Information display device and information display system

Abstract

To provide an information display device capable of displaying various information helpful for customers in a gas station, etc., and widely taking approaches such as sales promotion and recommendation to the customers, and an information display system.SOLUTION: An information processing device 1 comprises: a vehicle photographing unit 10 which photographs a vehicle entering a facility; a vehicle number recognition unit 20 which recognizes a vehicle registration number from the image acquired by the vehicle photographing unit 10; a display device storage unit 30 which stores information on vehicle registration numbers and information for customers using the facility; an information display device 40 which can display information provided in the facility; a communication interface unit 50 which enables information transmission and reception with the outside; and a display device control unit 60 which controls ech unit. The display device control unit 60 selects or edits and displays the external provision information provided from an information providing source via the communication interface unit 50 in the information display unit 40 on the basis of information on vehicle registration numbers and information on customers who use the facility.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information display device and an information display system that are mainly installed at an energy supply station for vehicles such as a gas station and that enable effective provision of information to customers. [Background technology]

[0002] In running a gas station, it is important that employees approach customers when they fill up with gasoline with various sales activities or promotional announcements, deepen interactions with customers, and increase sales.

[0003] Examples of sales activities include encouraging customers to have their cars inspected, recommending tire changes, recommending car washes, providing information on replacing cars, selling car-related goods, etc. However, it was not easy to display information appropriate to each customer's situation or according to the region or season.

[0004] In addition, many employees are uncomfortable with face-to-face sales activities with customers, and during an infectious disease outbreak, it is necessary to maintain social distancing, which may limit face-to-face interactions.

[0005] Furthermore, self-service gas stations are becoming more common, and opportunities for employees to interact with customers are decreasing. From this perspective, there is a demand for information display devices or information display systems that can approach customers without meeting them face-to-face.

[0006] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses the technical idea of ​​a customer management system that can provide quick and accurate customer service by recognizing the vehicle information on the license plate when a vehicle enters a gas station through the entrance, searching a customer information file based on that vehicle information, and outputting and displaying the obtained customer information on an LCD display or the like attached to the gas station's gas counter device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-96041 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, according to the technical idea of ​​Patent Document 1, this information display is aimed primarily at employees and does not provide information directly to customers. In addition, although the information to be displayed is listed as examples such as the vehicle number recognized and obtained from the license plate, the name of the vehicle owner, the payment method and type of fuel, individual data such as the owner's profile (time of oil change and inspection, etc.), and the time of entry of the vehicle, etc., this mainly only displays information collected independently by each gas station, and there is a problem in that it is not designed to display various information useful to customers from a wide range of information sources.

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has an objective of providing an information display device that can display a wide range of information useful to customers, such as information specific to each customer, specific to the region, or information from external information sources, mainly at vehicle energy supply stations such as gas stations, thereby enabling a wide range of approaches such as sales promotion and encouragement to customers, and an information display system that includes a distribution server for distributing such information. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve such problems, a first aspect of the present invention is an information display device comprising a vehicle photographing unit that photographs vehicles entering a facility, a vehicle registration number recognition unit that recognizes the vehicle registration number from the image acquired by the vehicle photographing unit, a display device memory unit that stores information related to the vehicle registration number and information related to customers using the facility, an information display unit capable of displaying information provided within the facility, a communication interface unit that enables sending and receiving information with the outside, and a display device control unit that controls the vehicle photographing unit, the vehicle registration number recognition unit, the display device memory unit, and the information display unit, characterized in that the display device control unit selects or edits externally provided information provided from an information provider via the communication interface unit based on the information related to the vehicle registration number and the information related to customers using the facility, and displays it on the information display unit.

[0011] That is, the display device control unit selects and edits information provided by external information providers based on information about the vehicle registration number and information about the customer related to the vehicle registration number, and displays it on the information display unit, which is very effective not only for customers and facilities, but also for external information providers. Examples of external information providers include gasoline wholesalers, car dealerships, car accessory stores, general retail stores, restaurants, etc.

[0012] In the case of a gas station, the information display unit is preferably a display device installed on the top of each fuel pump, and preferably a so-called digital signage that displays text, video and still images using a plasma display, LCD, LED, VFD, video projector, etc.

[0013] The information display unit may have a built-in speaker to provide audio information (including announcements and music) in addition to image information such as still images and videos.

[0014] In addition, although the information display unit will be installed on the top of each refueling machine, it is also possible to have it built into the refueling machine, share it with the existing display unit of the refueling machine, have one display unit for multiple refueling machines, install it in the refueling station office, or make it portable and install it whenever needed, and a certain degree of effectiveness can be obtained depending on how it is operated.

[0015] However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display unit of a portable PC, tablet, smartphone, etc. may be presented in front of the customer.

[0016] The information display unit may be provided with an input means such as a touch panel to enable two-way information exchange, which makes it possible to add functions such as displaying more detailed information or calling an employee for an explanation.

[0017] Information that is useful to the facility and / or customers (hereinafter referred to as useful information) includes notifications that vehicle inspections are approaching, recommendations for vehicle replacement (including recommended models), recommendations for oil changes, tire changes, and car washes, and promotions for car accessories, but is not limited to these, and a variety of other information can be provided.

[0018] In addition, by receiving information from the outside via the communication interface unit and connecting to the Internet, it is possible to display information provided by sponsors, which can generate advertising revenue for the facility.

[0019] Similarly, emergency information such as weather information, evacuation information, earthquake and tsunami information, and breaking news may be displayed via an Internet connection to alert customers.

[0020] It is preferable to provide a display device control unit for each facility, but multiple facilities may be controlled by a single display control unit, or the function may be provided as part of the display device control unit in an external server, etc. This may reduce equipment costs and operating costs.

[0021] Alternatively, multiple display control units may be installed in one facility, each controlling several information display units. This can have the advantages of allowing detailed setting of the information to be displayed, load distribution, and faster response speed for display, etc.

[0022] In the first aspect of the present invention, externally provided information is displayed on the information display unit based on the photographed and recognized vehicle registration number and customer information without the employee having to meet the customer face-to-face (non-face-to-face type), which has the advantage that it is possible to approach customers without bothering employees who are not good at sales activities.

[0023] In addition, even in cases where there are concerns about infection in face-to-face meetings, such as with the COVID-19 pandemic, approaches to customers can be effectively implemented, such as providing external information in non-face-to-face meetings.

[0024] Of course, if a customer calls regarding the information provided externally or if the customer is a highly promising prospect, this does not preclude an employee from visiting the customer to make a face-to-face approach, provide further detailed explanations, and bring the deal closer.

