Information processing device

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of proposing a request destination suitable for an installation item desired by a user of a vehicle to the user.SOLUTION: A control unit of an information processing device accepts a specification of a desired item by a user and determines a specific base which is a work base having a technical level which can cope with the desired item. The control unit also identifies a specific store which is a store associated with the specific base according to the determination of the specific base. The control unit outputs information for recommending a request for installation work to the specific store to a terminal related to the user according to the identification of the specific store.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a system that notifies a user of a vehicle that requires maintenance by suggesting a shop (eg, a dealer) that is closest to the user's location (eg, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-135752 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology that can suggest to a vehicle user a service provider suitable for the mounting items that the user desires. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device. In this case, the information processing device includes, for example, Accepting a designation of a desired item which is a vehicle body item desired by a user; In response to receiving the designation of the desired item, determining a specific base that is a work base that satisfies a technical level required for the installation of the desired item; In response to the determination of the specific base, identifying a specific store that is a store associated with the specific base; In response to the identification of the specific store, outputting information recommending that the specific store be requested to perform the installation work of the desired item to a terminal related to the user; The control unit is configured to:

[0006] The present disclosure can also be regarded as an information processing method in which a computer executes the processing of the information processing device. Also, the present disclosure can be regarded as an information processing program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method, or a non-transitory storage medium for storing the information processing program. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a technology that can suggest to a vehicle user a service provider suitable for the bodywork items desired by the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a proposal Web page in the embodiment. [Diagram 3] A figure showing an example of information stored in a mounting item DB in an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a work base DB according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow executed by a server in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] In recent years, services that retrofit vehicles with the body fitting items desired by the vehicle users (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "body fitting services") have been developed. The work of fitting body fitting items requires a different level of skill than maintenance work, and therefore it is expected that the fitting work will be carried out at a work base separate from a maintenance factory attached to a store such as a dealer. Therefore, a conceivable service format for providing the body fitting service is one in which the user requests the fitting work through a store such as a dealer.

[0010] However, there are a wide variety of types of body fitting items, and the technical level required for the work base that performs the body fitting work differs for each body fitting item. In addition, not all work bases have a technical level that can handle all body fitting items. Therefore, the body fitting work needs to be performed at a work base that has a technical level that can handle the body fitting items desired by the user. Accordingly, the user needs to request the body fitting work from a store that is affiliated with the corresponding work base. Therefore, a means is needed to suggest to the user a store that is affiliated with a work base that has a technical level that can handle the body fitting items desired by the user.

[0011] In contrast, in the information processing device according to the present disclosure, the control unit accepts the designation of a desired item, which is a body item desired by the user. In one example, the control unit may output a user interface screen including an input field for a body item desired by the user through a web browser of a terminal related to the user, and allow the user to input the desired item into the input field. The terminal related to the user may be a computer carried by the user, such as a smartphone, or may be a computer installed in the user's vehicle.

[0012] In response to receiving the designation of the desired item, the control unit determines a work base (specific base) that has a technical level capable of handling the desired item. In one example, the information processing device may include a storage device that stores information (first information) regarding the technical level required for mounting each of the multiple mounting items, and information (second information) regarding the technical level possessed by each of the multiple work bases. In this case, the control unit may identify the technical level required for mounting the desired item based on the desired item and the first information. The control unit may determine the work base that has the identified technical level as the specific base based on the identified technical level and the second information.

[0013] In addition, when the user specifies multiple desired items, the control unit may specify the highest technical level among the technical levels required for mounting each of the multiple desired items based on the first information. Then, the control unit may determine the work base having the specified highest technical level as the specific base based on the second information.

[0014] In addition, when there are multiple work bases having the specified skill level, the control unit may determine the work base that is closest to the user's location among the multiple work bases as the specific location. The "user's location" here refers to the location of the user's home, the location of the user's workplace, the location of the vehicle storage area, etc.

[0015] The control unit identifies a specific store that is a store associated with the specific base in response to the selection of the specific base. In one example, the information processing device may be equipped with a storage device that stores information (third information) about the stores associated with each of the multiple work bases, in addition to the above-mentioned first information and second information. In this case, the control unit may identify the store associated with the specific base as the specific store based on the determined specific base and the third information. Here, the "store associated with each of the multiple work bases" refers to a store that is affiliated with each of the multiple work bases (a store that serves as a contact point for requests for bodywork work for each of the multiple work bases).

