Information terminal, control method, control program, information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program

Abstract

To provide an information terminal, a control method, a control program, an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program capable of switching functions.SOLUTION: In an information processing system 1 including one or more first user terminals 3 and second user terminals 4 which are connected to a server 2 via a network 5, each second user terminal includes: two or more pieces of hardware; a reception unit that receives software or a setting parameter; a storage unit that stores software or a setting parameter; a control unit that controls at least one or more of the two or more pieces of hardware on the basis of the software or setting parameter stored in the storage unit; and a changing unit that changes the software or setting parameter stored in the storage unit to the software or setting parameter received by the reception unit and makes the changed software or setting parameter available for use, wherein the control unit makes at least one or more functions of the two or more pieces of hardware available or unavailable for use according to the software or setting parameter made available for use by the changing unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information terminal, a control method, a control program, an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program that are capable of switching a function to be used. [Background technology]

[0002] When children reach a certain age, for example, when they enter elementary school and start acting alone more, parents start to worry about their children's behavior, such as whether they will arrive at school or cram school safely and whether they will return home without getting into any accidents. In order to address the above-mentioned issues, services have been provided that allow users to check their children's location information by utilizing the GPS function installed in portable information terminals such as smartphones (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Re-tabled issue 2020 / 202449 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Currently, there are systems that can exchange voice data as well as location information. However, conventional information processing systems still have room for improvement in terms of convenience in terms of switching between using only location information, using only voice data, or using both.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide an information terminal, a control method, a control program, an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program that are capable of switching functions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the information terminal of the present invention comprises two or more pieces of hardware, a receiving unit that receives software or setting parameters, a memory unit that stores the software or setting parameters, a control unit that controls at least one of the two or more pieces of hardware based on the software or setting parameters stored in the memory unit, and a modification unit that changes the software or setting parameters stored in the memory unit to the software or setting parameters received by the receiving unit and makes them usable, and the control unit makes at least one function of the two or more pieces of hardware usable or unusable depending on the software or setting parameters that the modification unit has made usable. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information terminal, a control method, a control program, an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program capable of switching functions. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a layout of an information processing system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a server (information processing device) according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of timing of changing a billing amount in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a first user terminal (first terminal) according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a first user terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a second user terminal (second terminal) according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a second user terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9]4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the information processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the information processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the information processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of timing of changing a billing amount in the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an information processing system according to each embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The information processing system 1 according to each embodiment is a so-called monitoring system, in which the position of the second user terminal 4 is determined from information uploaded to the server 2 at a predetermined interval, such as every 1.5 minutes, from the second user terminal 4 carried by the person being watched over (for example, a child), and the determined position is notified from the server 2 to the first user terminal 3 carried or used by the person watching over (for example, a family member such as a parent or grandparent). In addition, in the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment, the first user terminal 3 and the second user terminal 4 are provided with a microphone and a speaker, and are configured to be able to send and receive voice messages (hereinafter also referred to as voice messages) to each other. In the following description, the person watching over is also referred to as the first user. In addition, the person being watched over is also referred to as the second user. In the following description, the software includes various software such as firmware, application software, and operation software.

[0010] [First embodiment] As shown in Fig. 1, the information processing system 1 includes a server 2 and one or more first user terminals 3 and second user terminals 4 connected to the server 2 via a network 5. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the information processing system 1 includes one each of the server 2, the first user terminal 3, and the second user terminal 4, but the number of servers 2, the first user terminals 3, and the second user terminals 4 included in the information processing system 1 is arbitrary. The network 5 is also connected to servers (not shown) of the Japan Meteorological Agency and local governments, and is configured so that the server 2 can receive emergency alerts and the like from the Japan Meteorological Agency and local governments.

[0011] (Server 2) 2 and 3 are configuration diagrams of the server 2. Fig. 2 shows the main hardware configuration of the server 2, and the server 2 includes a communication IF 200A, a storage device 200B, a CPU 200C, etc. Although not shown in Fig. 2, the server 2 may also include an input device (e.g., a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, etc.) and a display device (CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, etc.).

[0012] The communication IF 200A is an interface for communicating with other devices (for example, the first user terminal 3, the second user terminal 4, and a server (not shown) of the Meteorological Agency or a local government).

[0013] The storage device 200B is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a semiconductor storage device (solid state drive (SSD)). Various data and information processing programs are stored in the storage device 200B. Some or all of the various data stored in the storage device 200B may be stored in an external storage device such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory or an external HDD, or in a storage device of another information processing device connected via the network 5. In this case, the server 2 refers to or acquires data stored in the external storage device or the storage device of the other information processing device, and stores the data in the external storage device or the storage device of the other information processing device.