[0025] Furthermore, a second aspect of the present invention may be an information display device of the first aspect, characterized in that the display device control unit selects and / or edits the externally provided information in advance or in real time.

[0026] Here, "in advance" refers to when the vehicle visits the facility for the first time or when a vehicle inspection or the like is carried out at the facility, the relevant information is input by an employee into the display device control unit, or information is provided from outside via the communication interface unit, and the display device control unit edits appropriate information for the next visit, etc.

[0027] Real-time means displaying information that can be edited or selected in a short period of time based on the vehicle number recognition results.

[0028] In addition, when the information display device of the present invention is connected to an external server or the like, the editing function performed by these display device control units may be performed by causing a control unit on the server side to function as the display device control unit.

[0029] A third aspect of the present invention may be the information display device of the first aspect, characterized in that the facility is a facility related to a vehicle.

[0030] Here, vehicle-related facilities are intended to mean energy supply stations such as gas stations, charging stations for electric vehicles, and hydrogen stations (hydrogen stations), but are not limited to these and may be places where vehicles stop, such as rental car offices, parking lots, toll road interchanges, parking areas, service areas, convenience stores, supermarkets, shopping malls, car accessory stores, DIY stores, driving schools, restaurants, coffee shops, etc.

[0031] In this way, the information required by such facility users can be accurately displayed in relation to the vehicle number.

[0032] In addition, a fourth aspect of the present invention may be an information display device of the first aspect, characterized in that, in addition to displaying information on the information display unit within the facility, the externally provided information is transmitted from the facility to a customer's portable terminal, and / or the externally provided information is transmitted to a portable terminal carried by an employee of the facility.

[0033] Here, sending to the customer's mobile device includes, for example, cases where a facility and customer have registered as members via LINE (registered trademark) and information is provided to the customer's smartphone, or simply sending an email via short message, etc. In terms of timing, it is preferable to send the email not at the time of the customer's visit to the facility, but before that to encourage the customer to visit.

[0034] Furthermore, if the information is displayed when the customer visits the facility, the information is sent to the customer's portable device along with being displayed on the information display unit, making a stronger impression and enabling the customer to utilize the useful information even after they have left the facility, rather than it being merely a temporary display.

[0035] Furthermore, if externally provided information is sent to the employee's mobile terminal, together with the information displayed on the information display unit, a powerful approach to customers becomes possible.

[0036] The portable terminal is not limited to a smartphone, but may be any type of mobile phone, tablet terminal, or portable PC. In addition, the portable terminal of an employee may be a wristwatch-type or other body-worn terminal in addition to the above.

[0037] A fifth aspect of the present invention is an information display device according to the first aspect, Furthermore, the information display unit may be characterized by having a peripheral image capturing unit inside or near the information display unit.

[0038] In this way, for example, it is possible to obtain information such as facial and body images of a customer while self-refueling at a gas station, the status of passengers, and the condition of the vehicle (presence and extent of scratches, level of dirt, degree of tire wear, etc.), which can be used to select and reject information when providing it to an external party.

[0039] A sixth aspect of the present invention is an information display device according to the fifth aspect, The image capturing apparatus may further include a face authentication unit that performs face authentication of a person photographed by the peripheral photographing unit.

[0040] That is, it is possible to perform face authentication and identify individuals from the face images of customers or fellow passengers captured by the above-mentioned image capturing unit.

[0041] In this way, it becomes possible to display information such as appropriate externally provided information for a specified individual on the information display unit, making it possible to carry out promotional and advertising activities effectively.

[0042] A seventh aspect of the present invention is an information display device according to the fifth aspect, The image capturing apparatus may further include a gaze detection unit that detects the gaze direction of a person from a face image of the person photographed by the peripheral photographing unit.

[0043] Gaze detection (or gaze estimation) is a technology for determining where a user is looking, and various methods are in practical use.

[0044] By providing an eye gaze detection unit, it is possible to grasp the level of interest in the displayed information from which part of the displayed information the user is looking at and for how long (displayed information interest level grasping function), which makes it possible to charge (fee) the provider of the displayed external information an information provision fee (advertising fee) that takes into account the promotional effect, and it becomes possible to know what information, products or services the external information provider is interested in, and to develop an appropriate marketing strategy.

[0045] Next, an eighth aspect of the present invention may be an information display system comprising an information display device of the first or fifth aspect, and a distribution server connected to a communication interface unit of the information display device and providing information to the information display device.

[0046] It is preferable to provide one distribution server for a plurality of information display devices, but a plurality of distribution servers may be linked together.

[0047] In this way, by providing a distribution server, it is possible to efficiently provide a wide variety of information to a large number of information display devices, and it is also possible to earn revenue by distributing information, making it possible to widely utilize the system.

[0048] Next, a ninth aspect of the present invention may be an information display system of the eighth aspect, characterized in that the distribution server has a distribution server communication interface unit that enables sending and receiving information with the outside, a distribution server memory unit that can store information to be distributed, and a distribution server control unit that controls information obtained from the outside via the distribution server communication interface unit to be stored in the distribution server memory unit either as is, or after selection or editing, and to be distributed via the distribution server communication interface unit upon request.

[0049] With this configuration, it becomes possible to obtain and store the information to be displayed from outside, and in particular, the distribution server control unit can distribute appropriate information to the information display device either as is or after processing the obtained information such as by selecting and editing it.

[0050] Further, a tenth aspect of the present invention is the information display system of the ninth aspect, The distribution server storage unit may have an area for distribution information for each customer, an area for distribution information relating to a region, and an area to be lent to an external information provider.

[0051] In this way, related information can be stored in a predetermined area for easy distribution and maintenance. Furthermore, the area lent to the external information provider can be configured for independent use by the external information provider, which is convenient for the external information provider and can be a major source of revenue for the operator of the distribution server.

[0052] Further, an eleventh aspect of the present invention is an information display system according to the ninth aspect, The information acquired by the distribution server may be information obtained by searching one or more of a vehicle registration number database, a light vehicle registration number database, and a vehicle catalog database using the vehicle registration number sent from the information display device.

[0053] Here, information such as the vehicle name, model, registration date, engine displacement, and vehicle inspection certificate issuance date can be obtained using the vehicle registration number from the vehicle registration number database held by the Automobile Inspection and Registration Information Association or the light vehicle registration number database held by the Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Association.

