similar movement methods based on the similarity of other attributes related to past movements, such as the weather and traffic conditions during movement. In this case, information indicating other attributes related to the past movements of the user is appropriately obtained by the acquisition unit 221.

[0088] Next, the determination unit 223 determines the recommended movement method to be recommended for the target movement method based on the extracted similar movement methods (step S104). The determination unit 223 notifies the determined recommended movement method to the notification unit 224. For example, in the case where an arrival time is set as a movement condition of the target movement method as exemplified in the Figure 3 user management information (movement ID = m001), the determination unit 223 can also determine, as the recommended movement method, the movement method among the extracted similar movement methods that arrives at the destination before the set arrival time. In addition, for example, in the case of Figure 3In a case where a passing point to be passed before the destination is set as a movement condition of the object movement method as in the illustrated user management information (movement ID = m002), the determination unit 223 may also determine, as a recommended movement method, a movement method among the extracted similar movement methods that passes through a passing point set as a movement condition before reaching the destination.

[0089] In addition, for example, in a case where a cost allowed for movement is set as a movement condition of the object movement method in the user management information, the determination unit 223 may also determine, as a recommended movement method, a movement method in which the cost required for movement in the extracted similar movement methods is equal to or less than the cost set as the movement condition. In addition, among the costs allowed for movement, in addition to the usage cost of the movement mechanism, the usage cost of movement-related services that can be used on the movement path may also be included. In this case, it may be that the determination unit 223 determines a recommended movement method such that the sum of the usage cost of the movement-related services recommended to the user and the usage cost of the movement mechanism is equal to or less than the amount set as the movement condition.

[0090] In addition, for example, in Figure 4 a case where a score of added value is set for movement-related services provided by each service provider 300 as in the illustrated service provider management information, the determination unit 223 may also determine, as a recommended movement method, a movement method using a movement path that is the movement path among the movement paths that can reach the destination from the starting point of the object movement method and has the largest sum of scores of movement-related services (hereinafter referred to as "usable services") that the user can accept on the path.

[0091] Next, the notification unit 224 generates service information for notifying the recommended movement method notified from the determination unit 223 to the target user (step S105). The notification unit 224 transmits the generated service information to the user terminal 100 of the target user (step S106).

[0092] Figure 6 It is a diagram showing a display example of the service information in the present embodiment. For example, Figure 6As an example of a screen for displaying service information generated for movement from a starting point A to a destination B, a service information screen D1 is shown. The service information screen D1 has a first display D10 indicating a recommended movement method and second displays D21 to D27 indicating various movement-related information notified to the user regarding the movement using this movement method. For example, the first display D10 is represented by a map including the starting point A and the destination B, icons indicating the starting point A and the destination B on the map, a display of the required time to reach each intermediate point, and a display of the movement path from the starting point A to the destination B. The first display D10 is generated based on the recommended movement method included in the service information. In addition, the first display D10 can be generated by a service application or can be generated by the service application using the functions of other application programs.

[0093] In addition, the second displays D21 to D27 are displayed in correspondence with the respective points on the map represented by the first display D10. Figure 6 This is an example where the second displays D21 to D27 are displayed overlapping the first display D10. For example, as an example of a service that can be used during the movement on the movement path, the second display D21 shows the business information of "XX Store" to the user. The business information can be information indicating the normal business content or information indicating the content of various promotional activities. For example, the second display D21 is generated based on the vendor information of each service vendor 300 registered in the service management device 200 in advance as vendor management information.

[0094] In addition, for example, the second display D22 is an example of a display indicating the recommended information of other users. For example, the recommended information can be obtained by the acquisition unit 221 from the user terminals 100 of the respective users as part of the user information. In addition, the acquisition unit 221 can also cooperate with other online services such as SNS (Social Network Service) to obtain the recommended information of the respective users. In addition, the recommended information can also be obtained through the cooperation between the service application and other online services. In addition, the recommended information obtained by the user terminal 100 can be sent to the service management device 200 as part of the user information or can be displayed on the service information screen D1 together with the service information obtained from the service management device 200.

[0095] In addition, for example, the second display D23 is an example of a notification related to information shared by the target user and other users (hereinafter referred to as "shared information"). For example, the shared information can be information sent to an unspecified number of users or information sent to specific users. In addition, the shared information can be sent through the service application or through the cooperation of the service application and other online services. In this case, the notification unit 224 can also obtain evaluation information of other users for the shared information sent by the target user and cause the second display indicating the obtained evaluation information to be displayed on the service information screen D1. The evaluation information can be a value indicating the evaluation amount of other users or an evaluation of a specific user. In addition, in this case, the evaluation unit 225 can also give a reward corresponding to the evaluation amount of other users to the target user. In addition, in this case, the notification unit 224 can also notify the user through the second display that a reward has been given to the target user.

