Point information output device, point information output method, program for point information output, and point information output system

Abstract

To provide a point information output device for enabling a user to purchase an article at the optimal point on a route to a destination, and for preventing occurrence of such inconvenience that the user returns to purchase the article after reaching the destination.SOLUTION: Data on destination to be reached are acquired as for the traveling of a vehicle, and article data indicating articles to be used corresponding to the destination are acquired, and whether to purchase the articles in a predetermined range including the destination is determined, and when the article should be purchased in the predetermined range, a store where a user can stop by is searched, and the location of the searched store or the like is displayed on a display 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present application relates to the technical fields of a point information output device, a point information output method, a point information output program, and a point information output system. More specifically, the present application relates to the technical fields of a point information output device and a point information output method that output point information including the positions of points related to the movement of a mobile object, as well as a program for the point information output device and the point information output system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, navigation devices that guide the movement of moving bodies such as vehicles, bicycles, or people have become widespread. In guidance using such navigation devices, guidance is provided along a route to a destination that was set before leaving a starting point, and in this case, it is also possible to guide to suitable stop-off points on the way to the destination. For example, the following Patent Document 1 can be cited as a prior art document that shows such conventional technology. The technology described in Patent Document 1 is configured to associate a purchase history of goods, etc. purchased at stop-off points on a route from a starting point to a destination with the route, and to recommend various goods to a user of, for example, a vehicle who subsequently travels along the same route. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-115113 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 does not take into account the purchase date or time when recommending products, which results in the problem that, for example, out-of-season products may be recommended.

[0005] In addition, in general, when recommending the purchase of an item to be used at a single destination, if the same item is available for purchase at multiple points along the route to the destination, the technology described in Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration at all the point at which it would be most appropriate to purchase that item.

[0006] Therefore, the present application has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and one example of the object of the application is to provide a location information output device, a location information output method, a program for the location information output device, and a location information output system that enable a user to purchase an item at the most optimal point on the route to the destination, while preventing the user from having to return to purchase the item after reaching the destination. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 comprises a first acquisition means for acquiring first information indicating a destination point to be reached by a mobile body, a second acquisition means for acquiring second information indicating an item or service corresponding to the destination point, a search means for searching for a stop-off point where the item or service can be purchased, and an output means for outputting location information indicating the searched stop-off point.

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 8 is a location information output method executed in a location information output device that outputs location information indicating locations related to the movement of a mobile body, the location information output method including a first acquisition step of acquiring first information indicating a destination location to be reached by the mobile body, a second acquisition step of acquiring second information indicating an item or service corresponding to the destination location, a search step of searching for a stop-off point where the item or service determined based on the acquired second information can be purchased, and an output step of outputting the location information indicating the searched stop-off point.

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 9 causes a computer to function as the location information output device described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 10 includes a server device including a location information output device described in any one of claims 1 to 7, a connection means for connecting to the location information output device, and an information recording / output means for recording the second information about any location and outputting it to the second acquisition means. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a point information output device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a navigation system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1A and 1B are block diagrams showing the general configuration of a navigation device and the like included in a navigation system in accordance with an embodiment, in which (a) is a block diagram showing the general configuration of a server device included in the navigation system, and (b) is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the navigation device. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the contents of each database in the embodiment, where (a) is a diagram illustrating the contents of a product purchase history database in the embodiment, (b) is a diagram illustrating the contents of a route driving history database in the embodiment, (c) is a diagram illustrating the contents of a store ID / transaction ID correspondence table in the embodiment, (d) is a diagram illustrating the contents of a store location table in the embodiment, and (e) is a diagram illustrating the contents of a product purchase location recommendation table in the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 11 is a flowchart showing a process for creating a product-purchasing location recommendation table according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 11 is a flowchart showing a product purchasing location guidance process according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a product purchase location guidance process according to the embodiment. [Figure 8]1A and 1B are diagrams showing the lost item confirmation process in the product purchase location guidance process in the embodiment, where (a) is a diagram showing an example image (I) displayed in the lost item confirmation process, and (b) is a diagram showing the example image (II). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a point information output device according to an embodiment.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, a point information output device S according to the embodiment is configured to include a first acquisition means 1, a second acquisition means 2, a determination means 3, a search means 4, and an output means 5.

