Information processing system, information processing program, and information processing method

Abstract

To provide an information processing system that can make a user aware of spots that are related to a specific theme but have not been noticed before.SOLUTION: An information processing system includes: theme designation means for accepting a designation of a theme; guide search means for searching for guide information related to the theme that can provide online guidance to a user at a specific spot; and display control means for displaying the spot on a map and displaying the guide information in a list.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing program, and an information processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, there are known services that provide online travel, which allows users to experience online travel accompanied by a local guide (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). Online travel has the advantage that users can freely create itineraries without considering travel costs (time and expenses), since they do not go directly to the destination. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Tra to La", [online], Navitime Japan Co., Ltd., [searched May 19, 2022], Internet<URL: https: / / travel.navitime.com / static / onlinetravel / index.html> Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional services have a function that, when a user inputs a keyword, searches for locations that include the keyword in their name and displays them in a list or on a map. However, it is not possible to extract locations that are related to a specific theme but do not include the keyword related to the theme in their name, and this does not provide users with any insight.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system, an information processing program, and an information processing method that can give a user awareness of a point that is related to a specific theme but that has not been noticed until now. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information processing system according to the present invention comprises: a theme designation means for accepting designation of a theme; a guide search means for searching for guide information related to the theme, the guide information being capable of providing online guidance to a user at a specific location; The display control means displays the location on a map and information about the guide in a list. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to make a user aware of points that are related to a particular theme but that he or she has not noticed before. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the information processing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of information stored in the guide information database. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the information processing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the information processing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the information processing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the information processing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed by the information processing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed by the information processing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the information processing system according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, components having equivalent functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description of the components having the same reference numerals will not be repeated.

[0010] (Configuration of Information Processing System) 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment. In the diagram, each functional unit performing each function can be said to be a means for performing each function.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the information processing system 1 includes a terminal device 2 and a server 3. The terminal device 2 and the server 3 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network 4 such as the Internet. The network 4 may be either a wired line or a wireless line, and the type and form of the line are not important. At least a part of the terminal device 2 and the server 3 are realized by a computer.

[0012] First, a description will be given of the terminal device 2. The terminal device 2 is used by a user, and is, for example, an electronic device such as a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, a notebook computer, or a desktop computer.

[0013] 1, the terminal device 2 includes a terminal communication unit 21, a terminal control unit 22, a terminal storage unit 23, a terminal input unit 24, and a terminal display unit 25. The units 21 to 25 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0014] The terminal communication unit 21 is a communication interface between the terminal device 2 and the network 4. The terminal communication unit 21 transmits and receives information between the terminal device 2 and the server 3 via the network 4.

[0015] The terminal control unit 22 is a control means that performs various processes of the terminal device 2. The terminal control unit 22 may be realized by a processor in the terminal device 2 executing a predetermined program, or may be implemented in hardware.

[0016] The terminal storage unit 23 is a data storage such as an internal memory or an external memory (such as an SD memory card). Various data handled by the terminal control unit 22 is stored in the terminal storage unit 23. The terminal storage unit 23 does not necessarily have to be provided in the terminal device 2, and a part or the whole of the terminal storage unit 23 may be provided in another device communicatively connected to the terminal device 2 via the network 4.

[0017] The terminal input unit 24 is an interface for a user to input information to the terminal device 2, and is, for example, a touch panel or microphone in a mobile terminal, or a touch pad, keyboard, or mouse in a notebook computer.

[0018] The terminal display unit 25 is an interface that outputs various information from the terminal device 2 to the user, and is, for example, a video display means such as a liquid crystal display. Specifically, for example, the terminal output unit 25 may display a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for receiving operations from the user.

[0019] Next, a description will be given of the server 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the server 3 has a server communication unit 31, a server control unit 32, and a server storage unit 33. The units 31 to 33 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0020] Of these, the server communication unit 31 is a communication interface between the server 3 and the network 4. The server communication unit 31 transmits and receives information between the server 3 and the terminal device 2 via the network 4.

