Method implemented by terminal device

Abstract

To provide an improved technique for providing users with content related to a target area.SOLUTION: A method implemented by a terminal device of a user is provided, the method comprising determining whether a vehicle of the user is parked in a target area or not based on location information of the vehicle, and displaying an image linked to content related to the target area on a screen of the terminal device of the user when the vehicle is determined to be parked in the target area and current time is within business hours of the target area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method executed by a terminal device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a technology for providing a user with content related to a target area. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing device that displays a web page of a service area when it detects that a vehicle has entered the service area. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-346041 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There was room for improvement in the technology that provided users with content related to their area of ​​interest.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the technology for providing users with content related to a target area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method comprises: A method executed by a user terminal device, comprising: Determining whether the vehicle is parked in a target area based on location information of the user's vehicle; and When it is determined that the vehicle is parked in the target area and the target area is within business hours, an image linked to content related to the target area is displayed on a screen of the terminal device of the user. Includes. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, techniques for providing content related to an area of ​​interest to a user are improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a terminal device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a server. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

[0010] (Overview of the embodiment) An overview of a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The system 1 includes a terminal device 10 and a server 20. The terminal device 10 and the server 20 can communicate with each other via a network 30 including, for example, the Internet and a mobile communication network.

[0011] The terminal device 10 is a computer capable of installing and executing an application program, such as a PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. A dedicated application having a car navigation function is installed in the terminal device 10. Alternatively, the terminal device 10 is a car navigation system (Automotive navigation system) installed in a user's vehicle V. The terminal device 10 is used by a user. As described below, the terminal device 10 displays an image linked to content related to a target area and outputs synthetic voice.

[0012] The server 20 may belong to, for example, a cloud computing system or other computing system, and may implement various functions. The server 20 may communicate with the terminal device 10 via a network 30.

[0013] The network 30 may include the Internet, at least one WAN, at least one M "WAN" is an abbreviation for wide area network. "MAN" is an abbreviation for metropolitan area network. Network 30 may include at least one wireless network, at least one optical network, or a combination thereof. The wireless network may be, for example, an ad-hoc network, a cellular network, a wireless LAN, a satellite communication network, or a terrestrial microwave network. "LAN" is an abbreviation for local area network.

[0014] Vehicle V is the vehicle in which the user rides.

[0015] In this embodiment, a user is traveling on a road such as an expressway (hereinafter, referred to as a “road, etc.”) in a vehicle V. The user can use each target area on the travel route of the vehicle V.

[0016] In addition, a dedicated application (hereinafter, referred to as a "coupon app") that displays coupons that can be used in a target area is installed in the user's terminal device 10. By using the coupon app, the user can receive services such as discounts at specified facilities in the target area. The coupon app may be equipped with other functions in addition to the coupon display function.

[0017] In this embodiment, a "target area" refers to an area where a vehicle V can enter from a road or the like and where a user can park the vehicle V for a certain period of time to take a break or to replenish the vehicle V with energy. The target area is, for example, a service area (SA) or a parking area (PA), but is not limited to these. In this embodiment, when the vehicle V enters the target area, it travels on an access road (deceleration lane) and parks in a parking lot. Also, in this embodiment, business hours are set for the target area, and a user can use a coupon at a specified facility when the target area is within business hours.

[0018] In this embodiment, "vehicle V is parked in a target area" means that vehicle V is parked at a certain location within the target area.

[0019] In this embodiment, "content related to the target area" includes, but is not limited to, a web page for the target area, a download page for a coupon app, and a coupon list page on a coupon app (hereinafter referred to as "specific pages").

[0020] In this embodiment, the "image linked to the content related to the target area" refers to a banner image linked to the content related to the target area. When the user selects the banner image displayed on the screen by touching it, the terminal device 10 displays the linked web page or the like on the screen. The banner image may also be in any other format, such as a button format.