[0054] This information is utilized when the customer visits the facility, and it is preferable to store this information in the display device memory section of the information display device or in the distribution server memory section of the distribution server, so that when the customer revisits the facility, the stored data can be searched for and used.

[0055] Next, a twelfth aspect of the present invention is an information display system of the eighth aspect including an information display device of the fifth aspect, characterized in that the distribution server has a face authentication unit that performs face authentication of a person photographed by the peripheral shooting unit of the information display device.

[0056] In this embodiment, the face authentication unit, which is previously described as being built into the information display device including the peripheral image capturing unit, is provided on the distribution server side.

[0057] In this way, facial authentication can be performed centrally on the distribution server side, which has the advantages of simplifying the configuration of each display device and allowing facial authentication information to be centrally managed on the distribution server.

[0058] Next, a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is an information display system of the eighth aspect including an information display device of the fifth aspect, characterized in that the distribution server has a gaze detection unit that detects the direction of a person's gaze from a facial image of the person captured by the peripheral capture unit of the information display device.

[0059] In this embodiment, the gaze detection unit, which is incorporated in the information display device including the peripheral image capturing unit described above, is provided on the distribution server side.

[0060] In this way, the gaze detection processing can be performed in one go on the distribution server side, which has the advantages of simplifying the configuration of each display device and allowing the gaze detection result information to be centrally managed by the distribution server.

[0061] Next, a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is an information display system according to the eighth aspect, The information display device may further include a display information analysis unit provided in the distribution server or connected to the distribution server for analyzing information to be displayed.

[0062] Here, the display information analysis unit aims to integrate and manage a large amount of data, so-called big data, from individual information display devices and information display systems.

[0063] In this case, conventional statistical analysis techniques and AI techniques may be used to understand the tendencies of customers at the facility. For example, the relationship between the car model owned by a customer and the items that customers of that car model like to purchase, or the effect of advertising from an external information source (sponsor) (such as determining the contribution to an increase in sales volume from the customer's gaze point and time on the information display unit, the customer's age group and gender, and the area where the advertising was conducted) may be calculated.

[0064] In these cases, if the information obtained is useful, appropriate compensation can be received, resulting in significant economic benefits.

[0065] Next, a fifteenth aspect of the present invention may be characterized as a distribution server connected to an information display device provided in a facility related to a vehicle, comprising a distribution server communication interface unit enabling transmission and reception of information with the outside, a distribution server memory unit capable of storing information to be distributed, and a distribution server control unit which stores externally provided information acquired from the outside via the distribution server communication interface unit in the distribution server memory unit either as is or as selected or edited distribution information, and controls the information to be distributed to the information display device via the distribution server communication interface unit upon request from the information display device.

[0066] In this aspect, the information display device provided in the facility related to the vehicle is not limited to that shown in the first aspect, but may be any information display device, and the distribution server can be used in a wide range of applications.

[0067] Next, a 16th aspect of the present invention is a distribution server connected to an information display device of the 15th aspect provided in a facility related to vehicles, wherein a vehicle registration number recognized from a captured image is received via the distribution server communication interface unit by a vehicle photographing unit and a vehicle number recognition unit provided in the information display device, and based on information related to the vehicle registration number and information regarding customers of the facility, external information provided from an information provider via the distribution server communication interface unit is transmitted to the information display device via the distribution server communication interface unit as is, or selected, or as the edited distribution information, and displayed on the information display device.

[0068] In this way, any information display device having a vehicle photographing unit and a vehicle registration number recognition unit can be used, and useful information linked to the recognized vehicle registration number can be provided to the information display device for display, thereby simplifying the configuration of the information display device.

[0069] Next, a seventeenth aspect of the present invention is a distribution server connected to an information display device provided in a facility related to a vehicle according to the fifteenth aspect, The information display device has a vehicle number recognition unit that receives images captured by a vehicle photography device provided on the information display device via a distribution server communication interface unit and recognizes the vehicle registration number from the images, and based on information related to the recognized vehicle registration number and information about customers of the facility, external information provided from an information provider via the distribution server communication interface unit is transmitted to the information display device via the distribution server communication interface unit as is, or selected, or as the edited distribution information, and displayed on the information display device.

[0070] In this way, the vehicle number recognition unit is also included on the distribution server side, which further simplifies the configuration of the information display device, making it easier to introduce the information display device.

[0071] Next, an 18th aspect of the present invention is an information display device comprising: a facial image capturing unit provided inside or near a facility for capturing a facial image of a person using the facility; a facial image individual recognition unit for recognizing an individual person from an image captured by the facial image capturing unit; a display device memory unit for storing information related to a customer using the facility recognized by the facial image individual recognition unit; an information display unit capable of displaying information provided within the facility; a communication interface unit for enabling transmission and reception of information with the outside; and a display device control unit for controlling the facial image capturing unit, the facial image individual recognition unit, the display device memory unit, the communication interface unit and the information display unit, characterized in that the display device control unit selects or edits externally provided information provided from an information provider via the communication interface unit based on information related to the individual customer recognized by the facial image individual recognition unit, and displays it on the information display unit.

[0072] Until now, information related to the vehicle registration number has been displayed, but with this method, even if the vehicle registration number is not available, if an individual can be identified using facial recognition technology, it is possible to display useful information to that individual, which has the potential for a wide range of applications.

[0073] In addition, applicable facilities may be expanded to include those that are not necessarily related to vehicles, such as small stores, cinemas, theaters, train stations, bus terminals, travel agencies, hospitals, dental clinics, and hairdressers. Effect of the Invention

[0074] The information display device and information display system according to the present invention can display useful information on the information display unit, particularly in facilities such as gas stations, to approach customers for sales promotions, recommendations, and the like.

[0075] Furthermore, by installing a camera in the information display unit, it is possible to collect a large amount of information, including facial recognition of customers. By utilizing this information, it is possible to provide useful information to customers and also generate significant profits for the facility. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0076] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram of an information display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a configuration diagram of an information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a plan view showing a vehicle photographing section of an information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing an information display section of an information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 5] 2 is a configuration diagram of a distribution server of the information display system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the information display device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 11 is a flowchart illustrating an additional operation of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of information displayed on an information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of information displayed on the device of one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of information displayed on the device of one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of an information display device according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0077] Hereinafter, an information display device and an information display system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the following, the scope necessary for the explanation to achieve the object of the present invention is shown in a schematic manner, and the scope necessary for the explanation of the relevant part of the present invention will be mainly explained, and the parts that are omitted from the explanation will be based on publicly known technology.