[0096] In addition, for example, the second displays D24 and D25 are examples of the second display that represents knowledge information related to each location as mobile-related information. For example, the knowledge information can also be obtained by the acquisition unit 221 from the user terminal 100 of each user as part of the user information. In addition, the acquisition unit 221 can also cooperate with other online services such as a CMS (Contents Management System: evaluation management system) that provides various information to obtain knowledge information related to each location. In addition, the knowledge information can also be obtained through the cooperation of the service application and other online services. In addition, the knowledge information obtained by the user terminal 100 can be sent to the service management device 200 as part of the user information or can be displayed on the service information screen D1 together with the service information obtained from the service management device 200.

[0097] In addition, for example, the second display D26 is an example of the second display that represents information related to the health status of the user (hereinafter referred to as "health status information") as mobile-related information. For example, Figure 6The second display D26 shown notifies the user who has started moving by the recommended movement method that the user's health condition is good. For example, the health condition information may also be obtained by the acquisition unit 221 as part of the user information from the user terminal 100 of each user. In addition, the acquisition unit 221 may also obtain the user's health condition information in cooperation with other online services that manage the user's health condition. In addition, the health condition information may also be obtained through the cooperation of the service application with other online services. In addition, when another application program for managing the user's health condition is installed on the user terminal 100, the service application may also obtain the user's health condition information through the cooperation of such other application programs. In addition, the function of managing the user's health condition may also be incorporated into the service application. The health condition information obtained by the user terminal 100 may be sent to the service management device 200 as part of the user information, or may be displayed on the service information screen D1 together with the service information obtained from the service management device 200. It should be noted that when the user's physical condition is recognized as poor based on the health condition information, the notification unit 224 may also recommend to the user through the second display not to move based on the recommended movement method.

[0098] In addition, for example, the second display D27 is an example of the second display that represents information related to the result of the user's movement based on the recommended movement method (hereinafter referred to as "movement result information") as movement-related information. For example, Figure 6 The second display D27 shown notifies the user who has moved to the destination B by moving based on the recommended movement method of the distance moved and the amount of calories consumed by moving that distance. For example, the notification unit 224 calculates the moving distance for each moving mechanism from the starting point A to the destination B, and takes the sum of the values obtained by multiplying each calculated moving distance by the amount of calories consumed per unit distance by each moving mechanism, thereby being able to calculate the amount of calories consumed by moving by adopting the recommended movement method. It should be noted that in this case, the notification unit 224 may calculate the moving distance based on the movement path recommended to the user, or may calculate the moving distance based on the position information of the user terminal 100 obtained during the user's movement. In addition, in this case, the evaluation unit 225 may also give a reward corresponding to the calculated moving distance and calorie consumption to the target user. In addition, in this case, the notification unit 224 may also notify the user through the second display that a reward has been given to the target user.

[0099] It should be noted that for simplicity, in Figure 6An example of the service information screen D1 in which all movement-related information related to the recommended movement method is shown simultaneously is illustrated, but it is not necessary to show all movement-related information simultaneously on the service information screen D1. For example, the notification unit 224 may be configured to display movement-related information corresponding to the movement status of the user on the service information screen D1. For example, the notification unit 224 may also display movement-related information corresponding to the user's movement mechanism and movement conditions on the service information screen D1. For example, in the case where it is presumed that the arrival at the destination B cannot meet the time set as the movement condition due to the use of the movement-related service, the notification unit 224 may also display movement-related information related to such a movement-related service on the service information screen D1. Additionally, for example, the notification unit 224 may also display movement-related information related to locations within a specified range from the user's current position on the service information screen D1.

[0100] Figure 7 It is a flowchart showing an example of the process (hereinafter referred to as the "first reward granting process") in which the service management device 200 of the present embodiment grants various rewards based on the movement of the user using the recommended movement method. Note that, here, the case where movement-related information related to the movement-related service is notified to the target user according to the current position of the target user is described. Additionally, here, during the period when the target user reaches the destination from the starting point using the recommended movement method, the user information including the position information is periodically sent from the user terminal 100 to the service management device 200.