[0014] The storage device 200B stores account information of the first user terminal 3, such as the identification number, name, contact information (email address, phone number) of the first user terminal 3, the identification number of the second user terminal 4 owned by the second user (e.g., one's child), the current contract plan (e.g., a GPS plan, a GPS & talk plan (a plan in which a talk function is added to the GPS plan), etc.) related to the use of the services of the information processing system 1, and a change history of the contract plan. The storage device 200B also stores account information of the second user terminal 4, such as the identification number, name, and identification number of the first user terminal 3 owned by the first user (e.g., a family member such as the parent or grandparent of the second user). The storage device 200B also stores logs including data transmitted and received by the first user terminal 3 and the second user terminal 4 in association with the accounts. Furthermore, the storage device 200B stores two or more pieces of software or setting parameters for switching the functions of the second user terminal 4. In the first embodiment, software or setting parameters corresponding to two or more contract plans (for example, a GPS plan, a GPS & talk plan, etc., described later) that exist for the use of services of the information processing system 1 are stored in the storage device 200B, and the software or setting parameters are downloaded to the second user terminal 4 according to the contract plan and made available, so that the functions available on the second user terminal 4 are switched according to the plan. For example, in the case of the GPS plan, software or setting parameters that enable the use of the GPS sensor of the second user terminal 4 are downloaded to the second user terminal 4 and made available, and in the case of the GPS & talk plan, software or setting parameters that enable the use of the microphone and speaker in addition to the GPS sensor of the second user terminal 4 are downloaded to the second user terminal 4 and made available. The GPS plan is a contract plan that uses the GPS sensor 400H included in the second user terminal 4, and allows the location of the second user terminal 4 to be known. The GPS & Talk plan is a contract plan that allows the second user terminal 4 to exchange voice data with the first user terminal 3 using the microphone 400F and the speaker 400G in addition to using the GPS sensor 400H that the second user terminal 4 has. The contract plan change history may be stored in the storage device 300B of the first user terminal 3 or the storage device 400B of the second user terminal 4.

[0015] The CPU 200C controls the server 2 according to the first embodiment, and includes a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown).

[0016] Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram of server 2. As shown in Fig. 3, server 2 includes functions such as a receiving unit 201, a transmitting unit 202, a storage device control unit 203, a determining unit 204, a recommending unit 205, a plan changing unit 206 (a contract plan information changing unit), and a billing amount changing unit 207. The functions shown in Fig. 3 are realized by CPU 200C executing an information processing program stored in storage device 200B.

[0017] The receiving unit 201 receives data transmitted from the first user terminal 3, the second user terminal 4, etc., such as voice data, location information, software or setting parameter change instructions, etc. The receiving unit 201 also receives emergency alerts from the Japan Meteorological Agency or local governments, for example.

[0018] The transmitting unit 202 transmits data received from the first user terminal 3, such as voice data and change instructions, to the second user terminal 4. The transmitting unit 202 also transmits data received from the second user terminal 4, such as location information and voice data, to the first user terminal 3. The transmitting unit 202 also transmits software or setting parameters that enable the use of two or more pieces of hardware provided in the second user terminal 4 to the second user terminal 4, based on the instruction received from the first user terminal 3. The transmitting unit 202 also transmits software or setting parameters that enable the use of two or more pieces of hardware provided in the second user terminal 4 (software or setting parameters that enable the use of a GPS sensor, a microphone, and a speaker of the second user terminal 4) to the second user terminal 4, based on the determination result of the determining unit 204.

[0019] The storage device control unit 203 stores data (e.g., location information and voice data) transmitted and received by the first user terminal 3 and the second user terminal 4 in the storage device 200B in association with the identification number of the account or user terminal that transmitted and received the data. In addition, the storage device control unit 203 stores the download history (change history) of the software or setting parameters of the second user terminal 4 in association with the user terminal identification number of the second user terminal 4 in the storage device 200B.

[0020] The determination unit 204 determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied. Here, the predetermined condition is, for example, when an emergency alert from the Meteorological Agency or a local government is received, and when an emergency alert from the Meteorological Agency or a local government is received, the determination unit 204 determines whether the current location of the second user terminal 4 is within the range of the emergency alert. If it is within the range of the emergency alert, the transmission unit 202 transmits software or setting parameters corresponding to the GPS & Talk Plan (software or setting parameters that enable the GPS sensor, microphone, and speaker of the second user terminal 4 to be used) to the second user terminal 4. In addition to the emergency alert from the Meteorological Agency or a local government, other predetermined conditions may include, for example, when a specific condition related to time is satisfied, when a specific condition related to location is satisfied, and when a specific condition is satisfied from both of these perspectives.

[0021] The recommendation unit 205 recommends changes to the software or setting parameters for each second user terminal 4, in accordance with the usage history of two or more pieces of hardware stored in the storage device 200B.

[0022] The plan change unit 206 (contract plan information change unit) changes the contract plan of the contractor of the second user terminal 4 (the first user of the first user terminal 3 corresponding to the second user terminal 4) in response to changes in the software or setting parameters of the second user terminal 4.

[0023] The billing amount changing unit 207 changes the billing amount to be charged to the first user in response to the change in the contract plan made by the plan changing unit 206 . Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the timing of billing amount change by the billing amount change unit 207 in the first embodiment. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the billing amount for the GPS plan (black band in Fig. 4) for a predetermined period (for example, the period that is the smallest unit of billing (such as one week or one month)) is 400 yen, and the billing amount for the GPS & Talk plan (white band in Fig. 4) is 500 yen. As shown in Fig. 4, when a contract plan change is made during a predetermined period, the charge amount change unit 207 compares the charge amount (e.g., monthly charge amount) of the contract plan before the change with that of the contract plan after the change, and if the charge amount of the contract plan after the change is higher than that of the contract plan before the change (e.g., when the contract plan before the change is a GPS plan and the contract plan after the change is a GPS & Talk plan), the charge amount change unit 207 sets the charge amount for the predetermined period including the time of the change (e.g., one month) to the charge amount of the contract plan after the change. On the other hand, when the charge amount of the contract plan before the change is higher than that of the contract plan after the change (e.g., when the contract plan before the change is a GPS & Talk plan and the contract plan after the change is a GPS plan), the charge amount change unit 207 sets the charge amount for the predetermined period including the time of the change to the charge amount of the contract plan before the change, and sets the charge amount of the contract plan before the change at the arrival or after the arrival of the next predetermined period. The timing of changing the billing amount shown in FIG. 4 is an example, and is not necessarily limited to the example shown in FIG.