[0078] <Configuration of information display device> FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information display system according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an information display device according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a vehicle shooting section of an information display device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the information display section of an information display device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] First, the configuration of the information display device will be described. The information display device 1 installed in a certain facility (for example, a gas station SS) has a vehicle photographing unit 10 that photographs vehicles entering the facility, a vehicle registration number recognition unit 20 that recognizes the vehicle registration number (car number) from the image acquired by the vehicle photographing unit 10, a display device storage unit 30 that stores information about the vehicle registration number and information about customers who use the facility, an information display unit 40 that displays various useful information to customers, a communication interface unit 50 that interfaces with the outside for communication, and a display device control unit 60 that connects the above units and controls the entire device.

[0080] Here, one display device control unit 60 is provided in a facility (e.g., a gas station SS), and as hardware, it is preferable that the display device control unit 60 is configured by a personal computer or server with a built-in CPU, and may also include input units, output units, display units, etc., which are not shown.

[0081] Although one display device control unit 60 is provided in the facility, a local control unit may be provided in each information display unit 40 to distribute the functions.

[0082] The display device storage unit 30 may be included as part of the PC of the display device control unit 60, but when storing a large amount of data, it is preferable to provide dedicated hardware.

[0083] The display device memory unit 30 stores a wide range of information relating to the customer, including, but not limited to, sales information for gasoline and other items collected from the facility's POS system, fuel cards, point cards, credit cards, etc., and additional information entered by employees, so that the information can be retrieved when the customer returns.

[0084] The information entered by the employee includes information related to when the vehicle visits the store for the first time or when a vehicle inspection is performed at the store. By inputting this information into the display device control unit 60 from an input unit (not shown), the display device control unit 60 will be able to edit and display appropriate information the next time the employee visits the store.

[0085] Furthermore, when the information display device 1 is connected to an external server as described below, information entered by employees is transmitted to the server side, and customer information and vehicle number information stored in the control unit on the server side are used to edit the information to be displayed, for example, creating information such as "Thank you for using our vehicle inspection service" for a customer who has recently had their vehicle inspected, and transmitting this information to the information display device 1 for display on the information display device 1.

[0086] In this way, even when a control unit such as an external server is used, the control unit can be considered to be a part of the display device control unit 60 of the information display device 1.

[0087] It is desirable that these pieces of information are stored in association with information regarding the vehicle registration number recognized by the vehicle registration number recognition unit 20. As a method of association, it is possible to automatically associate the POS information at the time of the visit with the vehicle information, or to associate them by an employee's input.

[0088] It is also possible to obtain information relating to the vehicle registration number from an external database, as will be described later, and it is preferable to store this information in the display device storage unit 30 as well.

[0089] The vehicle photographing unit 10 is preferably a digital camera attached to a beam (or pillar, wall, etc.) at the top of the facility, and is preferably installed in a position where it can photograph the front of the vehicle CA of each refueling machine RD that refuels the vehicle CA, as shown in Figure 3, so that the vehicle registration number can be clearly photographed.

[0090] The number of vehicle photographing units 10 may vary, for example, if there is a location where all vehicles pass through, in which case it may be sufficient to install one at that location. Conversely, if the forward and backward directions of the vehicles are not fixed, the number of installation locations may need to be increased.

[0091] The vehicle registration number recognition unit 20 is a widely used software program that is preferably built into the display control unit 60 .

[0092] As shown in FIG. 4, when the facility is a gas station, the information display unit 40 is preferably installed above each refueling machine RD, and as hardware, an LCD (liquid crystal) display is preferable, and its width (on the front side of the refueling machine) is preferably approximately the same as the width of the front of the refueling machine or slightly smaller, but the dimensions are not limited.

[0093] If there is space for installation inside the refueling aircraft RD, for example, if it is possible to install it at the position shown in (40) of Figure 4, it may be installed therein. Furthermore, if it is possible to embed it inside the refueling aircraft RD, it may be done so, or it may be shared with the display unit used for refueling operations.

[0094] Furthermore, a peripheral photographing unit 41 is provided inside or near the information display unit 40 and is connected to the display device control unit 60. The peripheral photographing unit 41 may be an external digital camera, but if a small lens is embedded inside the information display unit 40 as shown in Fig. 4, it becomes possible to photograph the surroundings unobtrusively.

[0095] Furthermore, a face authentication unit 70 may be provided to identify a customer from a face image of the customer in the image captured by the peripheral image capture unit 41. The face authentication unit 70 is preferably software built into the display device control unit 60, which is already in practical use or will be in practical use in the future.

[0096] Furthermore, a gaze detection unit 80 may be provided to detect the gaze direction of a person from the face image of the person photographed by the peripheral photographing unit 41.

[0097] Gaze detection (or gaze estimation) is a method of detecting (estimating) eye movement to determine where the user is looking. The eye movement is detected based on the position of the moving point relative to the reference point after finding the "stationary part (reference point)" and "moving part (moving point)" of the eye. In this case, a combination of infrared light and camera is often used.

[0098] Alternatively, technology has been developed that detects or estimates the direction of gaze from images taken with a normal camera by using facial feature point detection technology, which is the core of face recognition technology.

[0099] Such gaze detection techniques that have already been developed or will be developed in the future will be incorporated into the information display device 1 as software.

[0100] Furthermore, it is desirable that the gaze detection unit 80 has a displayed information interest level grasping unit (displayed information interest level grasping function) that grasps the degree of interest in the displayed information based on the detection results, such as which part of the displayed information the gaze is focused on and the length of time the gaze is focused on.

[0101] Also, a speaker 42 may be provided in or near the information display unit 40 and connected to the display device control unit 60. This makes it possible to provide audio information corresponding to the displayed information.

[0102] Also, the microphone 43 may be provided in or near the information display unit 40 and connected to the display device control unit 60. This allows for voice responses to the displayed information and conversations with employees, etc. The speaker 42 and microphone 43 may be shared.

[0103] Furthermore, an input means 44 may be provided on or near the surface of the information display unit 40. As the input means, a touch panel placed on the surface of the information display unit 40 is preferable, but the input means is not limited thereto and any means capable of inputting information, such as a switch button, a keyboard, or a mouse, may be used.

[0104] When providing the speaker 42, microphone 43, and input means 44, products available on the market may be selected in consideration of performance, dimensions, price, and the like according to the purpose.

[0105] Furthermore, the information display device 1 may be connected to a mobile terminal 90, such as a smartphone, owned by a customer. This connection is preferably made through a social networking service (SNS), particularly LINE (registered trademark), and if the customer is registered as a member of the facility, the facility can provide the customer with useful information.

