Method performed by terminal device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method performed by a terminal device. The method is performed by a terminal device of a user, and includes: determining whether a vehicle has been parked in a target area based on location information of the vehicle of the user; and when it is determined that the vehicle is parked in the target area and the target area is within the business time, displaying an image linked to the content related to the target area on a screen of a terminal device of the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a terminal device. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a known technique for providing users with content related to a target area. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-346041 discloses an information processing device that displays a web page of a service area when it is detected that a vehicle has entered the service area. Summary of the invention

[0003] There is room for improvement in the art of providing content related to an object area to a user.

[0004] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to improve a technique for providing a user with content related to a target area.

[0005] A method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is performed by a terminal device of a user and includes the following processing, namely:

[0006] determining whether the vehicle is parked in a target area based on the position information of the vehicle of the user; and

[0007] When it is determined that the vehicle is parked in the target area and the target area is within business hours, an image linked to content related to the target area is displayed on the screen of the terminal device of the user.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a technology for providing content related to an object area to a user may be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Features, advantages, technical and industrial significance of representative embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following drawings for reference, wherein like symbols indicate like elements.

[0010] Figure 1 This is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0011] Figure 2 A block diagram showing the schematic structure of a terminal device.

[0012] Figure 3 A block diagram showing the schematic structure of a server.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

[0015] (Overview of Embodiments)

[0016] Reference Figure 1 The system 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is briefly described. The system 1 includes a terminal device 10 and a server 20. The terminal device 10 and the server 20 can communicate via a network 30 including the Internet and a mobile communication network, for example.

[0017] The terminal device 10 is a computer such as a personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a smart phone, or a tablet terminal that can install and execute applications. In the terminal device 10, a dedicated application with a car navigation function is installed. Alternatively, the terminal device 10 is an automotive navigation system (automotive navigation system) attached to the user's vehicle V. The terminal device 10 is used by the user. As described later, the terminal device 10 displays an image linked to content related to the target area and outputs a synthesized voice.

[0018] The server 20 belongs to a cloud computing system or other computing systems, for example, and implements various functions. The server 20 can communicate with the terminal device 10 via a network 30 .

[0019] The network 30 includes the Internet, at least one WAN, at least one MAN, or a combination thereof. "WAN" is an abbreviation for a wide area network. "MAN" is an abbreviation for a metropolitan area network. The network 30 may also include at least one wireless network, at least one optical network, or a combination thereof. The wireless network is, for example, an ad hoc network, a cellular network, a wireless LAN, a satellite communication network, or a terrestrial microwave network. "LAN" is an abbreviation for a local area network.

[0020] The vehicle V is a vehicle for the user to ride.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the user travels on a road such as a highway (hereinafter referred to as “road etc.”) using a vehicle V. The user can use each target area located on the travel path of the vehicle V.

[0022] In addition, a dedicated application (hereinafter referred to as "coupon application") that displays coupons available in the target area is installed in the user's terminal device 10. The user can use the coupon application to receive preferential treatment such as discounts at predetermined facilities in the target area. In addition to the coupon display function, the coupon application may also be installed with other functions.

[0023] In the present embodiment, the "target area" refers to an area that the vehicle V can enter from a road or the like and can park for a certain period of time for the user to rest or to replenish energy for the vehicle V. The target area is, for example, a service area (SA) or a parking area (PA), but is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, when the vehicle V enters the target area, it drives on the entry route (deceleration lane) and parks in the parking lot. In addition, in the present embodiment, business hours are set for the target area, and the user can use the coupon at a predetermined facility when the target area is within business hours.

[0024] In the present embodiment, “the vehicle V is parked in the target area” means that the vehicle V is parked in a fixed place in the target area.

[0025] In this embodiment, “content related to the target area” includes a web page of the target area, a download page of the coupon app, and a coupon list page on the coupon app (hereinafter referred to as “specific page”), but is not limited to these contents.

[0026] In this embodiment, the "image linked to the content related to the target area" refers to a banner image linked to the content related to the target area. When the user selects the banner image displayed on the screen by touching it, the terminal device 10 displays the web page of the link target on the screen. The banner image can also be set to any form such as a button form.