[0014] In this configuration, the first acquisition means 1 acquires arrival point information indicating an arrival point to be reached by a moving object during the movement of the moving object.

[0015] On the other hand, the second acquisition means 2 acquires arrival point product / service information indicating a product or service corresponding to the arrival point.

[0016] Then, the determination means 3 determines the item or service to be purchased within the destination range, which is a range that includes the destination, based on the attributes of the item or service indicated by the destination item / service information acquired by the second acquisition means 2.

[0017] In this way, the search means 4 searches for stop-off points where the product or service determined by the determination means 3 can be purchased.

[0018] Then, the output means 5 outputs point information indicating the stop-off points searched for by the search means 4.

[0019] As described above, according to the operation of the location information output device S according to the embodiment, based on the attributes of the items, etc. corresponding to the destination point to be reached by the mobile body, the items, etc. to be purchased within the destination point range are determined, a stop-off point where the determined items, etc. can be purchased is searched for, and location information indicating the stop-off point is output. Therefore, by presenting the location information to the user, the user can reach the destination point after purchasing all the items, etc. to be purchased near the destination point according to the attributes, so that the items, etc. can be purchased at the most suitable location and the inconvenience of returning to the destination point to purchase the items can be prevented. EXAMPLES

[0020] Next, specific examples corresponding to the above-mentioned embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 8. The following example is an example in which the embodiment is applied to a product purchase location guidance process in which a navigation device mounted on a vehicle operated by a user guides the user to a purchase location (store) when purchasing a product to be used at a destination on the route to the destination of the vehicle. Specific examples of the navigation device include a so-called fixed navigation device mounted on the vehicle itself, and a navigation software mounted on a so-called smartphone used by a passenger or driver of the vehicle to provide similar guidance.

[0021] In addition, in the navigation system according to the embodiment, a plurality of navigation devices having similar configurations can be connected to a server device that distributes various data necessary for the product purchasing location guidance processing according to the embodiment, for example, via a network such as the Internet.

[0022] Furthermore, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the general configuration of a navigation system according to an embodiment, Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the general configuration of a navigation device etc. included in the navigation system, and Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the contents of each database etc. according to an embodiment. Furthermore, Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the process of creating a product-purchase location recommendation table according to an embodiment, Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the product-purchase location guidance process according to an embodiment, Fig. 7 is a diagram explaining the product-purchase location guidance process, and Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the lost item confirmation process in the product-purchase location guidance process. In Fig. 3, the same component numbers as those of the respective components in the location information output device S according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 are used for the respective components of the embodiment.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 2, navigation devices NV1, NV2, ..., NVn (n is a natural number) according to the embodiment, which have similar configurations, are connected to a server device SV via the network NW, and are capable of transmitting and receiving various data to and from the server device SV. At this time, the navigation devices NV1 to NVn, the network NW, and the server device SV constitute a navigation system SS according to the embodiment. In the following description, when matters common to the navigation devices NV1 to NVn are described, they will be collectively referred to simply as "navigation device NV".

[0024] 3(a), the server device SV according to the embodiment is composed of an interface 20, a processing unit S including a CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. and corresponding to an example of the location information output device S according to the embodiment, a recording unit 22 including an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), etc., an operation unit 23 including a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and a display 24 including a liquid crystal display, etc. In this configuration, the recording unit 22 corresponds to an example of the "recording means" according to the present application.