[0106] It may also be connected to an employee's mobile terminal 91, such as a smartphone carried by the employee. This terminal can display the same content as that displayed on the information display unit 40, and can also add other information specific to the employee.

[0107] <Configuration of the information display system> Next, the configuration of the information display system 100, particularly the distribution server 110 therein, will be described.

[0108] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information display system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a distribution server of the information display system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0109] The information display system 100 includes an information display device 1 installed in a plurality of facilities, and a distribution server 110 connected to a communication interface unit 50 of the information display device 1 and providing information to the information display device 1.

[0110] It is preferable to provide one distribution server 110 for a plurality of information display devices 1, but a plurality of distribution servers 101 may be provided in cooperation with each other.

[0111] The distribution server 110 has a distribution server communication interface unit 111 that enables sending and receiving information with the outside, a distribution server memory unit 112 that can store information to be distributed, a distribution server input unit 113 that executes input to the distribution server, a distribution server output unit 114 that executes output from the distribution server 110, a distribution server display unit 115 that displays information on the distribution server 110, and a distribution server control unit 116 that connects the above units and controls the entire distribution server 110.

[0112] These hardware configurations can be made using general server computer equipment, but dedicated equipment can also be used for parts that require particularly high performance. Furthermore, these devices can be installed in one location, or they can be distributed as part of cloud computing.

[0113] The distribution server communication interface unit 111 is connected to the communication interface unit 50 of the information display device 1 of each facility, and transmits and receives information.

[0114] Furthermore, outside the distribution server 110, there are various databases connected to the distribution server communication interface unit 111.

[0115] Representative examples include the automobile registration number database DB1 held by the Automobile Inspection and Registration Information Association, the light motor vehicle registration number database DB2 held by the Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Association, and the vehicle catalog database DB3 which consolidates the vehicle catalogs of various companies. There are also other databases of information related to vehicles, and it is possible to connect to these as well.

[0116] In particular, from the automobile registration number database DB1 and the light vehicle registration number database DB2, information such as the vehicle name, model, registration date, engine displacement, and vehicle inspection certificate issue date can be obtained by the automobile registration number.

[0117] In addition, the vehicle catalog database DB3 provides information about registered vehicles, such as grade, specifications, tire size, and compatible model numbers of replacement parts and components.

[0118] The information obtained from these databases is stored in the distribution server memory unit 112, and can also be transferred and stored via the distribution server communication interface unit 111 to the display device memory unit 30 of the information display device 1 of the facility that requires the information.

[0119] In addition, it is preferable that the distribution server memory unit 112 is divided into an information area 112a for each customer, an area information area 112b, and an area 112c for loan to information providers as areas for storing information to be distributed, and the corresponding information is stored in each area.

[0120] The area may be divided not only into areas of a physical storage device, but also into areas with identification codes, headers, etc., attached thereto for classification.

[0121] In addition, a display information analysis unit 120 is provided in the distribution server 110. The purpose of this is to manage and analyze a large amount of data, so-called big data, collected from multiple information display devices 1 and various databases in order to display the data on the information display device 1.

[0122] This display information analysis unit 120 is software that combines conventional statistical analysis technology and recent AI technology, and is preferably incorporated into the distribution server control unit 116, but may also be provided separately outside the distribution server 110.

[0123] Although the display information analysis unit 120 is provided within the distribution server 110, it may be provided in a distributed manner in each information display device 1 if it is small in scale.

[0124] In addition, with regard to the vehicle photographing unit 10, vehicle registration number recognition unit 20, display device memory unit 30, surrounding photographing unit 41, face authentication unit 70, gaze detection unit 80, etc., which have been described above as being provided in each information display device 1, all or part of their functions and control may be provided on or belong to the distribution server 110, and each information display device 1 may use those functions via a communication interface.

[0125] In this way, the configuration of each information display device 1 can be simplified, and operation can be achieved at low cost.

[0126] <Operation of information display device> Next, there will be described an operation of the information display device 1. Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the information display device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0127] The facility is designed to be a gas station (SS), and multiple refueling machines (RD) are installed.

[0128] A customer in a vehicle arrives at a SS and stops at one of the fuel dispensers RD. Then, the vehicle photographing unit 10 installed above and in front of the vehicle photographs the vehicle and its license plate (step S11).

[0129] Next, the vehicle registration number recognition unit 20 reads the vehicle registration number (vehicle number) from the photographed image of the license plate (step S12).

[0130] The display device control unit 60 searches the display device storage unit 30 to see if the read vehicle number is stored therein (if there is a history of past visits thereto) (Step S13).

[0131] As a result, if there is a history, related information is extracted from the display device storage unit 30 (step S14).

[0132] If there is no history, the information is inquired from an external source (such as a distribution server 110 described later) via the communication interface unit 50.

[0133] The information about the vehicle number stored in the information display device 1 or obtained by external inquiry is selected and edited by the display device control unit 60 and displayed on the information display unit (step S16).

[0134] The information displayed here may be, as mentioned above, information related to the vehicle number, such as a notice that the vehicle inspection is approaching, a recommendation to replace the vehicle (including recommended models), a recommendation for an oil change, tire change, or car wash, or a promotional car accessory, but is not limited to these. A variety of information may be displayed, such as local event information, weather information, or advertising information provided by external sponsors, which is stored in the information display device 1 or distributed from an external source.

[0135] Next, there will be explained an additional operation of the information display device 1. Fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the information display device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0136] The surrounding photographing unit 41 built into the information display unit 40 photographs the surroundings of the fuel tanker RD. In the case of self-service fueling, an image of the entire body and face of the vehicle occupant (driver, etc.) performing the fueling operation is photographed (step S21).

[0137] In particular, regarding the face image, the face recognition unit 70 detects the face image from among the captured images (step 22).

[0138] Next, the face authentication unit 70 searches the display device storage unit 30 for the detected face image (step 23).

[0139] If the face image is stored in the display device storage unit 30, the display device control unit 60 identifies the individual from the retrieved face image, and since the customer has visited the store before, related information is stored, and the information is extracted from the display device storage unit 30 (step 24).

[0140] On the other hand, if the face image is not stored in the display device storage unit 30, the display device control unit 60 queries the external device for the detected face image via the communication interface unit 50, identifies the individual, and acquires related information (step S26).

[0141] Next, the display device control unit 60 displays the extracted or acquired information related to the specific individual on the information display unit 40 (step S27).

[0142] In this way, information related to an individual identified by facial recognition can be displayed, enabling more effective sales and the provision of information that is useful to customers.