[0021] The server control unit 32 has a theme designation receiving unit 32a, a guide search unit 32b, a display control unit 32c, a guide selection receiving unit 32d, a plan creation unit 32e, a second theme identification unit 32f, a second guide search unit 32g, a second display control unit 32h, a guide reservation receiving unit 32i, and a request receiving unit 32j. Each of these units 32a to 32j may be realized by a processor in the server 3 executing a predetermined program, or may be implemented in hardware. Each of these units 32a to 32j will be described later.

[0022] The server storage unit 33 is, for example, a fixed data storage such as a hard disk. The server storage unit 33 stores various data handled by the server control unit 32. For example, the server storage unit 33 includes a route network information database 33a including transportation network information, a map information database 33b including map information, a guide information database 33c, and a user information database 33d.

[0023] Transportation network information is information that specifies transportation networks such as railroads and buses, and road networks. Transportation network information includes transportation route information, timetable information, fare information, etc. Road network information is expressed by a combination of data on nodes, which are nodes on the road network representation such as intersections, and data on links, which are road sections between the nodes.

[0024] The map information includes map data such as national and regional road maps, and map object information associated with the map data. The map object information includes shape information about the shapes of facilities displayed on the map, note information about notes displayed on the map, symbol information about symbols displayed on the map, etc. The map information may also include route map information about public transportation route maps.

[0025] The above traffic network information and map information may be updated at a predetermined timing.

[0026] The guide information database 33c stores information on a plurality of guides who can provide guidance at a specific location to the user online. Here, as long as the guidance at a specific location is provided to the user online in real time from the guide, it may be provided by a guide at the location (local site) or it may be provided remotely by a guide at a location different from the location (local site) (for example, a cameraman at the local site takes pictures and the guide provides guidance remotely based on the images displayed (the cameraman takes pictures while moving around the local site following the guide's guidance)).

[0027] 3 is a table showing an example of information stored in the guide information database 33c. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide information may include information for identifying the guide (for example, the guide's name), a title representing the guide service (hereinafter also referred to as content) provided by the guide, an introductory text for the content, a hashtag attached to the content, information for identifying the location where the guide will guide (for example, address and latitude and longitude), the time required and the cost of the content, the guide's gender, and the guide's evaluation (for example, the number of stars). Although not shown in the figure, the guide information may further include one or more pieces of information among the language the guide can speak, the time period the guide can speak, the age of the guide, and the skills the guide has (for example, qualifications, licenses, etc.).

[0028] The user information database 33d stores, for each user, information (e.g., addresses and latitude and longitude) of places that the user has actually visited in the past (e.g., within the past year) or has received online guidance from a guide in association with each other. Information on places that the user has actually visited in the past may be specified based on, for example, reservation information or usage information of tourist facilities or leisure facilities (castles, observation decks, parks, zoos, aquariums, art galleries, museums, amusement parks, theaters, movie theaters, ski resorts, pools, etc.), or based on reservation information or usage information of accommodation facilities (hotels, inns, etc.) or reservation information or usage information of transportation (trains, buses, taxis, airplanes, etc.). Information on places that the user has received online guidance from a guide in the past may be specified based on, for example, reservation information or usage information of a guidance service (contents) provided by a guide.

[0029] In addition, the server memory unit 33 does not necessarily have to be provided within the server 3, and part or all of the server memory unit 33 may be provided within another device that is communicatively connected to the server 3 via the network 4.

[0030] (Example of operation) Next, an example of the operation of the information processing system 1 having such a configuration will be described with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 to Fig. 10. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the information processing system 1. Figs. 4 to 10 are diagrams showing examples of screens displayed by the information processing system 1.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, first, the theme designation receiving unit 32a of the server 3 receives the designation of a theme (step S10). For example, the theme designation receiving unit 32a transmits a control signal for displaying a screen for searching for a guide service (content) provided by a guide to the terminal device 2 with reference to FIG. 4, and causes the terminal display unit 25 to display the screen. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the screen displayed on the terminal display unit 25 includes a theme input unit 51, a guide information display unit 52, a map display unit 53, a plan display unit 54, and a guide information designation unit 58. When the user operates the terminal input unit 24 to input a desired keyword into the theme input unit 51 in the screen displayed on the terminal display unit 25, the input keyword is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the server 3, and the theme designation receiving unit 32a receives the received keyword as a designation of a theme from the user.