[0027] In this embodiment, the "information related to the target area" can include the URL of the web page of the target area and link information such as deep link to a specific page on the coupon application. Hereinafter, the link information to the specific page on the coupon application is also referred to as "first information". The information related to the target area is pre-stored in the server 20 and can be changed arbitrarily.

[0028] In this embodiment, the "first information" is link information for accessing a specific page on the coupon application that displays coupons available in the target area. Although the first information is stored in advance in the server 20, it may not be stored depending on the target area.

[0029] Here, the outline of this embodiment is described, and the details will be described later. The terminal device 10 determines whether the vehicle V is parked in the target area based on the position information of the user's vehicle V. In addition, when the terminal device 10 determines that the vehicle V is parked in the target area and the target area is within business hours, the image linked to the content related to the target area is displayed on the screen of the user's terminal device 10.

[0030] According to this embodiment, it is possible to easily convey recommended information such as coupons, events, gourmet food, and congestion information of the target area to users who use the target area. In addition, by conveying the information after the user parks in the target area, the recommended information can be conveyed safely. In this way, the technology for providing users with content related to the target area is improved in that the user who uses the target area can easily and safely grasp the recommended information of the target area.

[0031] Next, each component included in the system 1 will be described in detail.

[0032] (Structure of terminal device)

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, the terminal device 10 includes a control unit 11 , a storage unit 12 , a communication unit 13 , an input unit 14 , an output unit 15 , and an acquisition unit 16 .

[0034] The control unit 11 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a dedicated processor dedicated to specific processing, but is not limited to this. The programmable circuit is, for example, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), but is not limited to this. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), but is not limited to this. The control unit 11 controls the overall operation of the terminal device 10.

[0035] The storage unit 12 includes one or more memories. The memory is, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, or an optical memory, but is not limited thereto. Each memory included in the storage unit 12 may also function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a super-high-speed cache memory. The storage unit 12 stores any information used in the operation of the terminal device 10. For example, the storage unit 12 may also store system programs, application programs, and map information. The information stored in the storage unit 12 may also be updated using information obtained from the network 30 via the communication unit 13, for example.

[0036] The communication unit 13 includes one or more communication interfaces for connecting to the network 30. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, mobile communication standards such as 4th Generation (4G) and 5th Generation (5G), wired LAN (Local Area Network) standards, or wireless LAN standards, but is not limited thereto and may correspond to any communication standard. In this embodiment, the terminal device 10 communicates with the server 20 via the communication unit 13 and the network 30.

[0037] The input unit 14 includes one or more input devices for detecting input operations performed by the user. The input device is, for example, a physical key, an electrostatic capacitance key, a mouse, a touch panel, a touch screen integrated with the display of the output unit 15, or a microphone, but is not limited to these structures. Alternatively, the input unit 14 may also include an interface for connecting an external input device.

[0038] The output unit 15 includes one or more output devices for outputting information. The output device is, for example, a display that outputs information in the form of images, or a speaker that outputs information in the form of sounds, but is not limited to these structures. Alternatively, the output unit 15 may also include an interface for connecting to an external output device.

[0039] The acquisition unit 16 includes a GPS receiver that receives GPS signals from GPS satellites. The control unit 11 derives the position (for example, latitude and longitude) of the terminal device 10 based on the GPS signals received by the acquisition unit 16 .

[0040] (Server Structure)

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown, the server 20 includes a control unit 21 , a storage unit 22 , and a communication unit 23 .

[0042] The control unit 21 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof, and controls the overall operation of the server 20 .

[0043] The storage unit 22 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 22 may function as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory, for example. The storage unit 22 stores any information used in the operation of the server 20. For example, the storage unit 22 may also store system programs, application programs, map information, embedded software, and databases.

[0044] The communication unit 23 includes one or more communication interfaces for connecting to the network 30. The communication interface complies with, for example, a mobile communication standard, a wired LAN standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but is not limited thereto and may comply with any communication standard.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the communication unit 23 can acquire the position information of the vehicle V by receiving from the terminal device 10 .

[0046] (Operation of terminal device)

[0047] Reference Figure 4 Next, the operation of the terminal device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. Figure 4 The work is equivalent to the method involved in this embodiment.

[0048] S100: The control unit 11 of the terminal device 10 obtains the position information of the vehicle V.