[0101] First, the notification unit 224 determines whether the target user has started moving using the recommended movement method (step S201). Here, in the case where it is determined that the target user has not started moving using the recommended movement method, the notification unit 224 repeatedly executes step S201 until it is determined that the target user has started moving using the recommended movement method. On the other hand, in the case where it is determined in step S201 that the target user has started moving using the recommended movement method, the notification unit 224 determines whether there is a service-providing place where the service can be used near the target user based on the current position of the target user and the provider information (step S202).

[0102] Here, in the case where it is determined that there is no service-providing place where the target user can use the service near the target user, the notification unit 224 repeatedly executes step S202 until a service-providing place where the service can be used is found near the target user. On the other hand, in the case where it is determined in step S202 that there is a service-providing place where the target user can use the service near the target user, the notification unit 224 generates service information related to the movement-related service and notifies the service information to the user terminal 100 (step S203).

[0103] After the notification unit 224 notifies the user terminal 100 of the service information, next, the evaluation unit 225 determines whether the mobile-related service notified to the user terminal 100 has been used by the target user (step S204). For example, in the case where the service provider 300 notifies the service management device 200 that the mobile-related service has been used by the target user (hereinafter referred to as "service use notification"), the evaluation unit 225 can determine whether the mobile-related service notified to the user terminal 100 has been used by the target user based on whether it has received the service use notification regarding the target user. It should be noted that the service use notification may not be notified from the service provider 300 to the service management device 200, but from the user terminal 100 of the user who has used the mobile-related service to the service management device 200.

[0104] In the case where it is determined in step S204 that the mobile-related service has been used by the target user, the evaluation unit 225 gives a reward corresponding to the mobile-related service to the service provider 300 that provided the mobile-related service to the target user or the target user who has used the mobile-related service (step S205). In this case, for example, the content of the reward given to the user or the service provider 300 is pre-registered in the provider information for each mobile-related service. In this case, the evaluation unit 225 specifies the content of the reward corresponding to the notified mobile-related service based on the provider information and gives the reward of the specified content to the target user or the service provider 300.

[0105] On the other hand, in the case where it is determined in step S204 that the mobile-related service has not been used by the target user, the evaluation unit 225 does not execute step S205 and advances the process to step S206. It should be noted that sometimes it takes a certain amount of time from the notification of the mobile-related service to the target user until the target user uses the mobile-related service. Therefore, the evaluation unit 225 may also advance the process to step S206 when it repeatedly determines that the mobile-related service has not been used by the target user a specified number of times in step S204.

[0106] Next, in step S206, the evaluation unit 225 determines whether the target user has reached the destination. Here, in the case where it is determined that the target user has not reached the destination, the evaluation unit 225 returns the process to step S202 and repeatedly executes the processes from step S202 to S206. On the other hand, in the case where it is determined in step S206 that the target user has reached the destination, the evaluation unit 225 ends the reward giving process.

[0107] It should be noted that, here, an example is shown where the reward giving process is carried out during the movement of the target user, but the reward giving process does not necessarily have to be carried out during the movement of the target user. For example, in the case of giving a reward based on the result of the recommended movement made by the target user, the reward giving process can also be executed after the recommended movement of the target user ends. Figure 8 It is a flowchart showing an example of the reward giving process (hereinafter referred to as "second reward giving process") executed after the recommended movement of the target user ends. Here, for example, the case where the process of giving a reward according to the degree to which the recommended movement of the user contributes to the reduction of the traffic volume around the movement path is set as the second reward giving process will be described.

[0108] It should be noted that the execution timing of the second reward giving process is arbitrary. For example, the second reward giving process can also target the movements using the recommended movement method carried out within each period and execute for each specified period. In this case, in order to be able to identify the recommended movement method after moving using the recommended movement method that is the processing object, the acquisition unit 221 acquires user information related to the movement made using the recommended movement method from each user terminal 100, and associates the acquired user information with the recommended movement method and stores it in the storage unit 230 as user management information.

[0109] In this case, first, the evaluation unit 225 acquires information indicating the traffic volume generated in the evaluation target area during the evaluation target period (hereinafter referred to as "traffic volume information") (step S301). For example, the traffic volume information can also be acquired from traffic information systems operated by administrative bodies such as municipalities, districts, towns, and villages, road operators, etc. In addition, the evaluation target period can be arbitrarily set according to the frequency of executing the second reward giving process, etc. For example, in the case of executing the second reward giving process once a day, the evaluation target period can also be set to the past 24 hours. In this case, the evaluation unit 225 acquires traffic volume information indicating the traffic volume generated in the evaluation target area in the past 24 hours. In addition, the evaluation target area can be arbitrarily set according to the range in which traffic volume information can be acquired. It should be noted that the traffic volume information can represent a statistical value (such as an average value, median value, mode value, maximum value, minimum value, etc.) of the traffic volume during the evaluation target period, or can also represent the change in the traffic volume during the evaluation target period.