[0032] Here, themes specified by the user may be, for example, historical names, events, famous people, entertainers, titles of novels, movies, etc., situations or purposes (such as "dates," "shopping," "for children," "fortune telling," etc.), buildings (such as "castles," "modern architecture," etc.), cultural assets or natural sites (such as "World Heritage Sites," "beautiful scenery," "autumn leaves," etc.), means of transportation (such as "trains," "planes," etc.), education (such as "geology," "culture," "work experience," etc.), events, field surveys (collection of on-site data such as road and traffic conditions, repair status, etc.), etc.

[0033] Next, the guide search unit 32b refers to the guide information database 33c and searches for guide information related to the specified theme (step S11). For example, the guide search unit 32b may search for guide information related to the specified theme (keyword) that includes the keyword in the title of the content, that includes the keyword in the introduction of the content, or that includes the keyword in the hashtag attached to the content. Specifically, for example, referring to FIG. 3, if the specified theme is "Naoe Kanetsugu", the guide search unit 32b may search for information on "Takashi" and "navi2022" whose content title and hashtag include "Naoe Kanetsugu" as guide information related to "Naoe Kanetsugu".

[0034] The guide search unit 32b searches for guide information from a specified theme (rather than searching for locations that include the theme in their names), making it possible to extract locations that are related to the theme but could not be extracted by a method of directly searching from the theme. This makes it possible to make the user aware of previously unnoticed locations that are related to a specific theme.

[0035] As a variation, in step S10, the theme designation receiving unit 32a may receive the designation of a theme and may further receive designation of one or more of the available language, available time period, gender, age, skill, and evaluation as search conditions for the guide. For example, when the user operates the terminal input unit 24 to touch or click the guide information designation unit 58 on the screen displayed on the terminal display unit 25, the available time period of the guide can be designated as a search condition, and information on the available time period designated by the user may be transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the server 3, and the theme designation receiving unit 32a may accept the received information on the available time period as a search condition for the guide.

[0036] When a guide search condition is specified in step S10, in step S11, the guide search unit 32b may search for information on a guide related to the specified theme and that satisfies the specified search condition. For example, when a rating of four stars or more is specified as a guide search condition, the guide search unit 32b may search and extract information on "Takashi" who is rated four stars, with reference to FIG. 3. According to this embodiment, when searching for information on a guide related to the specified theme, the guide condition can be further specified for the search, so that the matching rate between the user and the guide can be improved.

[0037] Next, the display control unit 32c transmits a control signal for displaying the extracted guide information in a list to the terminal device 2, and displays it in the guide information display unit 52 on the screen displayed on the terminal display unit 25 with reference to Fig. 5 (step S12). For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the display control unit 32c may display the extracted guide information in a list as blocks or tiles 55 in the guide information display unit 52, and each block or tile 55 may display the title of the content provided by each guide.

[0038] The display control unit 32c also transmits a control signal to the terminal device 2 to display a location (hereinafter, also referred to as a first location) corresponding to the extracted guide on a map, and displays it on the map display unit 53 within the screen displayed on the terminal display unit 25 with reference to Fig. 5 (step S13). For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the display control unit 32c may display the location corresponding to the extracted guide on the map within the map display unit 53 with a pin 56.

[0039] Next, the second theme identifying unit 32f identifies a second theme related to the theme specified in step S10 (step S20). The second theme is not particularly limited as long as it is related to the first theme, and for example, the second theme identifying unit 32f may identify a keyword that is a superordinate concept or synonym of the first theme as the second theme. Alternatively, themes (keywords) specified by other users in the past may be stored in a database (not shown), and the second theme identifying unit 32f may refer to the database to estimate another keyword that is likely to be specified by the user who specified the first theme, and identify it as the second theme.