[0016] In response to the identification of the specific store, the control unit outputs information recommending that the specific store be requested to carry out installation work for the desired item (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "recommended information") to a terminal related to the user. In one example, the control unit may output a user interface screen including the recommended information through a web browser of the terminal related to the user. The user interface screen may further include a name of the specific store, an address of the specific store, contact information of the specific store, and a GUI component for selecting whether or not to request installation work from the specific store.

[0017] According to the information processing device of the present disclosure, a vehicle user can specify a desired mounting item (desired item) of the user to know a shop (specific shop) that can accept a mounting work request to a work base (specific base) that has a technical level capable of mounting the desired item. This allows the user to request mounting work to the specific base through the specific shop.

[0018] Furthermore, the control unit of the information processing device according to the present disclosure may be configured to accept a request from a user to a specific store for installation work on a vehicle. In one example, the control unit may accept a request for installation work from a specific store in response to a user selecting a request for installation work from a specific store on a user interface screen including recommended information. The control unit may be configured to transmit, in response to accepting a request for installation work from the specific store, an instruction to deliver supplies required for installation work of the desired item to a terminal of the delivery base. This can save an employee of the specific store or the specific base the trouble of ordering supplies required for installation work of the desired item.

[0019] Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the hardware configuration, module configuration, functional configuration, and the like described in the following embodiments are not intended to limit the technical scope of the disclosure to only those.

[0020] <Embodiment> DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an example in which an information processing device according to the present disclosure is applied to a system that provides vehicle customization services will be described.

[0021] (System Configuration) Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a system 1 in this embodiment. The system 1 in this embodiment provides a vehicle fitting service, and includes a user terminal 100, a server 200, and a terminal 300. In the example shown in Fig. 1, only one user terminal 100 is shown, but multiple user terminals 100 may be included in the system 1.

[0022] The user terminal 100 is a terminal used by a user of the vehicle 10, and is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a wearable terminal, a PC (Personal Computer), or the like. In the embodiment, a browser application program is installed on the user terminal 100.

[0023] The server 200 is a computer operated by a provider of an installation service. As one example, the provider of the installation service may be a business that sells or leases the vehicle 10 to the user. As another example, the provider of the installation service may be a business whose business is installation work on the vehicle 10. The server 200 can be configured as a computer having a processor such as a CPU or GPU, a main memory device such as a RAM and a ROM, and an auxiliary memory device such as an EPROM, a hard disk drive, or a removable media. The auxiliary memory device of the server 200 stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, etc. The processor of the server 200 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary storage device into the installation work area of ​​the main storage device and executes them to realize various functions that meet predetermined purposes, as described below. However, some or all of the functions of the server 200 may be realized by hardware circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0024] The server 200 in this embodiment is configured to be capable of realizing a Web server for interacting with the user terminal 100. The server 200 interacts with the user terminal 100 through the execution of the Web server, thereby accepting the designation of an installation item (desired item) desired by the user of the vehicle 10, and providing the user with information recommending a shop suitable for a request for installation work on the desired item. The server 200 may provide the above-mentioned service by a means other than a Web server. For example, the server 200 may execute a service that interacts with dedicated application software installed in the user terminal 100 through a predetermined protocol.

[0025] The server 200 that realizes the above-mentioned functions includes a communication unit 210, a control unit 220, and a storage unit 230, as shown in FIG.

[0026] The communication unit 210 is a communication interface for connecting the server 200 to the network N1. The communication unit 210 connects to the network N1 via, for example, a LAN or Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and communicates with the user terminal 100 and the terminal 300 via the network N1. The network N1 is, for example, a WAN, which is a global public communication network such as the Internet, or another communication network.

[0027] The control unit 220 is a software module that is realized by the processor of the server 200 executing a program stored in an auxiliary storage device. The control unit 220 interacts with the user terminal 100 through the execution of a Web server. In this embodiment, the control unit 220 causes an input Web page to be displayed on the browser of the user terminal 100. In one example, the input Web page includes an input field for information on the vehicle 10 (information including at least the vehicle model among information such as the vehicle model, vehicle color, vehicle number, and character string on the vehicle registration plate), an input field for desired items, and the like.