[0025] The processing unit S is configured with an internal interface 1 corresponding to an example of the first acquisition means 1 according to the embodiment and an example of the second acquisition means 2 according to the embodiment, a decision unit 3 corresponding to an example of the decision means 3 according to the embodiment, and a search unit 4 corresponding to an example of the search means 4 according to the embodiment and an example of the output means 5 according to the embodiment. In this case, the internal interface 1, the decision unit 3, and the search unit 4 may be realized by a hardware logic circuit such as a CPU constituting the processing unit S, or may be realized in software by the CPU reading and executing a program corresponding to a product purchase location guidance process according to the embodiment described later. In this case, the program may be read by the CPU or the like from a program previously recorded in the recording unit 22, or may be acquired via the network NW and executed by the CPU or the like.

[0026] In this configuration, the recording unit 22 non-volatilely records a product purchase history database PDB, a route driving history database RDB, a store ID / transaction ID correspondence table T1, a store location table T2, and a product purchase location recommendation table T3, each of which is related to an embodiment.

[0027] Here, the product purchase history database PDB etc. recorded in the recording unit 22 will be specifically described with reference to Fig. 4. Note that these product purchase history databases PDB etc. are databases that are recorded in the server device NV when a user of each navigation device NV constituting the navigation system SS travels to a destination or purchases various products in connection with the travel, and various data related to the travel or the purchases are accumulated in the server device SV via the network NW.

[0028] First, the above-mentioned product purchase history database PDB will be described with reference to FIG. 4(a). As illustrated in FIG. 4(a), the product purchase history database PDB according to the embodiment records, for each product purchased by a user of each navigation device NV, a user ID for identifying the user from other users, the name of the purchased product, the product category to which the product belongs, and the purchase price of the product in association with a transaction ID 30 for identifying the purchase of the product from purchases of other products or purchases by other users. At this time, one transaction ID 30 is associated with one purchase of a product by one user identified by one user ID. Furthermore, the product categories according to the embodiment are conceptually hierarchically organized into three levels of categories, from upper to lower through middle to lower, as illustrated in FIG. 4(a). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4(a), for a beach sandal with a product name of "B2QEEN", the lower category is "beach sandals", the middle category one level above is "sandals", and the higher category one level above is "shoes". For barbecue charcoal with the product name "Charcoal Alpha", the lower category is "Charcoal", the mid-level category is "Cooking Utensils and Consumables", and the upper category is "Outdoor". For barbecue cooler boxes with the product name "Cool G 100L", the lower category is "Cooler Box", the mid-level category is "Cooking Utensils and Consumables", and the upper category is "Outdoor". In the product purchase history database PDB according to the embodiment, a single purchase (transaction) of a product is recorded for each transaction in association with one transaction ID 30, each hierarchical category to which it belongs, and the purchase price.

[0029] In addition, the transaction ID 30 in the embodiment is generated at the time of purchase by combining, for example, the number of the user's identification card used at the time of the purchase identified by the transaction ID 30 (more specifically, the number of the user's credit card, ETC (Electronic Toll Collection system) card, so-called electronic money card, etc.) with date and time data indicating the date and time of the purchase, and is recorded in the product purchase history database PDB.

[0030] Next, the route travel history database RDB will be described with reference to FIG. 4(b). As illustrated in FIG. 4(b), the route travel history database RDB according to the embodiment records, for each trip to a destination made by a user of each navigation device NV, the departure date and time, the destination and departure point of the trip, and a route category indicating a position or range on the route of the trip where, for example, a purchase of a product made on the trip was made, in association with one of the transaction IDs 30 corresponding to the purchase. At this time, the destination and departure point are expressed as a specific place name (e.g., "Enoshima Beach") or latitude / longitude data (e.g., "138.0192, 35.255"), as illustrated in FIG. 4(b). The route category is data indicating whether the purchase of a product using the identification card corresponding to the transaction ID 30 associated with the route category was made near the destination, near the departure point, or near one or more intermediate points on the route of the trip.