[0024] (First user terminal 3) The first user terminal 3 is a terminal owned by the first user, such as a smartphone on which application software is installed. The first user can send and receive voice messages to and from a second user (e.g., his / her child) by sending and receiving voice data to and from a registered second user terminal 4 using the first user terminal 3. FIG. 5 shows the main hardware configuration of the first user terminal 3, and includes a communication IF 300A, a storage device 300B, an input device 300C, a display device 300D, a CPU 300E, a microphone 300F, and a speaker 300G.

[0025] The communication IF 300A is an interface for communicating with another device (the server 2 in the first embodiment).

[0026] The storage device 300B is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a semiconductor storage device (solid state drive (SSD)). The storage device 300B stores a terminal identification number, an information processing program (application software), a message to be transmitted to the second user terminal 4 (for example, a preset message, a message input by the first user (the message input by the first user includes a voice message recorded by the first user and a character message input by text), a message downloaded from the server 2), and the like. Note that the storage device 300B may store, for example, data transmitted and received between the first user terminal 3 and the second user terminal 4 (for example, location information and voice data). The terminal identification number is a number for identifying the first user terminal 3. By adding the terminal identification number to the data transmitted from the first user terminal 3, the server 2 can determine which first user terminal 3 transmitted the received data. The terminal identification number may be an IP (Internet Protocol) address, a MAC (Media Access Control) address, or the like, and may be assigned to the first user terminal 3 by the server 2.

[0027] The input device 300C is, for example, an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel, but may be any other device or equipment that allows input. Also, it may be a voice input device.

[0028] The display device 300D is, for example, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic EL display, or the like, but may be any other device or equipment (for example, a CRT: Cathode Ray Tube) as long as it is capable of displaying.

[0029] The CPU 300E controls the first user terminal 3 according to the first embodiment, and includes a ROM and a RAM (not shown).

[0030] The microphone 300F is an acoustic device that converts sound into an electrical signal. The user of the first user terminal 3 can input voice (for example, a message to be transmitted to the second user terminal 4) using the microphone 300F. The input voice is transmitted to the server 2 by the transmitting unit 302.

[0031] The speaker 300G is an audio device that converts an electric signal into sound. The speaker 300G reproduces, for example, audio data transmitted from the second user terminal 4 via the server 2 and stored in the storage device 300B.

[0032] 6 shows a functional block diagram of the first user terminal 3, and the first user terminal 3 has functions such as a receiving unit 301, a transmitting unit 302, a storage device control unit 303, an input receiving unit 304 (receiving unit), and a display device control unit 305. The functions shown in FIG. 6 are realized by CPU 300E executing an information processing program stored in storage device 300B.

[0033] The receiving unit 301 receives data transmitted from the server 2, for example.

[0034] The transmitting unit 302 transmits data to the server 2 in response to an input operation accepted by the input accepting unit 304, for example.

[0035] The storage device control unit 303 controls the storage device 300B. The storage device control unit 303 may store, for example, data (e.g., location information or voice data) transmitted and received by the first user terminal 3 and the second user terminal 4 in the storage device 300B in association with the identification number of the account or user terminal that transmitted and received the data.

[0036] The input receiving unit 304 receives an input operation from the input device 300C.

[0037] Display device control unit 305 controls display device 300D and displays a screen or the like on display device 300D.

[0038] (Second user terminal 4) The second user terminal 4 is a terminal used by a second user of the first information processing system 1. The second user can use the second user terminal 4 to send and receive GPS-based location information and voice data to and from the registered first user terminal 3, thereby informing the first user (e.g., a family member of the second user) of the second user's location and communicating with the first user by voice. Fig. 7 shows the main hardware configuration of the second user terminal 4, and the second user terminal 4 includes a communication IF 400A, a storage device 400B, an input device 400C, a display device 400D (LED), a CPU 400E, a microphone 400F, a speaker 400G, a GPS sensor 400H, and the like.

[0039] The communication IF 400A is an interface for communicating with another device (the server 2 in the first embodiment).

[0040] The storage device 400B is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a semiconductor storage device (solid state drive (SSD)). The storage device 400B stores a terminal identification number, an information processing program, voice data transmitted from the first user terminal 3, and the like. The storage device 400B also stores software or setting parameters downloaded from the server 2. The terminal identification number is a number for identifying the second user terminal 4. By assigning the terminal identification number to data transmitted from the second user terminal 4, the server 2 can determine from which second user terminal 4 the received data was transmitted. The terminal identification number may be an IP (Internet Protocol) address, a MAC (Media Access Control) address, or the like, or may be assigned to the second user terminal 4 by the server 2.

[0041] The input device 400C is, for example, an input device such as a button, a keyboard, or a touch panel, but may be another device or equipment as long as it is capable of inputting. It may also be a voice input device. The second user can operate the input device 400C to input voice and transmit it to the first user terminal 3, or to play back voice data transmitted from the first user terminal 3.

[0042] The display device 400D is, for example, an LED. The display device 400D is controlled by the control unit 406, and notifies the user that audio data has been received by lighting up or blinking in a set pattern or a predetermined pattern.

[0043] The CPU 400E controls the second user terminal 4 according to the first embodiment, and includes a ROM and a RAM (not shown).

[0044] The microphone 400F is an acoustic device that converts sound into an electrical signal. The user of the second user terminal 4 can input voice using the microphone 400F. The input voice is transmitted to the server 2 by the transmission unit 402.

[0045] The speaker 400G is an audio device that converts an electrical signal into sound. The speaker 400G reproduces, for example, audio data transmitted from the first user terminal 3 via the server 2 and stored in the storage device 400B.