[0021] In this embodiment, the "information about the target area" may include the URL of a web page in the target area and link information to a specific page on the coupon app, such as a deep link. Hereinafter, the link information to a specific page on the coupon app is also referred to as "first information." The information about the target area is stored in advance in the server 20 and can be changed as desired.

[0022] In this embodiment, the "first information" is link information to a specific page on a coupon app that displays coupons that can be used in a target area. The first information is stored in advance on the server 20, but may not be stored depending on the target area.

[0023] Here, an overview of this embodiment will be described, and details will be described later. The terminal device 10 judges whether or not the vehicle V of the user is parked in the target area based on the position information of the vehicle V. Then, when it is judged that the vehicle V is parked in the target area and the target area is within business hours, the terminal device 10 displays an image linked to content related to the target area on the screen of the user's terminal device 10.

[0024] According to this embodiment, it is possible to easily convey recommended information such as coupons, events, gourmet food, and congestion information for the target area to a user who uses the target area. In addition, the recommended information can be conveyed safely by conveying the information after the user parks in the target area. In this way, the technology for providing content related to the target area to a user is improved in that the user who uses the target area can easily and safely grasp the recommended information for the target area.

[0025] Next, each of the components of the system 1 will be described in detail.

[0026] (Terminal Device Configuration) As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, an input unit 14, an output unit 15, and an acquisition unit 16.

[0027] The control unit 11 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination of these. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited to these. The programmable circuit is, for example, but is not limited to, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). The dedicated circuit is, for example, but is not limited to, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 11 controls the operation of the entire terminal device 10.

[0028] The storage unit 12 includes one or more memories. The memories are, for example, but not limited to, semiconductor memories, magnetic memories, or optical memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 12 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 12 stores any information used in the operation of the terminal device 10. For example, the storage unit 12 may store a system program, an application program, map information, and the like. The information stored in the storage unit 12 may be updatable with information acquired from the network 30 via the communication unit 13, for example.

[0029] The communication unit 13 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 30. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, a mobile communication standard such as 4G (4th Generation) and 5G (5th Generation), a wired LAN (Local Area Network) standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but may correspond to any communication standard without being limited thereto. In this embodiment, the terminal device 10 communicates with the server 20 via the communication unit 13 and the network 30.

[0030] The input unit 14 includes one or more input devices that detect an input operation by a user. The input devices are, for example, but not limited to, a physical key, a capacitive key, a mouse, a touch panel, a touch screen that is integral with the display of the output unit 15, or a microphone. Alternatively, the input unit 14 may include an interface for connecting an external input device.

[0031] The output unit 15 includes one or more output devices that output information. The output devices are, for example, but not limited to, a display that outputs information as a video or a speaker that outputs information as a sound. Alternatively, the output unit 15 may include an interface for connecting an external output device.

[0032] The acquisition unit 16 includes a GPS receiver that receives GPS signals from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites. The control unit 11 derives the position (e.g., latitude and longitude) of the terminal device 10 based on the GPS signals received by the acquisition unit 16.

[0033] (Server configuration) As shown in FIG. 3, the server 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication unit .

[0034] The control unit 21 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination of these. The control unit 21 controls the operation of the entire server 20.

[0035] The storage unit 22 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 22 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores any information used in the operation of the server 20. For example, the storage unit 22 may store a system program, an application program, map information, embedded software, a database, and the like.

[0036] The communication unit 23 includes one or more communication interfaces that connect to the network 30. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, a mobile communication standard, a wired LAN standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but is not limited to these and may correspond to any communication standard.

[0037] In the present embodiment, the communication unit 23 can obtain the position information of the vehicle V by receiving it from the terminal device 10.

[0038] (Terminal device operation) The operation of the terminal device 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The operation in Fig. 4 corresponds to the method according to this embodiment.

[0039] S100: The control unit 11 of the terminal device 10 acquires the position information of the vehicle V.

[0040] Any method may be used to acquire the location information. For example, the control unit 11 acquires the location information of the vehicle V by the acquisition unit 16. The location information of the vehicle V may be specified by longitude and latitude.