[0040] Next, the second guide search unit 32g refers to the guide information database 33c and searches for information on the second guide related to the specified second theme (step S21). For example, the second guide search unit 32g may search for information on the second guide related to the specified second theme (keyword) by searching for information on the content whose title contains the keyword, searching for information on the content whose introduction text contains the keyword, or searching for information on the content whose hashtag is attached to the content whose keyword is included. Specifically, for example, referring to FIG. 3, if the specified second theme is "history", the second guide search unit 32g may search for information on "Hana" whose content title contains "history" as information on the guide related to "history". In addition to searching for information on the guide from the theme specified by the user, automatically identifying a second theme related to the theme and searching for information on the second guide from the second theme makes it possible to give the user further awareness of points that are related to a specific theme but that have not been noticed before.

[0041] Next, the second display control unit 32h transmits a control signal for displaying the extracted information of the second guide in a list to the terminal device 2, and displays it in the guide information display unit 52 in the screen displayed on the terminal display unit 25 with reference to FIG. 6 (step S22). For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the second display control unit 32h may display the extracted information of the second guide in a list of blocks or tiles 65 in the guide information display unit 52, and the title of the content provided by the second guide may be displayed in each block or tile 65. The second display control unit 32h may display the block or tile 65 displaying the information of the second guide in the guide information display unit 52 in a different color, shape, or size from the block or tile 55 displaying the information of the first guide. This allows the user to easily distinguish the information of the first guide from the information of the second guide in the list display.

[0042] The second display control unit 32h also transmits a control signal to the terminal device 2 for displaying the second location corresponding to the extracted second guide on the map, and displays the second location on the map display unit 53 in the screen displayed on the terminal display unit 25 with reference to FIG. 6 (step S23). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the second display control unit 32h may display the second location corresponding to the extracted second guide on the map in the map display unit 53 with a pin 66. The second display control unit 32h may display the pin 66 displaying the second location on the map with a different color, shape, or size from the pin 56 displaying the first location. This allows the user to easily distinguish the first location from the second location on the map.

[0043] Next, the display control unit 32c refers to the user information database 33d for the location (first location) corresponding to the extracted guide, and judges whether or not the location is a location that the user has actually visited in the past or has received online guidance from the guide. If it is judged that the location is a location that the user has actually visited in the past or has received online guidance from the guide, the display control unit 32c excludes the first location from display on the map (step S14). As a modified example, if it is judged that the location is a location that the user has actually visited in the past or has received online guidance from the guide, the display control unit 32c may transmit a control signal to the terminal device 2 to notify the user that the first location is a location that the user has actually visited in the past or has received online guidance from the guide, and notify the user via the terminal display unit 25. According to this embodiment, the location that the user has actually visited in the past or has received online guidance from the guide is excluded from display on the map (or an alert is notified), so that the user can be efficiently made aware of a location that is related to a specific theme but has not been noticed before.

[0044] Similarly, the second display control unit 32h refers to the user information database 33d for the second location corresponding to the extracted second guide, and determines whether the location is a location that the user has actually visited in the past or has received online guidance from a guide.If it is determined that the location is a location that the user has actually visited in the past or has received online guidance from a guide, the second display control unit 32h may exclude the second location from being displayed on the map, or may send a control signal to the terminal device 2 to notify the user that the second location is a location that the user has actually visited in the past or has received online guidance from a guide, and notify the user via the terminal display unit 25.

[0045] Next, referring to Fig. 7, when the display control unit 32c receives an operation from the user on the pin 56 displayed on the map, it displays detailed information about the guide that guides the location indicated by the pin 56 (step S15). For example, when the user operates the terminal input unit 24 to touch or click the pin 56 on the map displayed on the terminal display unit 25, the display control unit 32c refers to the guide information database 33c, identifies detailed information about the guide that guides the location indicated by the pin 56 (for example, the title of the content, an introduction to the content, the guide's name, the guide's gender, the guide's evaluation, the time required for the content, and the fee, etc.), and may display the detailed information about the guide in a balloon 57 on the map as shown in Fig. 7. This allows the detailed information about the guide to be checked by an intuitive operation.