[0046] The GPS sensor 400H receives signals from GPS satellites that include data such as the time data of the atomic clocks installed on the satellites and the satellite's astronomical ephemeris (orbit), and calculates the distance from the satellite based on the difference between the transmission time and reception time of the received signal to determine the current position. The GPS sensor 400H also outputs the determined current position.

[0047] Fig. 8 shows a functional block diagram of the second user terminal 4, and the second user terminal 4 has functions such as a receiving unit 401, a transmitting unit 402, a storage device control unit 403, an input accepting unit 404, a changing unit 405, and a control unit 406. The functions shown in Fig. 8 are realized by the CPU 400E executing an information processing program stored in the storage device 400B.

[0048] The receiving unit 401 receives, for example, data transmitted from the server 2 (for example, software or setting parameters, audio data, etc.).

[0049] The transmitting unit 402 transmits data, such as voice data, to the server 2 in response to an input operation received by the input receiving unit 304, for example.

[0050] The storage device control unit 403 controls the storage device 400B. For example, the storage device control unit 403 controls the storage device 400B to write and read data. For example, the storage device control unit 403 stores data received by the receiving unit 401 in the storage device 400B.

[0051] The input receiving unit 404 receives an input operation from the input device 400C. The input receiving unit 404 receives, for example, an operation to play back audio data stored in the storage device 400B.

[0052] The change unit 405 changes the software or setting parameters stored in the storage device 200B to the software or setting parameters received by the receiving unit 401, and makes them usable. Here, the change unit 405 makes the software or setting parameters received by the receiving unit 401 usable by rebooting the second user terminal 4 (information terminal).

[0053] The control unit 406 controls at least one of two or more pieces of hardware (eg, a GPS sensor, a microphone, a speaker, etc.) included in the second user terminal 4 based on the software or setting parameters stored in the storage device 400B. The control unit 406 enables or disables at least one or more functions of two or more hardware devices provided in the second user terminal 4 according to the software or setting parameters enabled by the change unit 405. For example, when the contract plan is a GPS plan, the GPS sensor of the second user terminal 4 is enabled, while the microphone and speaker are disabled. When the contract plan is a GPS & Talk plan, the GPS sensor, microphone, and speaker of the second user terminal 4 are all enabled. In this way, in the first embodiment, software or setting parameters according to the contract plan are downloaded, and at least one or more functions of two or more hardware devices provided in the second user terminal 4 are enabled or disabled, thereby providing a function corresponding to the contract plan. Furthermore, the control unit 406 notifies the reception unit 401 that the data has been received. For example, the control unit 406 notifies the reception unit 401 that the data has been received by turning on or blinking the display device 400D (LED) or generating a sound from a speaker.

[0054] (Information Processing) Figures 9 and 10 are flowcharts showing an example of information processing of the information processing system 1. Hereinafter, the information processing of the information processing system 1 will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Note that the same components as those described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0055] (Contract plan change processing) 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a contract plan change process related to service usage of the information processing system 1. Hereinafter, an example of a contract plan change process related to service usage of the information processing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0056] (Step S101) The first user operates the first user terminal 3 to input a change to the contract plan. The input operation from the input device 300C is accepted by the input acceptance unit 304. The transmission unit 302 of the first user terminal 3 transmits the input operation (change instruction) accepted by the input acceptance unit 304 to the server 2.

[0057] (Step S102) The receiving unit 201 of the server 2 receives the change instruction transmitted from the first user terminal 3 .

[0058] (Step S103) The transmitting unit 202 of the server 2 reads out the software or setting parameters corresponding to the contract plan instructed by the change instruction from the storage device 200B. The transmitting unit 202 refers to the storage device 200B, identifies the identification number of the second user terminal 4 associated with the identification number assigned to the change instruction received by the receiving unit 201, and transmits the software or setting parameters read out from the storage device 200B to the identified second user terminal 4.

[0059] (Step S104) The receiving unit 401 of the second user terminal 4 receives the software or setting parameters transmitted from the server 2.

[0060] (Step S105) The change unit 405 of the second user terminal 4 changes the software or setting parameters stored in the storage device 200B to the software or setting parameters received by the receiving unit 401, and makes them usable. Furthermore, the control unit 406 makes at least one or more functions of two or more pieces of hardware included in the second user terminal 4 usable or unusable, depending on the software or setting parameters that the change unit 405 has made usable.

[0061] (Charge amount change processing) 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a charge amount change process related to the use of a service in the information processing system 1. Hereinafter, an example of a charge amount change process related to the use of a service in the information processing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0062] (Step S201) The plan change unit 206 of the server 2 determines whether the software or setting parameters of the second user terminal 4 have been changed in response to the change in the contract plan. If the software or setting parameters of the second user terminal 4 have been changed in response to the change in the contract plan (YES), the server 2 executes the process of step S202. If the software or setting parameters of the second user terminal 4 have not been changed in response to the change in the contract plan (NO), the server 2 ends the process.

[0063] (Step S202) The plan changing unit 206 of the server 2 changes the contract plan. Specifically, the plan changing unit 206 changes the current contract plan stored in the storage device 200B. In addition, the storage device control unit 203 stores a change history of the contract plan in the storage device 200B.

[0064] (Step S203) The billing amount change unit 207 of the server 2 compares the billing amount (e.g., monthly billing amount) of the contract plan before the change with the contract plan after the change, and determines whether the billing amount of the contract plan after the change is higher than the billing amount of the contract plan before the change. If the billing amount of the contract plan after the change is higher than the billing amount of the contract plan before the change (YES), the server 2 executes the process of step S204. If the billing amount of the contract plan after the change is not higher than the billing amount of the contract plan before the change (NO), the server 2 executes the process of step S205.