[0143] The gaze detection unit 80 may detect the gaze direction of a person from the face image of the person photographed by the peripheral photographing unit 41. In particular, when information is displayed on the information display unit 40, the gaze detection unit 80 detects the part of the information that is being gazed at, the time period and duration of gaze, etc.

[0144] The display device control unit 60 can then use these results to compile information such as which information the person was interested in, along with the person's attributes (gender, age, etc.), thereby making it possible to grasp the usefulness of the displayed information.

[0145] At this time, if the information is provided by an external information source, data regarding the usefulness of the information can be fed back to the information source, and a fee can be charged.

[0146] <Operation of the information display system> Next, a description will be given of the operation of the information display system 100 including the information display device 1 and the distribution server 110. Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the information display device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0147] First, the distribution server 110 receives an inquiry about the vehicle number of a new customer from the information display device 1 (step S51).

[0148] The distribution server control unit 116 searches the distribution server storage unit 112 to see if there is information related to the vehicle number (step 52).

[0149] If the search results in the presence of information, the distribution server control unit 116 extracts information related to the vehicle number (step S53).

[0150] If there is no information about the vehicle number, the distribution server control unit 116 queries an external database to obtain the information (step S54).

[0151] As the database, the automobile registration number database DB1 or the light vehicle registration number database DB2 is suitable, and these are searched to collect the required information.

[0152] The information that can be collected includes the vehicle name, model, registration date, engine displacement, and vehicle inspection certificate issue date, using the vehicle number as a key.

[0153] Furthermore, if the vehicle name, model, etc. are known, various information relating to the vehicle can be collected from a wide range of vehicle catalog information database DB3.

[0154] The distribution server control unit 116 distributes the information thus obtained in relation to the vehicle number to the information display device 1 as is, or after selecting and editing it (step S55).

[0155] In addition, the distribution server control unit 116 stores the acquired information related to the vehicle number in the information area 112a for each customer in the distribution server storage unit 112, and will be useful for future inquiries.

[0156] In addition, local information collected or created by the information display device 1 or the distribution server input unit 113, for example, information on local events such as festivals, information from public institutions and stores located in the area, and road and railway traffic information, is stored in the local information area 112b of the distribution server memory unit 112 and made available for distribution.

[0157] Furthermore, information provided by external information providers, such as gasoline wholesalers, car dealerships, car accessory stores, general retail stores, and restaurants, based on a distribution contract (distribution date and time, distribution time, number of distributions, fee, etc.) is stored in the area 112c of the distribution server memory unit 112 loaned to the information providers, and is made available for distribution.

[0158] For this regional information and information from information providers, the time period (morning, evening, etc.), day of the week (Sundays only, etc.), and period (October 1st to October 15th, etc.) for which information is displayed may be limited to provide efficient information and to charge the information providers based on the results.

[0159] The information to be displayed as described above may be text information, a still image, or a video. The information may be stored in a different area from that described above.

[0160] Figures 9 to 11 are figures showing examples of information displayed on an information display device of one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 shows information for each customer that is distributed from distribution server 110 or stored in information display device 1, and is used as is or edited to notify the customer of the timing of their vehicle inspection and encourage them to make a reservation.

[0161] FIG. 10 shows a display of recent plans for events in the neighborhood, which is delivered as local information from the delivery server 110 or which is stored in the information display device 1, either as is or after editing.

[0162] 11 shows information from an information provider, which is stored in the area 112c lent to the information provider in the distribution server storage unit 112 of the distribution server 110 and is distributed as is in principle. Note that editing may be added.

[0163] Although the above information has been described as being displayed on separate screens for each piece of information belonging to each area, the same screen may be divided and displayed, or multiple pieces of information for the same area may be displayed on the same screen.

[0164] In addition to the image, voice or music may be played from speaker 42 as part of the information, answers to questions or queries about the information may be provided from microphone 43, and responses required by customers or employees may be input from input means 44.

[0165] Also, the same information as that displayed on the information display unit 40, or information arranged based on that information, may be transferred to and displayed on the customer's portable terminal 90. Furthermore, similar information may be displayed on the employee's portable terminal 91 to be used for sales promotion and advertising.

[0166] As an additional operation of the distribution server 110, a large amount of data collected by the distribution server 110 may be analyzed by the display information analysis unit 120.

[0167] Here, the display information analysis unit 120 integrates and manages large amounts of data, so-called big data, from individual information display devices and information display systems, and utilizes conventional statistical analysis techniques and AI techniques to grasp the tendencies of the facility's customers.

[0168] For example, it may be possible to calculate the relationship between the type of car owned by a customer and the items that customers of that type of car like to purchase, or the effect of advertising from a sponsor (such as determining the contribution to an increase in sales volume based on the location and time of the customer's gaze on the information display unit, the customer's age group and sex, and the area where the advertising was carried out, etc.).

[0169] The results of these analyses can be provided (charged) to facility operators, wholesalers, car dealerships, car accessory stores, and the like, for a fee depending on the usefulness of the information, thereby generating revenue.

[0170] In the explanation so far, the information display device has been limited to that described in the first aspect, but the information display device may be unrestricted and a distribution server having technical characteristics may be considered as one aspect of the present invention.

[0171] That is, distribution server 110 has a distribution server communication interface unit 111 that enables sending and receiving information with the outside, a distribution server memory unit 112 that can store information to be distributed, a distribution server input unit 113 that executes input to the distribution server, a distribution server output unit 114 that executes output from distribution server 110, a distribution server display unit 115 that displays information on distribution server 110, and a distribution server control unit 116 that connects the above units and controls the entire distribution server 110.

[0172] Here, the distribution server 110 stores the information acquired from outside via the distribution server communication interface unit 111 in the distribution server storage unit 112 either as is, or after selection, or as edited distribution information, and the distribution server control unit 116 controls the information to be distributed via the distribution server communication interface unit 111 to a device capable of displaying the information upon request.

[0173] Here, the device capable of displaying information is not limited to that described in the first embodiment, but may be an existing device that is necessary for refueling and is provided in an existing refueling machine, and the display unit of the existing device may be shared, or it may be any device capable of displaying information that is provided for other purposes.

[0174] In addition, in the explanation so far, it has been stated that the recognition of the vehicle registration number and the editing of related information are performed in the information display device 1, but the distribution server 110 may receive the recognized vehicle registration number from a device capable of displaying information, edit the related information, and distribute it to a device capable of displaying information.