[0049] Any method may be used to obtain the position information. For example, the control unit 11 obtains the position information of the vehicle V through the acquisition unit 16. The position information of the vehicle V may be specified using longitude and latitude.

[0050] Position information can also be obtained at any time.

[0051] S101: The control unit 11 determines whether the vehicle V is parked in the target area. If it is determined that the vehicle is parked (S101-Yes), the process proceeds to S102. If it is determined that the vehicle is not parked (S101-No), the process ends.

[0052] In determining whether the vehicle V is parked in the target area, any method can be used. For example, it can be set that when the position information of the vehicle V indicates that it is within the land of the target area and the position of the vehicle V does not change within a certain period of time, the control unit 11 determines that the vehicle V is parked in the target area. For example, it can be set that when the position information of the vehicle V indicates that it is within the land of the target area and does not change within 10 seconds, the control unit 11 determines that the vehicle V is parked in the target area. On the other hand, it can be set that when the position information of the vehicle V indicates the position on the driving lane, the control unit 11 determines that the vehicle V is not parked in the target area. In addition, it can be set that although the position information of the vehicle V indicates that it is within the land of the target area, the position of the vehicle V is changing, the control unit 11 determines that the vehicle V is not parked in the target area.

[0053] S102: The control unit 11 determines whether the target area is within business hours. If it is determined to be within business hours (S102-Yes), the process proceeds to S103. If it is determined to be outside business hours (S102-No), the process ends.

[0054] Any method can be used to determine whether it is within the business hours. For example, the control unit 11 obtains information related to the business hours of the target area, and determines whether it is the business hours of the target area at the execution time of S102. The information related to the business hours of the target area can be obtained in advance by the control unit 11, or it can be obtained when S102 is executed. The information related to the business hours of the target area can be obtained from an external server via the Internet, or it can be obtained from the server 20 and input into the server 20 in advance.

[0055] S103: The control unit 11 obtains information related to the target area.

[0056] Any method may be used to obtain the information related to the target area. For example, the control unit 11 may obtain the information related to the target area from an external server via the Internet, or may obtain the information previously input into the server 20 from the server 20. The information related to the target area may be obtained in advance by the control unit 11, or may be obtained when S103 is executed.

[0057] S104: The control unit 11 determines whether the information related to the target area includes the first information. If it is determined that the first information is included (S104-Yes), the process proceeds to S105. If it is determined that the first information is not included (S104-No), the process proceeds to S107.

[0058] For example, the control unit 11 may execute S104 simultaneously with acquiring the information related to the target area in S103 and determine whether the first information is included.

[0059] S105: The control unit 11 outputs the first synthesized speech.

[0060] For example, the control unit 11 outputs a message notifying the coupons available in the target area in a synthesized voice from the output unit 15. In addition, the control unit 11 may output a message notifying the user by selecting an image linked to a specific page on the coupon application described later.

[0061] S106: The control unit 11 displays an image linked to a specific page on the coupon application as the above-mentioned “image linked to the content related to the target area”.

[0062] For example, the control unit 11 displays an image linked to a specific page on the coupon application on the map screen of the terminal device 10 simultaneously with the process of outputting the first synthesized speech in S105. When the user selects the image, the specific page of the coupon application is displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10. Thus, the user can learn discount information of facilities in the target area. In addition, as described above, the user can use the coupon application to receive preferential treatment such as discounts at predetermined facilities in the target area.

[0063] S107: The control unit 11 outputs the second synthesized speech.

[0064] S107 is executed when it is determined that the information related to the target area does not include the first information, that is, does not include information related to the coupon. Therefore, the control unit 11 outputs a second synthesized speech different from the first synthesized speech from the output unit 15. For example, the control unit 11 may also output a message guiding to the web page of the target area.

[0065] S108: The control unit 11 displays the image of the web page linked to the target area as the above-mentioned “image linked to the content related to the target area”.

[0066] For example, the control unit 11 displays an image of a web page linked to the target area on the map screen of the terminal device 10 simultaneously with the process of outputting the second synthesized speech in S107. When the user selects the image, the web page of the target area is displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10. Even if there are no coupons or the like available in the target area, the user can learn information on facilities or the like in the target area by viewing the web page of the target area.