[0028] When the information of the vehicle 10 and the desired items are input on the input web page, the control unit 220 generates recommended information. The recommended information is information about a store recommended as a place to request the installation work of the desired items. In generating such recommended information, the control unit 220 first identifies a technical level required for the installation of the desired items input on the input web page. The technical level required for the installation of the desired items includes having the equipment required for the installation work of the desired items and having the installation worker have the skills required for the installation work of the desired items. The control unit 220 determines a work base (specific base) having the identified technical level. The control unit 220 identifies a store (specific store) associated with the determined specific base. The specific store associated with the specific base is a store (e.g., a dealer that sold or leased the vehicle 10) that serves as a contact point when requesting installation work from the specific base.

[0029] The above-mentioned identification of the technical level, the determination of the specific base, and the identification of the specific store are performed based on information stored in the memory unit 230 described later (information registered in the bodywork item DB 231 and information registered in the work base DB 232 item DB).

[0030] After the control unit 220 has specified the specific store, it generates recommendation information. The recommendation information is information that recommends that the installation work of the desired item be requested to the specific store. In one example, the recommendation information The information may include, for example, the name of the specific store, the address of the specific store, and contact information of the specific store. After generating the recommendation information, the control unit 220 outputs a proposal web page including the generated recommendation information through the web browser of the user terminal 100.

[0031] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a proposal web page in this embodiment. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the proposal web page includes a display field for recommended information (G1 in Fig. 2) and a GUI component (G2 in Fig. 2) representing a button for requesting installation work to a specific store (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "installation work request button"). In the example shown in Fig. 2, the display field for recommended information (G1 in Fig. 2) includes the model of the vehicle 10, the installation items (desired items) desired by the user, the name of the specific store, the address of the specific store, and contact information for the specific store.

[0032] When a user operates an installation work request button through the user terminal 100 on the proposal web page exemplified in FIG. 2, the control unit 220 transmits a delivery request to the terminal 300 described below through the communication unit 210. The delivery request is a delivery request for supplies required when installing the desired item on the vehicle 10. In one example, the delivery request may include the product number of the supplies, the name of the specific base, and the address of the specific base. In addition to the delivery request described above, the control unit 220 also makes a request to the specific base to install the desired item. The installation request may be made through a specific store.

[0033] The configuration of the proposal Web page is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 2, and the display contents can be flexibly changed according to the embodiment.

[0034] Next, the memory unit 230 is a memory area constructed in the auxiliary storage device of the server 200. In the present embodiment, a mounting item DB 231 and a work base DB 232 are constructed in the memory unit 230. The mounting item DB 231 and the work base DB 232 are relational databases constructed by the processor of the server 200 executing a DBMS (Database Management System) program.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the mounting item DB 231. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the mounting item DB 231 includes multiple tables (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "mounting item information tables") for each vehicle model. Each mounting item information table has multiple records for each mounting item. Each record has a mounting item field and a technical level field, etc. In the mounting item field, an identifier of a mounting item corresponding to each vehicle model (for example, the name of the mounting item or the identification number of the mounting item, etc.) is registered. In the technical level field, information indicating a technical level required for mounting each mounting item is registered. Note that the configuration of the records stored in the mounting item DB 231 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 3, and fields can be added, omitted, or changed as appropriate.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the work base DB 232. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the work base DB 232 has a plurality of records for each work base. Each record has a work base ID field, a technical level field, a store information field, and the like. In the work base ID field, information (work base ID) for identifying each of a plurality of work bases is registered. In the technical level field, information indicating the technical level of each work base is registered. In the store information field, information of the store associated with each work base is registered. In other words, in the store information field, information of the store that serves as a contact point when making a bodywork request to each work base is registered. Information registered in the store information field includes, for example, the name of the store, the name of the store, and the contact information of the store. Note that the configuration of the records stored in the work base DB 232 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 4, and fields can be added, omitted, or changed as appropriate.

[0037] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 1, the terminal 300 is a computer installed at a distribution base for supplies necessary for the installation of the installation item. As an example, the distribution base may be an office or warehouse of a business that sells the supplies necessary for the installation of the installation item. As another example, the distribution base may be an office or warehouse of a business that stores the supplies necessary for the installation of the installation item.

[0038] (Processing flow) The process flow executed by the server 200 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing a process routine executed by the server 200 when a user accesses the URL of an input web page through a web browser of the user terminal 100. Note that the process routine of Fig. 5 is executed by the processor of the server 200, but the following description will be given assuming that the software module of the server 200 is the executing entity.