[0065] (Step S204) The charge amount changing unit 207 of the server 2 changes the charge amount for a predetermined period (for example, one month) including the time of the change to the charge amount of the changed contract plan.

[0066] (Step S205) The billing amount change unit 207 of the server 2 keeps the billing amount for a specified period including the time of change as the billing amount of the contract plan before the change, and changes it to the billing amount of the contract plan before the change at or after the arrival of the next specified period.

[0067] (Emergency change processing) 11 is a flowchart showing an example of emergency change processing of the information processing system 1. Hereinafter, an example of emergency change processing of the information processing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0068] (Step S301) The determination unit 204 of the server 2 determines whether the receiving unit 201 has received, for example, an emergency alert from the Japan Meteorological Agency or a local government. If an emergency alert has been received (YES), the server 2 executes the process of step S302. If an emergency alert has not been received (NO), the server 2 ends the process.

[0069] (Step S302) The determination unit 204 of the server 2 determines whether or not the current location of the second user terminal 4 is within the range covered by the emergency alert. If it is within the range covered by the emergency alert (YES), the server 2 executes the process of step S303. If it is not within the range covered by the emergency alert (NO), the server 2 ends the process.

[0070] (Step S303) The transmitting unit 202 of the server 2 transmits software or setting parameters corresponding to an emergency, in this case software or setting parameters corresponding to the GPS & Talk Plan (software or setting parameters enabling the use of the GPS sensor, microphone, and speaker of the second user terminal 4) to the second user terminal 4 whose current location is within the range covered by the emergency alert. At this time, it is also possible to transmit, by voice data or the like, to the second user terminal 4 and the corresponding first user terminal 3, a message indicating that the use of the GPS & Talk Plan has been temporarily released due to the emergency alert.

[0071] (Step S304) The receiving unit 401 of the second user terminal 4 receives the software or setting parameters transmitted from the server 2.

[0072] (Step S305) The change unit 405 of the second user terminal 4 changes the software or setting parameters stored in the storage device 200B to the software or setting parameters received by the receiving unit 401, and makes them usable. Furthermore, the control unit 406 makes at least one or more functions of two or more pieces of hardware included in the second user terminal 4 usable or unusable, depending on the software or setting parameters that the change unit 405 has made usable.

[0073] In addition, the determination unit 204 of the server 2 may determine whether a predetermined period (e.g., one week or one month) has passed or the emergency alert has been canceled after transmitting the software or setting parameters corresponding to the GPS & talk plan, and if it is determined that the predetermined period has passed or the emergency alert has been canceled, the transmission unit 202 may be configured to transmit software or setting parameters (software or setting parameters that enable the GPS sensor of the second user terminal 4 to be used) corresponding to the GPS plan, which is the contract plan before the change, to the second user terminal 4 to enable it, and change the second user terminal 4 to be compatible with the GPS plan.

[0074] In addition, in the description of FIG. 11, the determination unit 204 of the server 2 determines whether or not the current location of the second user terminal 4 is within the target range of the emergency alert, but the determination unit 204 may also obtain location information from the first user terminal 3 (for example, the first user terminal 3 may be equipped with a GPS sensor), and the determination unit 204 may determine whether or not the current location of the first user terminal 3 or the second user terminal 4 is within the target range of the emergency alert. If the current location of the first user terminal 3 or the second user terminal 4 is within the target range of the emergency alert, the transmission unit 202 of the server 2 may be configured to transmit software or setting parameters corresponding to an emergency, in this case software or setting parameters corresponding to the GPS & talk plan (software or setting parameters that enable the use of the GPS sensor, microphone, and speaker of the second user terminal 4), to the second user terminal 4 associated with the identification number of the first user terminal 3 whose current location is within the target range of the emergency alert, or to the second user terminal 4 whose current location is within the target range of the emergency alert.

[0075] As described above, the second user terminal 4 includes two or more pieces of hardware (for example, microphone 400F, speaker 400G, GPS sensor 400H, etc.), a receiving unit 401 that receives software or setting parameters, a storage device 400B (storage unit) that stores the software or setting parameters, a control unit 406 that controls at least one of the two or more pieces of hardware based on the software or setting parameters stored in the storage device 400B, and a changing unit 405 that changes the software or setting parameters stored in the storage device 400B to the software or setting parameters received by the receiving unit 401 and makes them usable. Then, the control unit 406 makes at least one function of the two or more pieces of hardware usable or unusable according to the software or setting parameters made usable by the changing unit 405. In this way, by downloading software or setting parameters to the second user terminal 4 and making it available, the second user terminal 4 can be made compatible with the contract plan, which is highly convenient.

[0076] Moreover, the change unit 405 of the second user terminal 4 makes the software or setting parameters available by rebooting the second user terminal 4 (information terminal). In this way, the second user terminal 4 is automatically rebooted, thereby making it possible to use the software or the setting parameters, which is highly convenient.

[0077] [Modification 1 of the first embodiment] In the above first embodiment, changes in the contract plan are accommodated by downloading software or setting parameters from the server 2 to the second user terminal 4 and switching the software or setting parameters, but it is also possible to store two or more pieces of software or setting parameters for switching the functions of the second user terminal 4 in the memory device 400B of the second user terminal 4, and to change and make available any one or more of the two or more pieces of software or setting parameters stored in the memory device 400B in response to a change in the contract plan.

[0078] In this case, when the receiving unit 201 of the server 2 receives a change instruction transmitted from the first user terminal 3, the transmitting unit 202 refers to the storage device 200B, identifies the identification number of the second user terminal 4 associated with the identification number assigned to the change instruction received by the receiving unit 201, and transmits the change instruction received by the receiving unit 201 to the identified second user terminal 4.