[0046] As a modified example, when the display control unit 32c receives a selection from the user for the guide information displayed in the list, the display control unit 32c may highlight the pin 56 of the location to which the guide will lead and display detailed information of the guide on the map. For example, when the user operates the terminal input unit 24 to touch or click on the information (block 55) of a desired guide among the information (blocks 55) of the guide displayed in the guide information display unit 52, the display control unit 32c may specify the information of the location to which the selected guide will lead and detailed information of the guide by referring to the guide information database 33c, and may highlight the pin 56 indicating the specified location in the map display unit 53 and display the detailed information of the specified guide in a speech bubble 57 on the map. This embodiment also makes it possible to check the detailed information of the guide by intuitive operations.

[0047] Similarly, when the second display control unit 32h receives an operation from the user on the pin 66 that displays the second location, the second display control unit 32h may display detailed information of the second guide that guides the user to the second location indicated by the pin 66. For example, when the user operates the terminal input unit 24 to touch or click the pin 66 on the map displayed on the terminal display unit 25, the display control unit 32c may refer to the guide information database 33c, identify detailed information of the second guide that guides the user to the location indicated by the pin 66 (for example, the title of the content, an introduction to the content, the guide's name, the guide's gender, the guide's evaluation, the time required for the content, and the cost, etc.), and display the detailed information of the second guide in a balloon on the map as shown in FIG.

[0048] As a modified example, when the display control unit 32c receives a selection from the user for the information of the second guide displayed in the list, the display control unit 32c may highlight the pin 66 of the location to which the second guide leads and display detailed information of the second guide on the map. For example, when the user operates the terminal input unit 24 to touch or click on the information (block 65) of the desired guide among the information (block 65) of the second guide displayed in the guide information display unit 52, the display control unit 32c may specify the information of the location to which the selected second guide leads and detailed information of the second guide by referring to the guide information database 33c, and may highlight the pin 66 indicating the specified location in the map display unit 53 and display the detailed information of the specified second guide in a speech bubble 57 on the map.

[0049] Next, the guide selection receiving unit 32d receives a selection from the user for the extracted guide information (step S16). For example, referring to Fig. 9, when the user operates the terminal input unit 24 to drag a block or tile 55, 65 indicating the guide information displayed in a list in the guide information display unit 52 into the plan display unit 54, the guide information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the server 3, and the guide selection receiving unit 32d receives the guide information as the information selected by the user.

[0050] Next, the plan creation unit 32e creates one plan (for example, a travel plan) from the information of the selected guide (step S17). This allows the user to manage multiple selected guides as one plan.

[0051] When the information of multiple guides is selected in step S16, the plan creation unit 32e determines the order of the guides included in the created plan based on the specified theme (step S18). For example, when the specified theme is a historical person's name or event, the plan creation unit 32e may arrange the information of multiple guides included in the created plan in historical chronological order. Also, for example, when the specified theme is a work title such as a novel or movie, the plan creation unit 32e may arrange the information of multiple guides included in the created plan in the order of the story of the work. Also, for example, when the specified theme is shopping (shopping tour), the plan creation unit 32e may arrange the information of multiple guides included in the created plan in ascending order of average shopping price.

[0052] 9, when the user operates the terminal input unit 24 to touch or click a link for "rearrange in order of recommendation" displayed in the plan display unit 54, a rearrangement instruction is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the server 3, and the plan creation unit 32e may rearrange the order of the guides included in the created plan by receiving the rearrangement instruction. As another example, the plan creation unit 32e may automatically rearrange the order of the guides included in the created plan without receiving an instruction for rearrangement from the user.

[0053] However, in real-world travel plans, because it takes time and money to move from one point to the next, the order is determined by the proximity of the locations on the map, which may not necessarily be an appropriate order in relation to the theme. In contrast, according to this embodiment, when combining information on multiple guides to create a plan (for example, an online travel plan), the order of the guides is determined based on the theme, making it possible to create an appropriate plan that is not dependent on the locations on the map.

[0054] Next, the plan creation unit 32e calculates and displays the total fee and / or total required time (scheduled time) of the created plan (step S19). Specifically, for example, the plan creation unit 32e refers to the guide information database 33c, identifies the fee and / or required time for each guide information included in the created plan, and calculates the total fee and / or total required time (scheduled time) of the created plan by adding them up. Then, the plan creation unit 32e transmits a control signal for displaying the calculated total fee and / or total required time to the terminal device 2, and displays it in the plan display section 54 displayed on the terminal display unit 25 with reference to FIG. 9.