[0039] When the user accesses the URL of the input web page through the web browser of the user terminal 100, the control unit 220 of the server 200 causes the input web page to be displayed on the web browser of the user terminal 100 (step S101). As described above, the input web page includes an input field for information about the vehicle 10 (for example, information including at least the vehicle model among the vehicle model, vehicle color, vehicle number, and character strings on the vehicle registration plate), an input field for desired items, etc. After completing the process of step S101, the control unit 220 executes the process of step S102.

[0040] In step S102, control unit 220 determines whether input into the input field of the input Web page is complete. If input into the input field is not complete (negative determination in step S102), control unit 220 waits until input into the input field is complete. If input into the input field is complete (positive determination in step S102), control unit 220 executes the process of step S103.

[0041] In step S103, the control unit 220 identifies the technical level required for mounting the desired item based on the information entered on the input Web page and the information stored in the mounting item DB 231. Specifically, the control unit 220 first accesses the mounting item DB 231 based on the vehicle model of the vehicle 10 entered on the input Web page, and identifies the mounting item information table corresponding to the input vehicle model. The control unit 220 identifies a record corresponding to the desired item entered on the input Web page (a record in which an identifier matching the desired item is registered in the mounting item field) among the records registered in the identified mounting item information table. The control unit 220 identifies the information registered in the technical level field of the identified record (technical level required for mounting the desired item).

[0042] When multiple desired items are input on the input Web page, the control unit 220 may identify records corresponding to each of the multiple desired items from among the records in the mounting item information table corresponding to the vehicle model of the vehicle 10. Then, the control unit 220 may identify the highest technical level from among the technical level fields of each of the identified multiple records.

[0043] After completing the process of step S103, the control unit 220 executes the process of step S104. In step S104, the control unit 220 determines a work base (specific base) having the technical level identified in step S103. Specifically, the control unit 220 accesses the work base DB 232 based on the technical level identified in step S103, and identifies a record in which information matching the team technical level is registered in the technical level field. The control unit 220 determines the work base corresponding to the identified record as the specific base.

[0044] If there are multiple records in which information matching the technical level identified in step S103 is registered in the technical level field, the control unit 220 may identify a record among the multiple records in which the store location registered in the store information field is closest to the user's location. Then, the control unit 220 may determine the work base corresponding to the identified record as the specific base. The user's location may be the location of the user's home, the location of the user's workplace, or the location of the storage location of the vehicle 10. Such a user's location may be input on an input web page.

[0045] After completing the process of step S104, the control unit 220 executes the process of step S105. In step S105, the control unit 220 identifies a store associated with the specific base determined in step S104 (a store that serves as a contact point when requesting installation work from the specific base) as the specific store. Specifically, the control unit 220 identifies a store registered in the store information field of the record identified in step S104 as the specific store. After completing the process of step S105, the control unit 220 executes the process of step S106.

[0046] In step S106, when the control unit 220 has finished identifying the specific store, it generates recommendation information. The recommendation information is information that recommends that the installation work of the desired item be requested from the specific store. In one example, the recommendation information may include, for example, the name of the specific store, the address of the specific store, and contact information of the specific store. When the control unit 220 has finished executing the process of step S106, it executes the process of step S107.

[0047] In step S107, the control unit 220 outputs a proposal Web page including the recommended information generated in step S106 through the Web browser of the user terminal 100. As illustrated in Fig. 2 above, the proposal Web page includes a display field for the recommended information (G1 in Fig. 2) and a GUI component (G2 in Fig. 2) representing a button for requesting installation work to a specific shop (installation work request button). After completing the process of step S107, the control unit 220 executes the process of step S108.

[0048] In step S108, the control unit 220 judges whether the user has operated the bodywork work request button on the proposal Web page through the user terminal 100. If the bodywork work request button has not been operated (negative judgment in step S108), the control unit 220 waits until the bodywork work request button is operated. If browsing of the proposal Web page is terminated without operating the bodywork work request button (if execution of the Web browser in the user terminal 100 is terminated, or if the display target of the Web browser of the user terminal 100 is shifted from the proposal Web page to another Web page, etc.), the control unit 220 may terminate execution of the processing routine of FIG. 5. On the other hand, if the bodywork work request button has been operated (positive judgment in step S108), the control unit 220 executes the processing of step S109.