[0079] When the receiving unit 401 of the second user terminal 4 receives an instruction to change software or setting parameters transmitted from the server 2, the changing unit 405 changes one or more software or setting parameters specified in the change instruction out of two or more software or setting parameters stored in the storage device 400B based on the change instruction received by the receiving unit 401, and makes them usable.

[0080] The second user terminal 4 includes two or more pieces of hardware (e.g., a microphone 400F, a speaker 400G, a GPS sensor 400H, etc.), a receiving unit 401 that receives a change instruction for software or setting parameters, a storage device 400B (storage unit) that stores two or more pieces of software or setting parameters, a control unit 406 that controls at least one of the two or more pieces of hardware based on the software or setting parameters stored in the storage device 400B, and a change unit 405 that changes and makes available any one or more pieces of software or setting parameters out of the two or more pieces of software or setting parameters stored in the storage device 400B based on the change instruction received by the receiving unit 401. The control unit 406 enables or disables at least one or more functions of the two or more pieces of hardware according to the software or setting parameters that the change unit has enabled. In this way, by being able to switch between two or more pieces of software or setting parameters stored in the memory device 400B of the second user terminal 4, the second user terminal 4 can be made compatible with the contract plan, which is highly convenient.

[0081] [Modification 2 of the First Embodiment] In addition, in the above first embodiment and variant example 1, the control unit 406 of the second user terminal 4 may be configured to restrict the use of at least one or more functions (rather than making them usable or unusable) of two or more pieces of hardware provided in the second user terminal 4, depending on the software or setting parameters made usable by the change unit 405.

[0082] The second user terminal 4 includes two or more pieces of hardware (e.g., microphone 400F, speaker 400G, GPS sensor 400H, etc.), a receiving unit 401 that receives software or setting parameters, a storage device 400B (storage unit) that stores the software or setting parameters, a control unit 406 that controls at least one of the two or more pieces of hardware based on the software or setting parameters stored in the storage device 400B, and a change unit 405 that changes the software or setting parameters stored in the storage device 400B to the software or setting parameters received by the receiving unit 401 and makes them usable. The control unit 406 restricts the use of at least one or more functions of the two or more pieces of hardware according to the software or setting parameters made usable by the change unit 405. In this way, by restricting the use of at least one or more functions of two or more pieces of hardware depending on the software or setting parameters made available by the change unit 405, it is possible to make the second user terminal 4 compatible with the contract plan, which is highly convenient.

[0083] [Third Modification of the First Embodiment] In the above-described first embodiment and modified examples 1 and 2, the change unit 405 of the second user terminal 4 may be configured to change software or setting parameters according to the usage history of two or more pieces of hardware included in the second user terminal 4. For example, when software or setting parameters corresponding to a GPS & talk plan are set, if the GPS sensor 400H of the two or more pieces of hardware included in the second user terminal 4 is frequently used but the microphone 400F and the speaker 400G are hardly used, the change unit 405 changes to software or setting parameters corresponding to the GPS plan. Note that the change unit 405 of the second user terminal 4 may not (automatically) change the software or setting parameters, but may instead be configured to include a recommendation unit that recommends to the first user a change to the software or setting parameters in accordance with the usage history of two or more pieces of hardware included in the second user terminal 4. In this case, when the receiving unit 401 receives a change instruction transmitted from the first user terminal 3 of the first user in accordance with the recommendation, the change unit 405 changes the software or setting parameters to those in accordance with the usage history of the two or more pieces of hardware.

[0084] The server 2 may be configured to include an instruction unit that instructs the second user terminal 4 to change software or setting parameters according to the usage history of two or more pieces of hardware included in the second user terminal 4, and the change unit 405 of the second user terminal 4 changes the software or setting parameters when the receiving unit 401 receives the instruction transmitted from the server 2. The recommendation unit may be included in the server 2.

[0085] The change unit 405 of the second user terminal 4 changes software or setting parameters in accordance with the usage history of two or more pieces of hardware (for example, the microphone 400F, the speaker 400G, the GPS sensor 400H, etc.). In this way, the software or setting parameters are changed according to the usage history. For example, if the GPS sensor 400H is often used among the two or more pieces of hardware equipped in the second user terminal 4, but the microphone 400F and the speaker 400G are hardly used, the changing unit 405 can change the software or setting parameters to those corresponding to the GPS plan, which is highly convenient.

[0086] As described above, a recommendation unit that recommends changing software or setting parameters according to the usage history of two or more pieces of hardware may be provided. In this case, the first user can confirm or decide whether to change the contract plan, which is highly convenient.

[0087] [Second embodiment] Also, a configuration may be adopted in which a change in the contract plan is accommodated by changing the processing routine of the software operating in the second user terminal 4. In this case, for example, the server 2 transmits an instruction to change the processing routine of the software in response to a change in the contract plan, and when the receiving unit 401 of the second user terminal 4 receives the instruction to change the processing routine, the changing unit 405 changes the processing routine of the software stored in the storage device 400B based on the change instruction received by the receiving unit 401, and the control unit 406 may enable or disable at least one or more functions of two or more pieces of hardware included in the second user terminal 4 in response to the processing routine of the software changed by the changing unit 405.

[0088] [Modification 1 of the second embodiment] In addition, in the above second embodiment, the control unit 406 of the second user terminal 4 may be configured to restrict the use of at least one or more functions of two or more pieces of hardware provided in the second user terminal 4 (rather than making them usable or unusable) depending on the processing routine of the software changed by the change unit 405.