[0031] Next, the store ID / transaction ID correspondence table T1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4(c). As illustrated in Fig. 4(c), the store ID / transaction ID correspondence table T1 according to the embodiment stores a store ID 31 for identifying the store where the product was purchased during the movement from other stores, in association with the transaction ID 30 corresponding to the purchase. This association is performed by, for example, associating the transaction ID 30 corresponding to the number of the identification card used at the store identified by the store ID 31, date and time data indicating the date and time of the purchase, and the store ID 31 every time the purchase is made.

[0032] Next, the store location table T2 will be described with reference to Fig. 4(d). As illustrated in Fig. 4(d), the store location table T2 according to the embodiment records, for a store where any of the above purchases have been made by a user of any of the navigation devices NV, the name of the store and the location coordinates (latitude / longitude location coordinates) of the store on a map in association with the store ID 31 for identifying the store. The association itself in the store location table T2 is not related to the above purchases, and for example, when a new store opens, the name and location coordinates of the store are recorded in association with the store ID 31.

[0033] Finally, the product purchase location recommendation table T3 will be described with reference to FIG. 4(e). As illustrated in FIG. 4(e), the product purchase location recommendation table T3 according to the embodiment stores a range or location on the route of a movement in which a product is recommended for purchase when the user of any navigation device NV moves to a destination, in association with the product and the product category. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4(e), if the product "ice" belonging to the product category of "frozen food" is used at the destination, it is desirable to purchase the ice at or near the destination because it may melt during the movement. For this reason, in the product purchase recommendation location table T3, the ice is associated with the "destination" as a recommended purchase location. In addition, the product "confectionery" belonging to the product category of "confectionery" can be purchased at or near the departure point, during the movement, or after arriving near the destination, as long as it does not melt like ice. Therefore, in relation to the movement, in the product purchase recommendation location table T3, the confectionery is associated with "others" in the sense that it is not limited to either the "destination" or the "departure" as a recommended purchase location. On the other hand, a product "guidebook" belonging to the product category "books" will obviously not melt or spoil, but it is meaningless if you do not have it at the time of departure. For this reason, in the product purchase recommended location table T3, the guidebook is associated with the "starting location" as a recommended purchasing location. Finally, a product "charcoal" belonging to the product category "fuel" similarly will not melt or spoil, but since it is generally heavy, it is desirable to purchase it at or near the destination. For this reason, in the product purchase recommended location table T3, the charcoal is associated with the "destination" as a recommended purchasing location.

[0034] Regarding the product purchase history database PDB etc. described above, in the process of creating the product purchase location recommendation table T3 described below and the product purchase location guidance process according to the embodiment, the product purchase history database PDB, the route driving history database RDB and the store ID / transaction ID correspondence table T1 are associated with each other using the transaction ID 30. In addition to this, the store ID / transaction ID correspondence table T1 and the store location table T2 are associated with each other using the store ID 31. As a result, the product purchase history database PDB, the route driving history database RDB, the store ID / transaction ID correspondence table T1 and the store location table T2 are associated with each other.

[0035] On the other hand, the interface 20 of the server device SV controls, under the control of the processing unit S, the exchange of data, for example, recorded in the recording unit 22, between the navigation devices NV via the network NW. When an operation, etc. for causing the server device SV to perform the product purchase location guidance process according to the embodiment is performed on the operation unit 23, the operation unit 23 generates an operation signal corresponding to the operation, etc., and outputs it to the processing unit S.

[0036] Thus, the processing unit S generally controls the operation of the server device SV in the product purchase location guidance process according to the embodiment, based on the operation signal from the operation unit 23 and while transmitting and receiving data recorded in the recording unit 22 to any of the navigation devices NV via the interface 20. Note that information to be presented to a user of the server device SV (e.g., an administrator of the navigation system SS according to the embodiment) in this operation is displayed on the display 24, for example, for presentation.