[0110] Next, the evaluation unit 225 determines whether the traffic volume during the evaluation period in the evaluation target area has decreased compared to the traffic volume before the evaluation period based on the obtained traffic volume information (step S302). For example, the evaluation unit 225 determines whether the traffic volume during the evaluation period has decreased compared to the traffic volume during the comparison period. Here, the comparison period is a period including a period earlier than the evaluation period. The comparison period may or may not include the evaluation period.

[0111] In this case, the evaluation unit 225 obtains the traffic volume information during the comparison period in addition to the traffic volume information during the evaluation period, and compares the traffic volumes indicated by the two traffic volume information, thereby determining whether the traffic volume has decreased. It should be noted that when the traffic volume information represents the change in traffic volume, the evaluation unit 225 may calculate the statistical value of the traffic volume based on the traffic volume information and compare the statistical values, or may calculate the total traffic volume based on the traffic volume information and compare the total traffic volumes. In addition, in this case, the evaluation unit 225 may also compare the traffic volumes at each time point indicated by the traffic volume information. It should be noted that when comparing the traffic volumes at each time point, the criterion for determining that the traffic volume has decreased can be set arbitrarily. For example, the evaluation unit 225 may determine that the traffic volume has decreased when the traffic volume during the evaluation period is less than the traffic volume during the comparison period at all time points, or may determine that the traffic volume has decreased when there are more than a specified number (for example, more than half) of time points during the evaluation period where the traffic volume is less than the traffic volume during the comparison period.

[0112] When it is determined in step S302 that the traffic volume during the evaluation period in the evaluation target area has decreased compared to the traffic volume before the evaluation period, the evaluation unit 225 identifies the object to which the reward corresponding to the contribution to the decrease in traffic volume is given (hereinafter referred to as the "reward object") (step S303), and gives a reward to the identified reward object (step S304). The evaluation unit 225 may give a reward with a preset content to the reward object, or may give a reward corresponding to the degree of contribution of the reward object to the decrease in traffic volume. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S302 that the traffic volume during the evaluation period in the evaluation target area has not decreased compared to the traffic volume before the evaluation period, the evaluation unit 225 ends the second reward giving process without performing steps S303 and S304.

[0113] For example, the reward recipient may also be the service provider 300. In this case, the evaluation unit 225 may specify the service provider 300 that provides mobile-related services in the evaluation target area as the reward recipient, or may specify the service provider 300 among the above service providers 300 that actually provided mobile-related services during the evaluation period as the reward recipient. For example, the evaluation unit 225 may assign a reward with a preset content to each service provider 300, or may assign a reward corresponding to the actual results of the provision of mobile-related services provided by each service provider 300 during the evaluation period. For example, the evaluation unit 225 may assign a reward with different content for each mobile-related service, or may assign a reward corresponding to the sales amount caused by the provision of mobile-related services, or may also assign a reward corresponding to the number of mobile-related services provided.

[0114] In addition, for example, the reward recipient may also be a user who has moved using the recommended moving method. In this case, the evaluation unit 225 may specify as the reward recipient a user who has moved using the recommended moving method within the evaluation target area during the evaluation period, or may specify as the reward recipient a user among the above users who has used mobile-related services on the way of their moving path. For example, the evaluation unit 225 may assign a reward with a preset content to each user who is the reward recipient, or may assign a reward with content corresponding to the actual results of the movement made by each user, the actual results of the use of mobile-related services used by each user during the movement, and the like. For example, the evaluation unit 225 may assign a reward with content corresponding to the moving distance of the user, or may assign a reward with content corresponding to the mobile-related services used by the user during the movement.

[0115] It should be noted that in the case of assigning a reward for the purpose of traffic volume reduction to a user or the service provider 300 by implementing such a second reward assignment process, the decision-making unit 223 of the service management device 200 may also be configured to recommend to the user a moving mechanism that can further reduce the traffic volume as the recommended moving method. For example, in the case where the target moving method is a moving method using a motor vehicle as the moving mechanism, the decision-making unit 223 may also recommend a recommended moving method using a bicycle or on foot as the moving mechanism.

[0116] The mobile-related service providing system 1 of the embodiment configured in this way includes a service management device 200. The service management device 200 determines a recommended moving method to be recommended to the target user based on the moving methods performed by the target user or other users in the past, and thus can recommend to the user in a timely manner a moving method that can replace the usual moving method.