[0041] The location information may be acquired at any time.

[0042] S101: The control unit 11 determines whether the vehicle V is parked in the target area. If it is determined that the vehicle V is parked (S101-Yes), the process proceeds to S102. If it is determined that the vehicle V is not parked (S101-No), the process ends.

[0043] Any method may be adopted to determine whether the vehicle V is parked in the target area. For example, if the position information of the vehicle V indicates that it is within the premises of the target area and the position of the vehicle V does not change for a certain period of time, the control unit 11 may determine that the vehicle V is parked in the target area. For example, if the position information of the vehicle V indicates that it is within the premises of the target area and does not change for 10 seconds, the control unit 11 may determine that the vehicle V is parked in the target area. On the other hand, if the position information of the vehicle V indicates a position on the main line, the control unit 11 may determine that the vehicle V is not parked in the target area. Also, even if the position information of the vehicle V indicates that it is within the premises of the target area, if the position of the vehicle V changes, the control unit 11 may determine that the vehicle V is not parked in the target area.

[0044] S102: The control unit 11 judges whether or not it is within the business hours of the target area. If it is judged to be within the business hours (S102-Yes), the process proceeds to S103. If it is judged to be outside the business hours (S102-No), the process ends.

[0045] Any method can be used to determine whether or not it is within business hours. For example, the control unit 11 obtains information about business hours of the target area, and determines whether or not it is within business hours of the target area at the time of executing S102. The information about business hours of the target area may be obtained in advance by the control unit 11, or may be obtained at the time of executing S102. The information about business hours of the target area may be obtained, for example, from an external server via the Internet, or may be obtained from the server 20, with the information having been input in advance to the server 20.

[0046] S103: The control unit 11 acquires information about the target area.

[0047] Any method can be used to acquire information about the target area. For example, the control unit 11 may acquire information about the target area from an external server via the Internet, or may acquire the information from the server 20 that has been input in advance to the server 20. The information about the target area may be acquired in advance by the control unit 11, or may be acquired when S103 is executed.

[0048] S104: The control unit 11 judges whether the information on the target area includes the first information. If it is judged that the information includes the first information (S104-Yes), the process proceeds to S105. If it is judged that the information does not include the first information (S104-No), the process proceeds to S107.

[0049] For example, the control unit 11 may execute S104 at the same time as acquiring the information on the target area in S103, and determine whether the first information is included.

[0050] S105: The control unit 11 outputs the first synthetic voice.

[0051] For example, the control unit 11 outputs a message in a synthetic voice informing the user of coupons that can be used in a target area from the output unit 15. The control unit 11 may also output a message informing the user to select an image linked to a specific page on a coupon app, which will be described later.

[0052] S106: The control unit 11 displays the image linked to the specific page on the coupon application as the above-mentioned "image linked to the content related to the target area."

[0053] For example, the control unit 11 displays an image linked to a specific page in the coupon app on the map screen of the terminal device 10 at the same time as outputting the first synthetic voice in S105. When the user selects the image, the specific page of the coupon app is displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10. This allows the user to know discount information and the like for facilities in the target area. Also, as described above, the user can use the coupon app to receive services such as discounts at specified facilities in the target area.

[0054] S107: The control unit 11 outputs the second synthetic voice.

[0055] S107 is executed when it is determined that the information on the target area does not include the first information, i.e., information on coupons. Therefore, the control unit 11 outputs a second synthetic voice having a content different from that of the first synthetic voice from the output unit 15. For example, the control unit 11 may output a message directing the user to a web page on the target area.

[0056] S108: The control unit 11 displays the image linked to the web page of the target area as the above-mentioned "image linked to the content related to the target area."

[0057] For example, the control unit 11 displays an image linked to a web page of the target area on the map screen of the terminal device 10 at the same time as outputting the second synthetic speech in S107. When the user selects the image, the web page of the target area is displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10. Even if there are no coupons or the like available in the target area, the user can learn information about facilities and the like in the target area by viewing the web page of the target area.