[0089] [Third embodiment] In the above first and second embodiments and their modifications, the change in the contract plan is accommodated by making the hardware in the second user terminal 4 usable or unusable, or by restricting its use, but the server 2 may be configured to accommodate the change in the contract plan by restricting the transmission and reception of information (e.g., location information and voice data) relating to the two or more pieces of hardware in the second user terminal 4 in response to the change in the contract plan. In this case, the server 2 may be provided with a restriction unit that restricts the transmission and reception of information relating to hardware other than the usable hardware or the unusable hardware among the two or more pieces of hardware in the second user terminal 4 in response to the change in the contract plan (an instruction to change the software or setting parameters).

[0090] [Fourth embodiment] In the above first embodiment, an example of the timing of the change in the billing amount when the cost (billing amount) of the contract plan is paid in advance (see FIG. 4) is described. In this fourth embodiment, an example of the timing of the change in the billing amount when the cost (billing amount) of the contract plan is paid in advance is described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the timing of billing amount change by the billing amount change unit 207 in the fourth embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the charge for the GPS plan (black band in FIG. 12) for a specified period (for example, the period that is the smallest unit of charging, such as one week or one month) is 400 yen, and the charge for the GPS & Talk plan (white band in FIG. 12) is 500 yen. As shown in Fig. 12, in the case of prepayment, when the contract plan is changed during a specified period, the charge amount change unit 207 compares the charge amount (for example, monthly charge amount) of the contract plan before the change with that of the changed contract plan, and if the charge amount of the changed contract plan is higher than the charge amount of the contract plan before the change (for example, when the contract plan before the change is a GPS plan and the contract plan after the change is a GPS & Talk plan), it charges the amount that is insufficient from the time of the contract plan change to the start of the next specified period (100 yen in the example of Fig. 12). Note that even if the contract plan is changed multiple times thereafter until the start of the next specified period, the charge amount of 100 yen will not be returned, and no new charge will be made. On the other hand, if the charge for the contract plan before the change is higher than the charge for the contract plan after the change (for example, if the contract plan before the change is a GPS & Talk plan and the contract plan after the change is a GPS plan), the charge change unit 207 will not charge from the time the contract plan is changed to the start of the next specified period. In other words, in the fourth embodiment, if you pay the charge corresponding to the GPS & Talk Plan in advance, you will not be charged any additional money, no matter how many times you change your contract plan during the specified period for which you paid in advance. Also, if you change your contract plan to the GPS & Talk Plan during the specified period and pay the shortfall (100 yen in the example of Figure 12), you will not be charged any additional money, no matter how many times you change your contract plan thereafter, so long as it is within that specified period. The timing of changing the billing amount shown in FIG. 12 is an example, and is not necessarily limited to the example shown in FIG.

[0091] In addition, the above-mentioned embodiments and the modified examples of the embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by them. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist or main features of the present invention. For example, in the above, the contract plans were only the GPS plan and the GPS & talk plan, but a "talk only plan" that can exchange voice data with the first user terminal 3 using the microphone 400F and the speaker 400G without using the GPS sensor 400H provided in the second user terminal 4 may be added as a contract plan. In addition, the second user terminal 4 may be provided with a detection unit that detects a state in which the hardware provided in the second user terminal 4 is unavailable due to a hardware failure or a software or setting parameter malfunction, and the contract plan may be switched when a hardware failure or a software or setting parameter malfunction is detected. For example, when a state where the GPS sensor 400H of the second user terminal 4 cannot be used due to a failure of the GPS sensor 400H or a malfunction of the software or setting parameters is detected, the contract plan may be switched to the "talk only plan", and when a state where the microphone 400F and the speaker 400G of the second user terminal 4 cannot be used due to a failure of at least one of the microphone 400F and the speaker 400G or a malfunction of the software or setting parameters is detected, the contract plan may be switched to the "GPS plan". Note that the contract plan may also be switched to the "GPS plan" when a state where the microphone 400F and the speaker 400G of the first user terminal 3 cannot be used due to a failure of at least one of the microphone 400F and the speaker 400G or a malfunction of the software or setting parameters is detected.In addition, in each of the above embodiments, a form has been shown in which the sending and receiving of information regarding hardware other than the hardware that is enabled for use or the hardware that is disabled for use among two or more pieces of hardware equipped in the second user terminal 4 is restricted in response to an instruction to change the software or setting parameters. However, similar control may be performed in response to an instruction to change the firmware (software) built into the hardware instead of an instruction to change the software or setting parameters. [Industrial Applicability]

[0092] It can be applied to devices equipped with two or more pieces of hardware. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 1: Information processing system 2: Server (information processing device) 3: First user terminal (first terminal) 4: Second user terminal (second terminal) 5: Network 200A: Communication IF 200B: Storage device 200C: CPU 201: Receiving unit 202: Transmission department 203: Storage device control unit 204: Judgment section 205: Recommendation section 206: Plan Change Department 207: Charge amount change section 300A: Communication IF 300B: Storage device 300C: Input device 300D:Display device 300E: CPU 300F: Microphone 300G: Speaker 301: Receiving unit 302: Transmission department 303: Storage device control unit 304: Input reception section 305: Display device control unit 400A: Communication IF 400B: Storage device 400C: Input device 400D:Display device 400E: CPU 400F: Microphone 400G: Speaker 400H: GPS sensor 401: Receiving unit 402: Sending department 403: Storage device control unit 404: Input reception section 405: Changes 406: Control section

Claims

1. A server having a billing amount setting means for setting a billing amount according to a contract plan, The contract plan is: a first plan that acquires location information of a device carried by the person being watched over and is capable of exchanging voice messages with the device of the person being watched over, and is associated with a first charge amount; a second plan associated with a second charge amount that is cheaper than the first charge amount, which acquires location information of a device carried by the person being watched over but does not allow exchange of voice messages with the device of the person being watched over; The charge amount setting means, in response to a change from the first plan to the second plan in the middle of a unit period, keeps the charge amount to the watcher for the unit period at the first charge amount and changes the charge amount to the watcher for the unit period next to the unit period at the second charge amount.