[0117] In addition, in the mobile-related service provision system 1 according to the embodiment, the service management device 200 recommends mobile-related services that can be used by the user while moving, together with the recommended moving method, thereby enabling the added value of the moving time of the target user to be increased. Specifically, in the mobile-related service provision system 1 according to the embodiment, the user can move in the section where the user often moves by adopting a recommended moving method different from the usual one recommended by the mobile-related service provision system 1, and can make the added value of the time required for moving in this section higher. For example, the user can increase the added value of the daily commuting time.

[0118] In addition, in the mobile-related service provision system 1 according to the embodiment, the service management device 200 can provide compensation corresponding to the content of the movement made by each user to the user and the service provider 300. Therefore, in the mobile-related service provision system 1 according to the embodiment, the motivation of the user to move by adopting the recommended moving method can be increased, and the motivation of the service provider 300 to provide better mobile-related services can be increased. And by increasing the motivation of the user and the service provider 300, more users will move by adopting the recommended moving method. As a result, the traffic volume near the moving path can be reduced.

[0119] The embodiment described above can be expressed as follows.

[0120] An information processing device configured to include:

[0121] A storage device that stores a program; and

[0122] A hardware processor,

[0123] By the hardware processor executing the program stored in the storage device, the following processing is performed:

[0124] Obtain user information related to the movement of the user from the user terminal used by the user;

[0125] Based on the user information, estimate a first moving method for the user;

[0126] Based on the second moving method, which is the moving method adopted by the user or other users with a moving history similar to that of the user in the past, determine a third moving method different from the first moving method; and

[0127] Before the user starts to move by adopting the first moving method, notify the user of the third moving method.

[0128] The above-described usage embodiments illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is in no way limited to such embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, wherein, The information processing apparatus includes: an acquisition unit that acquires user information related to the movement of the user from a user terminal used by the user; a estimation unit that estimates a first movement method for the user based on the user information; a determination unit that determines a third movement method different from the first movement method based on a second movement method, which is a movement method adopted in the past by the user or another user having a movement history similar to that of the user, and services that the user can use while moving; and a notification unit that notifies the user of the third movement method before the user starts moving using the first movement method; the determination unit determines, as the third movement method, a movement method among the second movement methods that reaches the destination before the arrival time set as the movement condition specified by the user; when moving based on the third movement method determined by the user, if it is estimated that the arrival at the destination cannot catch up with the time set as the movement condition due to the use of the service, the notification unit presents information related to the service to the user.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The user information at least includes information on intervals; the determination unit extracts movement histories in which the departure location and the destination are the same and the movement distance from the departure location to the destination is close, as movement histories similar to that of the user.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The information processing apparatus further includes a reward giving unit that performs processing for giving a reward corresponding to the actual result of the user's use of the service to the provider of the service.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The determination unit determines the third movement method based on the cost required to move using the second movement method.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The determination unit determines the third movement method for each of a plurality of users so that the traffic volume in the area where the users move is reduced when the plurality of users respectively move using the notified third movement method.

6. An information processing method, wherein, The information processing method causes a computer to perform the following processing: acquire user information related to the movement of the user from a user terminal used by the user; estimate the movement method of the user as a first movement method based on the user information; determine a third movement method different from the first movement method based on a second movement method, which is a movement method adopted in the past by the user or another user having a movement history similar to that of the user, and services that the user can use while moving; and notify the user of the third movement method before the user starts moving using the first movement method; determine, as the third movement method, a movement method among the second movement methods that reaches the destination before the arrival time set as the movement condition specified by the user; when moving based on the third movement method determined by the user, if it is estimated that the arrival at the destination cannot catch up with the time set as the movement condition due to the use of the service, present information related to the service to the user.

7. A storage medium storing a program, wherein, The program causes a computer to perform the following processing: Obtain user information related to the movement of the user from the user terminal used by the user; Based on the user information, presume the movement method of the user as the first movement method; Based on the movement method that the user or other users with a movement history similar to that of the user have adopted in the past, i.e., the second movement method, and the services that the user can utilize along with the movement, determine a third movement method different from the first movement method; And Before the user starts moving using the first movement method, notify the user of the third movement method, Determine, as the third movement method, the movement method in the second movement method that arrives at the destination before the arrival time set as the movement condition specified by the user; When moving based on the third movement method determined by the user, if it is presumed that the arrival at the destination cannot be achieved by the utilization of the service within the time set as the movement condition, prompt the user with information related to the service.

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