[0058] As described above, the terminal device 10 determines whether or not the user's vehicle V is parked in the target area based on the position information of the user's vehicle V. If it is determined that the vehicle V is parked in the target area and the target area is within business hours, the terminal device 10 displays an image linked to content related to the target area on the screen of the user's terminal device 10.

[0059] According to this configuration, it is possible to easily convey recommended information such as coupons, events, gourmet food, and congestion information for the target area to a user who uses the target area. In addition, the recommended information can be conveyed safely by conveying the information after the user parks in the target area. In this way, the technology for providing content related to the target area to users is improved in that users who use the target area can easily and safely grasp recommended information for the target area.

[0060] Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component or step can be rearranged so as not to be logically inconsistent, and multiple components or steps can be combined or divided into one.

[0061] For example, in the above-described embodiment, assuming that a coupon app is installed in the terminal device 10, if it is determined that the information on the target area includes the first information (S104-Yes), an image linked to a specific page on the coupon app is displayed (S106). In contrast, in a modified example, if a coupon app is not installed in the terminal device 10 and it is determined that the information on the target area includes the first information, an image linked to a download page of the coupon app may be displayed as an "image linked to content related to the target area". In this case, the control unit 11 of the terminal device 10 may display an image linked to the download page of the coupon app on the screen of the terminal device 10. When the user selects an image, the download page of the coupon app may be displayed on the screen. At this time, the control unit 11 may display an image linked to a web page of the target area together with an image linked to the download page of the coupon app.

[0062] Also, for example, in one modified example of the above-described embodiment, in S101, the control unit 11 of the terminal device 10 may determine that the vehicle V has been parked in the target area when a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle V traveled along an entrance road to the target area. For example, the control unit 11 may determine that the vehicle V has been parked in the target area when 30 seconds have elapsed since the vehicle V traveled along an entrance road to the target area.

[0063] Also, for example, in one variation of the above-described embodiment, the control unit 11 of the terminal device 10 may output, in S105 and / or S107, information that the target area wants to inform the user about, such as information about events taking place in the target area, in synthetic voice.

[0064] Also, for example, an embodiment is possible in which the server 20 executes part of the processes executed by the terminal device 10 in the above-described embodiment.

[0065] Also, for example, an embodiment is possible in which a general-purpose computer functions as the terminal device 10 according to the above-described embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing contents for realizing each function of the terminal device 10 according to the above-described embodiment is stored in the memory of the general-purpose computer, and the program is read and executed by a processor. Therefore, the present disclosure can also be realized as a program executable by a processor, or a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores the program.

Claims

1. A method executed by a user terminal device, comprising: Determining whether the vehicle is parked in a target area based on location information of the user's vehicle; and When it is determined that the vehicle is parked in the target area and the target area is within business hours, an image linked to content related to the target area is displayed on a screen of the terminal device of the user. A method comprising:

2. 2. The method of claim 1 , obtaining information about the area of ​​interest; The terminal device outputting a first synthetic speech when the information about the target area includes first information about a coupon available in the target area; outputting a second synthetic speech having a content different from that of the first synthetic speech if the information about the target area does not include the first information.

3. 3. The method of claim 2, The first information regarding the coupons available in the target area is link information to a specific page on a dedicated application that displays coupons available in the target area, A method according to claim 1, wherein, when the information regarding the target area includes the first information and the dedicated application is installed on the terminal device, the image is an image linked to the specific page on the dedicated application.

4. 3. The method of claim 2, A method according to claim 1, wherein if the information regarding the target area includes the first information and a dedicated application is not installed on the terminal device, the image is an image linked to a download page of the dedicated application.

5. 3. The method of claim 2, A method, wherein if the information about the area of ​​interest does not include the first information, the image is an image that is linked to a web page of the area of ​​interest.

Images