[0175] Furthermore, in the above explanation, the vehicle registration number recognition unit is provided in the information display device 1, but the vehicle registration number recognition unit may be provided on the distribution server 110 side.

[0176] The distribution server 110 may recognize the vehicle registration number, and based on the result, edit or otherwise compile information related to it, and distribute the information to a device capable of displaying it.

[0177] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment can contribute to solving the following problems in addition to or instead of the problems to be solved described in the previous embodiments.

[0178] The problem to be solved is to provide an information display device or information display system that can determine whether energy refueling (e.g., refueling) is being carried out appropriately at energy refueling stations such as gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, and hydrogen stations (hydrogen stations), which are vehicle-related facilities, and that can take measures such as displaying a caution or warning message on the information display device or issuing an audio warning, as necessary, and further transmitting a similar message to a customer's terminal, etc., if energy refueling is not being carried out appropriately.

[0179] This embodiment is configured as follows: The information display device 1 described above is installed in an energy reinforcement facility (for example, a gas station SS), and includes a vehicle photographing unit 10 that photographs vehicles entering the facility, a vehicle registration number recognition unit 20 that recognizes the vehicle registration number (car number) from the image acquired by the vehicle photographing unit 10, a display device storage unit 30 that stores information about the vehicle registration number and information about customers who use the facility, an information display unit 40 that displays various useful information to customers, a communication interface unit 50 that interfaces with the outside for communication, and a display device control unit 60 that connects the above units and controls the entire device.

[0180] Moreover, the peripheral image capturing unit 41 may be provided in or near the information display unit 40 and connected to the display device control unit 60 .

[0181] Furthermore, it has an appropriate energy replenishment judgment unit (not shown) that judges whether energy replenishment has been performed appropriately based on appropriate energy replenishment information contained in either the information stored in the information display device memory unit 30 as information regarding the vehicle registration number recognized by the vehicle registration number recognition unit 20, or the information obtained from the outside via the communication interface unit 50, and actual energy replenishment information obtained at the time of actual energy replenishment.

[0182] Regarding proper fuel refueling information, if the information relating to the vehicle registration number indicates the type of fuel to be refueled (regular, high octane, diesel, etc.), it is preferable to use this information; however, if the vehicle model can be determined in relation to the vehicle registration number, this can also be used to determine the type of fuel to be refueled.

[0183] The actual energy refueling information obtained during actual energy refueling is preferably information on the type of fuel selected by the customer by connecting to a refueling machine RD, or information on the refueling nozzle used by the customer.

[0184] Here, it is also possible to obtain the actual energy replenishment information from an image captured by the vehicle photographing unit 10, which is a part of the information display device 1.

[0185] In addition, in the case where the peripheral image capturing unit 41 is provided, the actual energy replenishment information can be obtained by analyzing the image captured by the peripheral image capturing unit 41.

[0186] That is, the peripheral photographing unit 41 photographs the color and shape of the fuel nozzle when refueling, and based on that, it is possible to ascertain the type of fuel that is being refueled or is currently being refueled.

[0187] Furthermore, if fuel is being filled into a container rather than into a car, the color, material, dimensions, and labeling of the container can be ascertained from images captured by the vehicle photographing unit 10 or the surrounding area photographing unit 41, making it possible to determine whether the action is legally permissible or inappropriate.

[0188] Furthermore, if criminal acts such as vandalism or theft, violent acts, or terrorist acts are detected from images captured by the peripheral imaging unit 41, the same response may be taken as in the case of improper energy replenishment.

[0189] The appropriate energy replenishment determination unit compares the appropriate energy replenishment information with the actual energy replenishment information to determine whether the energy replenishment is appropriate.

[0190] Examples of improper energy refueling include the use of the wrong type of fuel at a gas station, and the discovery of fuel being refueled into a container other than a vehicle, which may be determined to be improper energy refueling from the perspective of legal violations and danger.

[0191] When it is determined that improper fuel refueling is about to occur or has already occurred, it is preferable for the information display device control unit to display a prepared caution or warning message on the information display unit, thereby encouraging the customer to not start refueling or to stop midway.

[0192] Furthermore, if the information display device has a built-in speaker, a caution or warning message may be output as audio information.

[0193] Furthermore, if it is possible to connect to the customer's mobile terminal, it is also possible to notify the customer of improper fueling not only before and during fueling, but also after fueling by means of LINE (registered trademark), email, phone call, etc. This allows the problem to be resolved early and prevents trouble from occurring.

[0194] In addition, a notification (voice or display) of improper fueling may be sent to the portable terminals held by facility employees or to monitors in the facility. In particular, if the situation is such that manned response is possible (time of day, etc.), immediate response is possible.

[0195] In addition, in such a situation, a security company or the police may be automatically notified.

[0196] In the past, improper energy replenishment was dealt with by the information display device 1, but some or all of the functions of the information display device 1 relating to this response may be held by the distribution server 110, and the distribution server 110 may determine whether energy replenishment has been carried out appropriately.

[0197] In this way, by having distribution server 110 possess some or all of the functional parts provided in each information display device 1, the configuration of information display device 1 is simplified.

[0198] Furthermore, by having some or all of the functions on the distribution server 110 side, it becomes possible to use a wide range of external databases and to utilize accumulated appropriate or inappropriate energy replenishment information.

[0199] Next, a further embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Fig. 12 is a configuration diagram of an information display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0200] The information display device 1000 is composed of an information display unit 1010 such as a display for displaying information, a communication interface unit 1020 which interfaces with the outside world for communication, a display device memory unit 1030 which stores information, data, programs, etc., a face image capturing unit 1040 which captures a face image of a user of the device, a face image personal recognition unit 1050 which performs personal recognition of the captured face image, an information device input unit 1060 which inputs information, etc. into the device, a display device output unit 1070 which outputs information from the device, and a display device control unit 1080 which controls each part of the device.

[0201] These functional parts are preferably configured as hardware in the form of a PC or server, but may also be dedicated units, or a portion of them, such as information display unit 1010, may be made into an independent large display.

[0202] In addition, each part may be distributed and installed remotely as in cloud computing, or some parts may be integrated, separated, or deleted.

[0203] In the previous embodiments, information related to the vehicle registration number was displayed, but in this embodiment, instead of the vehicle registration number, an individual is identified using facial recognition technology and useful information is displayed to that individual.