[0037] 3(b), each navigation device NV according to the embodiment has a similar configuration, specifically, a processing unit 15 including a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., a recording unit 10 including a HDD or SSD, etc., an interface 11, a sensor 12, an operation unit 13 including operation buttons, a touch panel, etc., and a display 14 including a liquid crystal display, etc. In this case, the display 14 corresponds to an example of the "presentation means" according to the present application.

[0038] In this configuration, the interface 12 controls the transmission and reception of various data and the like with the server device SV via the network NW under the control of the processing unit 15. When an operation or the like for causing the navigation device NV to perform the product purchase location guidance process according to the embodiment is performed on the operation unit 14, the operation unit 14 generates an operation signal corresponding to the operation or the like and outputs it to the processing unit 15.

[0039] In addition, the sensor 13 detects the current position of the navigation device NV, for example, by receiving navigation radio waves from a so-called GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation satellite, or by an independent method based on outputs from an acceleration sensor and a distance sensor (not shown) within the sensor 13, and outputs current position data indicating the current position to the processing unit 15.

[0040] The processing unit 15 receives the current location data and identifies the current location of the navigation device NV, and performs the product-purchase location guidance process according to the embodiment by transmitting and receiving data to and from the server device SV via the interface 11. At this time, the display 14 displays images necessary for the product-purchase location guidance process.

[0041] Further, the recording unit 10 non-volatilely records map data for guidance processing to guide a vehicle or its user using, for example, the navigation device NV, a program for performing the guidance processing, etc. Using these, the processing unit 15 executes the necessary guidance processing, etc., in addition to the product purchase location guidance processing according to the embodiment.

[0042] Next, the process of creating the product-purchasing location recommendation table T3 in the embodiment centered on the processing unit 15 of the navigation device NV and the processing unit S of the server device SV, and the process of product-purchasing location guidance in the embodiment will be specifically described with reference to Figures 3 to 8.

[0043] First, the process of creating the product-purchasing location recommendation table T3 according to the embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 5, the process of creating the product purchase location recommendation table T3 according to the embodiment is started, for example, when the amount of data in the product purchase history database PDB or the like becomes equal to or exceeds a preset amount, or at preset intervals. In the process, the processing unit S of the server device SV first associates the route driving history database RDB with the product purchase history database PDB using the transaction ID 30 as a clue, and acquires destination data indicating each destination, time data indicating the time when the movement to the destination was made (for example, the departure date and time), route category data corresponding to the movement, and product category data purchased when moving to the destination (step S1). Next, the processing unit S acquires location coordinates indicating the location of the purchase location of the purchased product (in other words, the location of the store where the purchase was made) from the store location table T2 using the transaction ID 30 and the store ID 31 as a clue (step S2).

[0045] Then, based on the destination data, time data, route category data, and product category data obtained in step S1 and the location coordinates obtained in step S2, the processing unit S compiles data for each category to which the products belong, regarding at which points or range of stores on the route of the past movement the products were purchased, and creates or updates a product purchase location recommendation table T3 for the embodiment to reflect the results and records it in the recording unit 22 (step S3).

[0046] In this case, the "destination" in the product purchase location recommendation table T3 includes not only the destination itself in the above-mentioned movement, but also, for example, a geographical range that includes the destination and is set in advance. Similarly, the "starting point" in the product purchase location recommendation table T3 includes not only the starting point itself in the above-mentioned movement, but also, for example, a geographical range that includes the starting point and is set in advance. Note that these geographical ranges may differ, for example, depending on the product category. For example, in the case of having a barbecue at the destination, if the product is "ice", it is preferable that the above-mentioned geographical range centered on the destination is narrower than, for example, when the product is "meat" or "vegetables", from the viewpoint of minimizing the amount of ice that melts before arriving at the destination.