[0055] As a modified example, the plan creation unit 32e may display the total cost and / or total required time for the created plan when actually moving around the site, in addition to the total cost and / or total required time for the online trip. For example, the plan creation unit 32e may refer to a database (not shown) that stores the correspondence between online guidance (online content) and local guidance (real content) for each content included in the created plan, specify the cost and / or required time for each content, and refer to the route network information database 33a and the map information database 33b to perform route search between points corresponding to each content to specify the cost and / or required time for movement, and add them up to calculate the total cost and / or total required time for the created plan when actually moving around the site, and display it in the plan display unit 54 displayed on the terminal display unit 25.

[0056] Next, the guide reservation acceptance unit 32i accepts a reservation from the user for the selected guide (step S30). For example, when the user operates the terminal input unit 24 to touch or click the "Book a guide" button 57 displayed in the plan display unit 54, a signal indicating that the button 57 has been operated is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the server 3, and the guide reservation acceptance unit 32i accepts a reservation from the user for each guide included in the created plan based on the received signal.

[0057] Then, when the reservation for each guide included in the created plan is completed, the guide reservation acceptance unit 32i refers to FIG. 10 and displays a “Send request to guide” button 60 in the block or tile that displays information about the booked guide.

[0058] When the user operates the terminal input unit 24 and touches or clicks the button 60 of "Send request to guide", the user can input a request regarding sightseeing content, and the information input by the user is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the server 3, and the request receiving unit 32j receives the received information as a request regarding sightseeing content from the user. Then, the request receiving unit 32j transmits the request regarding sightseeing content received from the user, for example, by email, to the booked guide (step S31). As a modified example, while the guide is providing the guidance service, the user can input a request regarding sightseeing content through chat, and the information input by the user is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the server 3, and the request receiving unit 32j receives the received information as a request regarding sightseeing content from the user. Then, the request receiving unit 32j may transmit the request regarding sightseeing content received from the user to the booked guide through chat. This makes it possible for the user to easily convey the request regarding sightseeing content to the booked guide.

[0059] According to the embodiment described above, the guide search unit 32b searches for guide information from a specified theme (rather than searching for locations that include the theme in their names), making it possible to extract locations that are related to the theme but could not be extracted by a method of directly searching from the theme. This makes it possible to make the user aware of previously unnoticed locations that are related to a specific theme.

[0060] Furthermore, in real-world travel plans, because it takes time and money to move from one location to the next, the order is determined based on the proximity of locations on the map, which may not necessarily be an appropriate order in relation to the theme. In contrast, according to this embodiment, when the plan creation unit 32e combines information from multiple guides to create a plan (e.g., an online travel plan), it is possible to create an appropriate plan that is not dependent on locations on the map by determining the order of the guides based on a specified theme.

[0061] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the second theme identification unit 32f automatically identifies a second theme related to the specified theme, and the second guide search unit 32g searches for second guide information based on the second theme, thereby making it possible to give the user further awareness of points that are related to a specific theme but that he or she has not noticed before.

[0062] At least a part of the information processing system 1 described in the above embodiment may be configured with hardware or software. When configured with hardware, a program that realizes at least a part of the functions of the information processing system 1 may be stored in a recording medium such as a flexible disk or a CD-ROM, and may be read and executed by a computer. The recording medium is not limited to a removable one such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk, but may be a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk device or a memory.

[0063] Also, a program that realizes at least a part of the functions of the information processing system 1 may be distributed via a communication line (including wireless communication) such as the Internet. Furthermore, the program may be encrypted, modulated, or compressed and distributed via a wired line or wireless line such as the Internet, or stored in a recording medium.

[0064] Furthermore, the information processing system 1 may be operated by one or more information processing devices. When multiple information processing devices are used, one of the information processing devices may be a computer, and the computer may execute a predetermined program to realize the function as at least one of the means of the information processing system 1.