2. The charge amount setting means The amount charged to the watcher corresponding to the end of the unit period before the certain unit period is set as the first amount charged, The amount charged to the watcher corresponding to the end of the certain unit period is set as the first amount charged, The server according to claim 1 , wherein the second charge amount is an amount charged to the watcher corresponding to the end of the next unit period following the certain unit period.

3. The charge amount setting means The amount charged to the watcher corresponding to the start of a unit period preceding the certain unit period is set as the first amount charged, The amount charged to the watcher corresponding to the start of the certain unit period is set as the first amount charged, The server according to claim 1 , wherein the second charge amount is an amount charged to the watcher corresponding to the start of a unit period next to the certain unit period.

4. A server having a billing amount setting means for setting a billing amount according to a contract plan, The contract plan is: a first plan that acquires location information of a device carried by the person being watched over and is capable of exchanging voice messages with the device of the person being watched over, and is associated with a first charge amount; a second plan associated with a second charge amount that is cheaper than the first charge amount, which acquires location information of a device carried by the person being watched over but does not allow exchange of voice messages with the device of the person being watched over; The charge amount setting means changes the charge amount to the watcher for a certain unit period to the first charge amount in response to a change from the second plan to the first plan in the middle of the certain unit period.

5. The charge amount setting means The amount charged to the watcher corresponding to the end of the unit period before the certain unit period is set as the second amount charged, The amount charged to the watcher corresponding to the end of the certain unit period is set as the first amount charged, The server according to claim 4 , wherein the first charge amount is an amount charged to the watcher corresponding to the end of the next unit period following the given unit period.

6. The charge amount setting means The amount charged to the watcher corresponding to the start of a unit period preceding the certain unit period is set as the second amount charged, The amount charged to the watcher corresponding to the start of the certain unit period is set as the second amount charged, and further, the difference between the first amount charged and the second amount charged is set as an additional amount charged for the certain unit period, The server according to claim 4 , wherein the first charge amount is an amount charged to the watcher corresponding to a start of a unit period next to the certain unit period.

7. The server according to claim 1 or 4, further comprising: a location information receiving means for receiving the location information.

8. The server according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the person being watched over is a child, and the watcher is the child's guardian.

9. The server according to claim 1 or 4, further comprising a plan change instruction receiving means for receiving a plan change instruction from the terminal of the watcher.

10. The server of claim 1 or 4, wherein the voice message comprises a preset message.

11. The server according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the voice message includes a message input into the terminal of the watcher.

12. a means for receiving the location information regardless of whether the contract plan is the first plan or the second plan; The server according to claim 1 or 4, further comprising a means for sending and receiving the voice message when the contract plan is the second plan, but not sending and receiving the voice message when the contract plan is the first plan.

13. A billing amount setting program that causes a server to function as a billing amount setting unit that sets a billing amount according to a contract plan, The contract plan is: a first plan that acquires location information of a device carried by the person being watched over and is capable of exchanging voice messages with the device of the person being watched over, and is associated with a first charge amount; a second plan associated with a second charge amount that is cheaper than the first charge amount, which acquires location information of a device carried by the person being watched over but does not allow exchange of voice messages with the device of the person being watched over; The charge amount setting means is a charge amount setting program that, in response to a change from the first plan to the second plan in the middle of a unit period, keeps the charge amount to the watcher for the unit period at the first charge amount and changes the charge amount to the watcher for the unit period next to the unit period at the second charge amount.

14. A billing amount setting method including a step in which a server sets a billing amount according to a contract plan, The contract plan is: a first plan that acquires location information of a device carried by the person being watched over and is capable of exchanging voice messages with the device of the person being watched over, and is associated with a first charge amount; a second plan associated with a second charge amount that is cheaper than the first charge amount, which acquires location information of a device carried by the person being watched over but does not allow exchange of voice messages with the device of the person being watched over; A charge amount setting method in which, in response to a change from the first plan to the second plan in the middle of a unit period, the server keeps the charge amount to the watcher for the unit period at the first charge amount, and changes the charge amount to the watcher for the unit period next to the unit period at the second charge amount.

15. A billing amount setting program that causes a server to function as a billing amount setting unit that sets a billing amount according to a contract plan, The contract plan is: a first plan that acquires location information of a device carried by the person being watched over and is capable of exchanging voice messages with the device of the person being watched over, and is associated with a first charge amount; a second plan associated with a second charge amount that is cheaper than the first charge amount, which acquires location information of a device carried by the person being watched over but does not allow exchange of voice messages with the device of the person being watched over; The charge amount setting means is a charge amount setting program that changes the charge amount to the watcher for a certain unit period to the first charge amount in response to a change from the second plan to the first plan in the middle of the certain unit period.

16. A billing amount setting method including a step in which a server sets a billing amount according to a contract plan, The contract plan is: a first plan that acquires location information of a device carried by the person being watched over and is capable of exchanging voice messages with the device of the person being watched over, and is associated with a first charge amount; a second plan associated with a second charge amount that is cheaper than the first charge amount, which acquires location information of a device carried by the person being watched over but does not allow exchange of voice messages with the device of the person being watched over; A charge amount setting method in which the server changes the charge amount to the watcher for a certain unit period to the first charge amount in response to a change from the second plan to the first plan in the middle of the certain unit period.

Images