[0047] Thereafter, the processing unit S determines whether or not to end the creation process of the product purchase location recommendation table T3 according to the embodiment by determining whether or not creation or updating of the product purchase location recommendation table T3 has been completed for all product purchase history databases PDB, etc. at that time (step S4). If it is determined in step S4 that the creation process is to be ended (step S4; YES), the processing unit S ends the creation process as is. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the creation or updating of the product purchase location recommendation table T3 should be continued for other data in the product purchase history database PDB, etc. (step S4; NO), the processing unit S repeats the processes of steps S1 to S4 for the other data.

[0048] Next, the product-purchasing location guidance process according to the embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

[0049] 6, the product purchase location guidance process according to the embodiment is started, for example, when a route for travel and its destination are set in the navigation device NV. In the product purchase location guidance process, when the destination is set, the processing unit 15 of the navigation device NV acquires destination data indicating the destination from, for example, map data recorded in the recording unit 10, and transmits the destination data and time data indicating the current time as a pair to the server device SV (step S5). At this time, the processing unit 15 transmits the destination data, etc. together with identification data for identifying the navigation device NV that is the source of the destination data, etc., from other navigation devices NV.

[0050] On the other hand, when the product purchase location guidance process according to the embodiment is started, the processing unit S of the server device SV monitors whether the destination data, time data, etc. are transmitted from any of the navigation devices NV (step S10, step S10; NO). Then, when the destination data, time data, etc. are transmitted in step S5 from any of the navigation devices NV, the processing unit S receives them via the interface 20 (step S10; YES).

[0051] Next, the processing unit S extracts from the route driving history database RDB the past route driving history data in which the user traveled to the destination indicated by the received destination data at the time indicated by the received time data.Then, the determination unit 3 of the processing unit S extracts the product purchase history data associated with the extracted route driving history data from the product purchase history database PDB via the transaction ID 30, and extracts the product category included in the product purchase history data (step S11).In addition, the determination unit 3 refers to the product purchase location recommendation table T3 using the extracted product category data, and extracts the recommended purchase location associated with the product category extracted in step S11 from the product purchase location recommendation table T3 (step S11).

[0052] The determination unit 3 then refers to the store location table T2 using the data indicating the recommended purchase location extracted in step S11, and acquires the location coordinates and the store name, etc. of the store corresponding to the recommended purchase location as recommended purchase location data. The processing unit S then transmits (replies) the acquired recommended purchase location data to the navigation device NV that transmitted the destination data, etc., using the identification data transmitted together with the destination data, etc., received in step S10 as a clue (step S12).

[0053] Thereafter, the processing unit S judges whether or not to terminate the product-purchase location guidance process as the server device SV by judging whether or not an operation to terminate the product-purchase location guidance process according to the embodiment has been executed on the operation unit 23 (step S13). If the product-purchase location guidance process is to be terminated in the judgment of step S13 (step S13; YES), the processing unit S ends the product-purchase location guidance process as it is. On the other hand, if the product-purchase location guidance process is to be continued in the judgment of step S13 (step S13; NO), the processing unit S returns to monitoring of the above step S10.

[0054] On the other hand, after transmitting the necessary destination data etc. in step S5, the processing unit 15 acquires the recommended purchase place data transmitted in step S12 (step S6), searches for a recommended purchase place corresponding to the acquired recommended purchase place data in the map data, and presents information indicating the searched recommended purchase place to the user of the navigation device NV, for example by displaying it on the display 14 (step S7).

[0055] At this time, by processing steps S5 to S7 in the navigation device NV and steps S10 to S13 in the server device SV, when a user traveling from a starting point STT to a destination DT along a route R as illustrated in FIG. 7 attempts to purchase ice to use at the destination DT, even if there are three stores, SP1, SP2, and SP3, where ice can be purchased along the route R, the store name and location coordinates of store SP3, which is closest to the destination DT, are displayed on the display 14, for example, as a point on a map (step S7).