[0204] Next, an example of the operation of this embodiment will be described. For example, in a cosmetics store, the face image capturing unit 1040 captures a face image, and the face image individual recognition unit 1050 identifies the individual by making an external inquiry via the display device storage unit 1030 or the communication interface unit 1020, and if there is a history, it can also be referred to to recommend cosmetics suitable for the individual. In this case, if the situation when the cosmetics were used is displayed on the face image, the appeal to customers will be even greater.

[0205] Similar applications are anticipated for the system, including choosing a hairstyle at a beauty salon or choosing a dress at a clothing store, and it could be used in a wide range of other areas.

[0206] Furthermore, if an individual can be recognized from a face image, it will be possible to display a congratulatory message or recommended products based on accumulated information about that individual, such as birthday information.

[0207] In other words, one-to-one marketing through recommendations becomes possible. [Industrial Applicability]

[0208] The information display device and information display system of the present invention are mainly installed in vehicle-related facilities such as gas stations, and provide great utility to many parties, including facility managers, customers, and information providers, and therefore have great industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0209] 1 Information display device 10 Vehicle Photography Department 20 Vehicle number recognition unit 30 Display device storage section 40 Information display section 41 Peripheral Photography Department 50 Communication interface section 60 Display device control unit 70 Face Recognition Unit 80 Gaze detection unit 90 Customer's mobile device 91 Employee mobile devices 100 Information Display System 110 Distribution Server 112 Distribution server memory unit 116 Distribution server control section 120 Display information analysis department 1000 Information display device 1010 Information display section 1040 Facial Image Shooting Department 1050 Facial image individual recognition unit

Claims

1. A vehicle photographing unit that photographs vehicles entering the facility; a vehicle registration number recognition unit that recognizes a vehicle registration number from the image acquired by the vehicle photographing unit; a display device storage unit for storing information relating to the vehicle registration number and information relating to customers using the facility; an information display unit capable of displaying information provided within the facility; A communication interface unit that enables transmission and reception of information with the outside; a display device control unit that controls the vehicle photographing unit, the vehicle registration number recognition unit, the display device storage unit, and the information display unit; and wherein the display device control unit selects or edits external information provided from an information source via the communication interface unit based on information regarding the vehicle registration number and information regarding customers using the facility, and displays the selected information on the information display unit.

2. 2. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device control unit selects and / or edits the externally provided information in advance or in real time.

3. 2. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the facility is a facility related to a vehicle.

4. The information display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in conjunction with the display of information on the information display unit within the facility, the externally provided information is transmitted from the facility to a customer's portable terminal and / or to a portable terminal carried by an employee of the facility.

5. 2. The information display device according to claim 1, further comprising a peripheral image capturing section disposed inside or near said information display section.

6. The information display device according to claim 5 , further comprising a face authentication unit that performs face authentication of a person photographed by the peripheral photographing unit.

7. 6. The information display device according to claim 5, further comprising a gaze detection section for detecting the gaze direction of a person from the face image of the person photographed by said peripheral photographing section.

8. An information display device according to claim 1 or 5; a distribution server connected to a communication interface unit of the information display device and providing information to the information display device; An information display system having the following:

9. The distribution server includes: A distribution server communication interface unit that enables transmission and reception of information with the outside; a distribution server storage unit capable of storing information to be distributed; a distribution server control unit that controls information acquired from the outside via the distribution server communication interface unit to be stored in the distribution server storage unit as is, selected, or edited, and to be distributed via the distribution server communication interface unit upon request; 9. The information display system according to claim 8, further comprising:

10. 10. The information display system according to claim 9, wherein the distribution server storage section has an area for distribution information for each customer, an area for distribution information relating to a region, and an area for lending to an external information provider.

11. The information display system according to claim 9, characterized in that the information acquired by the distribution server is information obtained by searching one or more of a vehicle registration number database, a light vehicle registration number database, and a vehicle catalog database using the vehicle registration number sent from the information display device.

12. The information display system according to claim 8, including the information display device according to claim 4, characterized in that the distribution server has a face authentication unit that performs face authentication of a person photographed by the peripheral photographing unit of the information display device according to claim 4.

13. The information display system according to claim 7, including the information display device according to claim 4, characterized in that the distribution server has a gaze detection unit that detects the direction of a person's gaze from a facial image of the person photographed by the peripheral photographing unit of the information display device according to claim 5.

14. 9. The information display system according to claim 8, further comprising a display information analysis unit provided in said distribution server or connected to said distribution server for analyzing information to be displayed.

15. A distribution server communication interface unit that enables transmission and reception of information with the outside; a distribution server storage unit capable of storing information to be distributed; a distribution server control unit that controls the externally provided information acquired from the outside via the distribution server communication interface unit to be stored in the distribution server storage unit as is, or as selected or edited distribution information, and to be distributed to the information display device via the distribution server communication interface unit in response to a request from the information display device; A distribution server connected to an information display device provided in a facility related to a vehicle having the vehicle.

16. A distribution server connected to an information display device provided in a facility related to a vehicle, as described in claim 15, characterized in that a vehicle photographing unit and a vehicle number recognition unit provided in the information display device receive a vehicle registration number recognized from a photographed image via the distribution server communication interface unit, and based on information related to the vehicle registration number and information about customers of the facility, external information provided from an information source via the distribution server communication interface unit is sent to the information display device via the distribution server communication interface unit as is, or selected, or as the edited distribution information, and displayed on the information display device.

17. A distribution server connected to an information display device provided in a facility related to a vehicle, as described in claim 15, characterized in that it has a vehicle number recognition unit that receives images taken by a vehicle photography device provided in the information display device via a distribution server communication interface unit and recognizes the vehicle registration number from the images, and transmits information related to the facility and / or the customer and / or useful information as is or selected from at least one of information related to the recognized vehicle registration number, information about customers of the facility, and information provided from outside via the distribution server communication interface unit, or transmits the information related to the facility and / or the customer and / or useful information to the information display device via the distribution server communication interface unit as is, or as edited distribution information, and displays it on the information display device.

18. A face image capturing unit that is provided inside or near the facility and captures a face image of a person using the facility; a face image individual recognition unit that recognizes an individual from the image acquired by the face image photographing unit; a display device storage unit that stores information about customers using the facility recognized by the face image individual recognition unit; an information display unit capable of displaying information provided within the facility; A communication interface unit that enables transmission and reception of information with the outside; a display device control unit which controls the face image photographing unit, the face image individual recognition unit, the display device storage unit, the communication interface unit, and the information display unit; and wherein the display device control unit selects or edits externally provided information provided from an information source via the communication interface unit based on information related to individual customers recognized by the facial image personal recognition unit, and displays the selected information on the information display unit.

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