[0067] As described above, the terminal device 10 determines whether the vehicle V is parked in the target area based on the position information of the user's vehicle V. Furthermore, when the terminal device 10 determines that the vehicle V is parked in the target area and the target area is within business hours, an image linked to content related to the target area is displayed on the screen of the user's terminal device 10.

[0068] According to the above structure, it is possible to easily convey recommended information such as coupons, events, gourmet food, and congestion information of the target area to users who use the target area. In addition, by conveying the information after the user parks in the target area, the recommended information can be conveyed safely. In this way, the technology for providing users with content related to the target area is improved in that the user who uses the target area can easily and safely grasp the recommended information of the target area.

[0069] Although the present disclosure is described based on various drawings and embodiments, it is noted that it is easy for a person skilled in the art to implement various modifications and corrections based on the present disclosure. Therefore, please note that these modifications and changes are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each structural part or each step can be reconfigured in a logically non-contradictory manner, and multiple structural parts or steps can be combined into one or divided.

[0070] For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the coupon application is installed in the terminal device 10 as a premise, and when it is determined that the information related to the target area includes the first information (S104-Yes), the image of the specific page linked to the coupon application is displayed (S106). In contrast, in the modified example, the coupon application is not installed in the terminal device 10, so it can also be set that when it is determined that the information related to the target area includes the first information, the image of the download page linked to the coupon application is displayed as the "image linked to the content related to the target area". In this case, the control unit 11 of the terminal device 10 can also display the image of the download page linked to the coupon application on the screen of the terminal device 10. When the user selects the image, the download page of the coupon application can also be displayed on the screen. At this time, the control unit 11 can also display the image of the web page linked to the target area together with the image of the download page linked to the coupon application.

[0071] In addition, for example, in a variation of the above-mentioned embodiment, in S101, the control unit 11 of the terminal device 10 may determine that the vehicle V is parked in the target area at a time point when a predetermined time has passed since the vehicle V traveled on the entry route of the target area. For example, the control unit 11 may determine that the vehicle V is parked in the target area at a time point when 30 seconds have passed since the vehicle V traveled on the entry route of the target area.

[0072] In addition, for example, in a variation of the above-mentioned embodiment, the control unit 11 of the terminal device 10 may output the following information in the form of synthesized speech in S105 and / or S107, namely, information on activities carried out in the object area, information intended to notify the user of the object area, etc.

[0073] Furthermore, for example, an embodiment in which a part of the processing executed by the terminal device 10 in the above-described embodiment is executed by the server 20 may be adopted.

[0074] In addition, for example, an embodiment in which a general-purpose computer functions as the terminal device 10 involved in the above-mentioned embodiment can also be adopted. Specifically, a program describing the processing content of each function of the terminal device 10 involved in the above-mentioned embodiment is stored in the memory of a general-purpose computer, and the program is read and executed by a processor. Therefore, the present disclosure can also be implemented as a program executable by a processor, or a non-temporary computer-readable medium storing the program.

Claims

1. A method executed by a terminal device, which is executed by a terminal device of a user and includes the following processing, namely: determining whether the vehicle is parked in a target area based on the position information of the vehicle of the user; and When it is determined that the vehicle is parked in the target area and the target area is within business hours, an image linked to content related to the target area is displayed on the screen of the terminal device of the user.

2. The method performed by the terminal device according to claim 1, wherein: The method further includes the following steps: obtaining information related to the object area; The terminal device performs the following processing, namely: outputting a first synthesized speech when the information related to the target area includes first information related to a coupon available in the target area, When the information related to the target area does not include the first information, a second synthesized speech having a different content from the first synthesized speech is output.

3. The method performed by the terminal device according to claim 2, wherein: the first information related to the coupon available in the target area is link information for accessing a specific page on a dedicated application that displays the coupon available in the target area, When the information related to the target area includes the first information and the dedicated application is installed in the terminal device, the image is an image linked to the specific page on the dedicated application.

4. The method performed by the terminal device according to claim 2, wherein: When the information related to the target area includes the first information and a dedicated application is not installed in the terminal device, the image is an image linked to a download page of the dedicated application.

5. The method performed by the terminal device according to claim 2, wherein: In a case where the information related to the target area does not include the first information, the image is an image of a web page linked to the target area.

Images