[0056] Thereafter, the processing unit 15 executes the lost item confirmation display according to the embodiment (step S8). Specifically, as the lost item confirmation display process, the processing unit 15 first acquires from the server device SV the product category data extracted by the process of step S11 in the server device SV or data indicating products corresponding to the product category. The processing unit 15 then displays the products indicated by the acquired product category data, etc., on the display 14, for example, near the departure point, as products to be purchased when moving to the destination at that time (step S8). Specific display modes in this case include, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, displaying a list of lost items (including, for example, a bucket and a rake (for clam digging) see FIG. 8(a)) when the season indicated by the time data is spring and the destination is Shonan Beach, or displaying a list of lost items (including, for example, sunscreen and sandals (for swimming) see FIG. 8(b)) when the season indicated by the time data is summer and the destination is also Shonan Beach. The lost items confirmation display in step S8 above may be configured to be executed not only when departing from the starting point, but also when returning home from the destination. In this case, for example, by displaying a lost items confirmation display for souvenirs to be purchased near the destination, the souvenirs can be purchased before returning home.

[0057] When the lost item confirmation display is executed by the process of step S8, the processing unit 15 then determines whether or not to terminate the product-purchase location guidance process as the navigation device NV by determining whether or not an operation to terminate the product-purchase location guidance process according to the embodiment has been executed on the operation unit 13 (step S9). If the product-purchase location guidance process is to be terminated in the determination of step S9 (step S9; YES), the processing unit 15 ends the product-purchase location guidance process as it is. On the other hand, if the product-purchase location guidance process is to be continued in the determination of step S9 (step S9; NO), the processing unit 15 returns to the process of step S5.

[0058] As described above, according to the product purchasing location guidance process of the embodiment, when a product needs to be purchased within a predetermined geographical range including the destination based on the product category corresponding to the destination to be reached by the vehicle, stores where the product can be purchased before the destination is reached are searched for and data indicating the stores are displayed. Therefore, the product to be purchased near the destination according to the product attributes can be purchased without omission and the destination can be reached. Therefore, the product can be purchased at the optimal location for the product and the inconvenience of having to return to the destination to make the purchase can be prevented.

[0059] In addition, whether or not to purchase a product near the destination is determined based on the purchase time and product category corresponding to a product purchased in the past, so that products necessary at the destination can be more appropriately determined and location information can be output.

[0060] Furthermore, when it is determined that a product should be purchased near the starting point based on the product category corresponding to the destination to which the vehicle is to reach, a store where the product can be purchased is searched for near the starting point, so that the product to be purchased near the starting point according to the category can be purchased without omission and the product can be reached to the destination, and the product can be purchased at the optimal location for the product, and the inconvenience of having to return to the destination to purchase the product can be prevented.

[0061] Furthermore, not only when departing from the starting point but also when returning home from the destination, if there are souvenirs to be purchased on the way home within a predetermined geographical range including the destination, stores where the souvenirs can be purchased corresponding to the time of returning home are displayed, so that souvenirs to be purchased at the start of travel from the destination can be reliably purchased.

[0062] In the product purchase location guidance process according to the above embodiment, when determining whether to purchase a product near the destination based on the purchase time and product category corresponding to a product purchased in the past, the determination may be made based only on the purchase time and product category. In this case, it is not necessary to consider the purchase location of the product purchased in the past.

[0063] [Variations] Next, modified examples of the embodiment will be described. In each modified example described below, the same components as those in the navigation device NV and server device SV according to the embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0064] (1) First Modification First, as a first modification, in the above-described embodiment, a product to be purchased is searched for based on the departure date and time of a trip to a similar destination (see FIG. 4(a)), but in addition to this, it may be configured to determine whether a product should be purchased near the destination based on the stay time at the destination and the product category. In this case, the route driving history database RDB must contain data indicating the stay time at the destination for each trip. According to this first modification, the stay time at the destination of a user who previously purchased a product is used to determine the purchase of the product, so that the product required at the destination can be more appropriately determined and the location information can be output.