[0065] In the method invention, all the steps may be realized by automatic control using a computer. Alternatively, each step may be performed by a computer while the progress between steps is controlled manually. Furthermore, at least some of the steps may be performed manually.

[0066] Based on the above description, a person skilled in the art may be able to conceive additional effects and various modifications of the present invention, but the aspects of the present invention are not limited to the individual embodiments described above. Various additions, modifications, and partial deletions are possible within the scope of the conceptual idea and intent of the present invention derived from the contents defined in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1. Information Processing Systems 2 Terminal Equipment 21 Terminal communication unit 22 Terminal control unit 23 Terminal memory section 24 Terminal input section 25 Terminal display unit 3 Server 31 Server Communication Department 32 Server control unit 32a Theme Selection Reception 32b Guide Search Section 32c Display control unit 32d Guide Selection Reception 32e Planning Department 32f Second Theme Specific Section 32g 2nd Guide Search Section 32h Second display control section 32i Guide Reservations 32j Request Reception Department 33 Server memory section 33a Route network information database 33b Map information database 33c Guide Information Database 33d User Information Database 4. Network

Claims

1. a theme specification receiving means for receiving a theme specification; a guide search means for searching for guide information related to the theme, which is capable of providing online guidance to a user at a specific location; a display control means for displaying the location on a map and displaying information about the guide in a list; An information processing system comprising:

2. a guide selection receiving means for receiving a guide selection; a plan creation means for creating a plan from information on the selected guide; The information processing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

3. 3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein said plan creating means, when a plurality of guides are selected, determines the order of the guides based on said theme.

4. 3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein said plan creation means calculates and displays a total fee and / or a total required time for the created plan.

5. The information processing system of claim 1, wherein the display control means displays the location on a map with a pin, and when a user operates the pin, displays detailed information about a guide who will take the user to the location, or when a user selects information about a guide displayed in a list, highlights the pin of the location to which the guide will take the user and displays detailed information about the guide on the map.

6. a second theme specifying means for specifying a second theme related to the theme; a second guide search means for searching for second guide information related to the second theme, the second guide information being capable of providing online guidance to a user at a specific second location; a second display control means for displaying the second location on a map and displaying information about the second guide in a list; The information processing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

7. 7. The information processing system according to claim 6, wherein the second display control means displays the second location on the map as a pin that is different in color, shape, or size from the location of the first location.

8. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the display control means determines whether the location is a location that the user has actually visited in the past or has received online guidance from a guide, and if it is determined that the location is a location that the user has actually visited in the past or has received online guidance from a guide, removes the location from display on the map or notifies the user that the location is a location that the user has actually visited in the past or has received online guidance from a guide.

9. The theme specification receiving means receives the specification of the theme, and also receives specification of one or more of the following as search conditions for the guide: available language, available time period, gender, age, skill, and evaluation; 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the guide search means searches for guide information related to the theme and that satisfies designated search conditions.

10. guide reservation acceptance means for accepting reservations for the guide; A request receiving means for receiving requests regarding sightseeing content and sending them to the booked guide; The information processing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

11. Computer, a theme specification receiving means for receiving a theme specification; a guide search means for searching for guide information related to the theme, which is capable of providing online guidance to a user at a specific location; a display control means for displaying the location on a map and displaying information about the guide in a list; An information processing program that functions as a

12. An information processing system configured by a plurality of computers connected to each other in a communicable manner, a theme specification receiving means for receiving a theme specification; a guide search means for searching for guide information related to the theme, which is capable of providing online guidance to a user at a specific location; a display control means for displaying the location on a map and displaying information about the guide in a list; In order to make the information processing system with An information processing program for causing at least one of the computers to function as at least one of the means.

13. In order to make the information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 function using a plurality of computers connected in a communicable manner, An information processing program for causing at least one of the computers to function as at least one of the means in the information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

14. An information processing program for causing a computer to function as at least one of the means in the information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

15. 1. A computer-implemented information processing method, comprising: accepting a theme designation; searching for guide information related to the theme, which is capable of providing online guidance to a user at a specific location; displaying the location on a map and displaying information about the guide in a list; An information processing method including:

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