[0065] In the first modification, when determining whether to purchase a product near the destination based on the stay time and the product category, the determination may be made based only on the stay time and the product category. In this case, it is not necessary to consider the place of purchase of the product previously purchased.

[0066] (2) Second Modification Next, as a second modification, in the above embodiment, a product to be purchased is searched for based on the departure date and time of a trip to a similar destination (see FIG. 4(a)), but in addition to this, it may be configured to determine whether a product should be purchased near the destination based on the arrival time at the destination and the category of the product. In this case, the route travel history database RDB must contain data indicating the arrival time at the destination for each trip. According to this second modification, the arrival time at the destination of a user who previously purchased a product is used to determine the purchase of the product, so that the product required at the destination can be more appropriately determined and the location information can be output. In this case, instead of the arrival time at the destination, the arrival time period (for example, morning, afternoon, evening, or night) including the arrival time can be used. In this case, the product required at the destination can also be more appropriately determined and the location information can be output.

[0067] (3) Third Modification Finally, as a third modified example, a list of products to be purchased before arriving at the destination may be displayed on the display 14 of the navigation device NV before departure to the destination, and the process of the place of purchase guidance according to the embodiment may be executed for a product selected from the list. In this case, a list of products to be purchased before departure is displayed, and the process of the place of purchase guidance according to the embodiment is executed for a product selected from the list, so that the product according to the user's intention can be purchased at an appropriate time and place.

[0068] (4) Other variations In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments and each modified example, the present application has been applied to the purchase of products when traveling to a destination. However, by replacing the destination in the embodiments and each modified example with a "waypoint" rather than the final destination of the journey, the product purchasing location recommendation processing in the embodiments can also be performed for products that should be purchased before arriving at the waypoint or products that should be purchased when departing from the waypoint.

[0069] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment and each modified example, the present application is applied to the purchase of goods when moving to a destination, but in addition to this, the product purchase location recommendation process (in this case, the process of recommending the location to receive the service) according to the embodiment may be applied to the service to be received before arriving at the destination (for example, repair service when an item to be used at the destination is broken). In this case, too, the same action and effect as the embodiment and each modified example can be obtained for the service to be received.

[0070] In addition, in the navigation system SS according to the embodiment, functions are shared between each navigation device NV and the server device SV. However, if all functions (including recording of the product purchase history database PDB, etc.) can be realized in, for example, a single smartphone, the product purchase location recommendation process according to the embodiment may be executed using only that smartphone.

[0071] Furthermore, while the navigation system SS according to the above-described embodiment is directed to a navigation device NV mounted on a vehicle, the product purchasing location recommendation process according to the embodiment may be configured to be executed in a navigation device mounted on a bicycle or in a navigation program executed on a smartphone carried by a person.

[0072] Furthermore, it is also possible to record a program corresponding to the flowcharts shown in Figures 5 and 6, respectively, on a recording medium such as an optical disk or a hard disk, or to obtain it via a network such as the Internet, and then read and execute it on a general-purpose microcomputer or the like, thereby causing the microcomputer or the like to function as the processing unit S or processing unit 15 of the embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1 First acquisition method (internal interface) 2 Second acquisition method 3. Decision making means (decision unit) 4 Search method (search section) 5. Output Method 14 Display 30 Transaction ID 31 Store ID S, 15 Processing section SS Navigation System NV, NV1, NV2, NVn navigation devices SV server device PDB Product Purchase History Database RDB Route driving history database T1 Store ID / Transaction ID correspondence table T2 Store Location Table T3 Product purchase location recommendation table

Claims

[Claim 1] A first acquisition means for acquiring first information indicating a destination point to be reached by a moving object; A second acquisition means for acquiring second information indicating an item or service corresponding to the arrival point; A search means for searching for a stop-off point where the item or service can be purchased; an output means for outputting location information indicating the searched stop-off points; A location information output device comprising:

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