[0049] In step S109, the control unit 220 transmits a delivery request to the terminal 300 via the communication unit 210. The delivery request is a delivery request for supplies required when mounting the desired item on the vehicle 10. In one example, the delivery request may include the product number of the supplies, the name of the specific base, and the address of the specific base. In addition to the delivery request described above, the control unit 220 also makes a request to the specific base to mount the desired item. The mounting request may be made through the specific store. After completing the processing of step S109, the control unit 220 ends the execution of this processing routine.

[0050] (Actions and Effects of the Embodiments) In the above-described embodiment, the user of the vehicle 10 selects a desired item on the input Web page. When the user specifies the desired item, the server 200 displays the proposal Web page on the Web browser of the user terminal 100. This allows the user of the vehicle 10 to know a store (specific store) that can accept a request for mounting work to a work base (specific base) that has a technical level capable of mounting the desired item. In other words, the user of the vehicle 10 can know a request destination that is suitable for mounting the desired item. Furthermore, the user of the vehicle 10 can request mounting work for the desired item by operating a mounting work request button on the proposal Web page. As a result, the user of the vehicle 10 can request mounting work to a specific base that has a technical level capable of mounting the desired item through the specific store.

[0051] In addition, when the user of the vehicle 10 operates the installation work request button on the proposal web page, a delivery request for the supplies required for the installation work of the desired item to a specific base is automatically sent to the delivery base, thereby eliminating the need for employees of a specific store or specific base to go through the trouble of ordering the supplies.

[0052] In this embodiment, the server 200 corresponds to the "information processing device" according to the present disclosure. The control unit 220 of the server 200 corresponds to the "control unit" according to the present disclosure. Furthermore, the information stored in the mounting item DB 231 corresponds to the "first information" according to the present disclosure. Among the information stored in the work base DB 232, the link between the work base and the technical level corresponds to the "second information" according to the present disclosure. Among the information stored in the work base DB 232, the link between the work base and the store corresponds to the "third information" according to the present disclosure.

[0053] <Other embodiments> The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and the present disclosure may be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the processing performed by the server 200 may be performed by the user terminal 100. That is, the user terminal 100 may execute a dedicated application program to output a user interface screen similar to the input web page, identify a skill level, determine a specific base, identify a specific store, generate recommended information, output a user interface screen similar to the proposal web page, request a specific base via a specific store for installation work, and request delivery to a delivery base. In this case, the user terminal 100 corresponds to the "information processing device" according to the present disclosure. Also, the "control unit" according to the present disclosure is achieved by the processor of the user terminal 100 executing a dedicated application program.

[0054] In addition, the processes and configurations described in this disclosure can be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradictions arise. Furthermore, a process described as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by multiple devices. Furthermore, a process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by one device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration for implementing each function can be flexibly changed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 100 User terminal, 200 Server, 210 Communication unit, 220 Control unit, 230 Storage unit, 231 Bodywork item DB, 232 Work base DB, 300 Terminal

Claims

1. Accepting a designation of a desired item which is a vehicle body item desired by a user; In response to receiving the designation of the desired item, determining a specific base that is a work base having a technical level capable of handling the desired item; In response to the determination of the specific base, identifying a specific store that is associated with the specific base; In response to the identification of the specific store, outputting information recommending that the specific store be requested to perform the installation work of the desired item to a terminal related to the user; A control unit configured to execute Information processing device.

2. Further provided is a storage device for storing first information on a technical level required for mounting each of the plurality of mounting items, second information on a technical level possessed by each of the plurality of work bases, and third information on a store associated with each of the plurality of work bases, Determining the specific base includes: Identifying the technical level required for mounting the desired item according to the first information stored in the storage device; determining the work base having the specified technical level as the specified base according to the second information stored in the storage device; Including, Identifying the specific store includes: identifying a store associated with the determined specific base as the specific store according to the third information stored in the storage device; Including, The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. When the user specifies a plurality of desired items, selecting the specific base includes: Identifying the highest technical level among technical levels required for mounting each of the plurality of desired items according to the first information stored in the storage device; determining a work base having the specified technical level as the specified base according to the second information stored in the storage device; Including, The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. When there are a plurality of work bases having the specified skill level, the control unit determines, as the specified base, the work base having a corresponding store location closest to the user's location among the plurality of work bases having the specified skill level. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

5. The control unit is Accepting a request from the user to the specific shop for installation work on the vehicle; In response to receiving a request for installation work at the specific store, an instruction to deliver the items required for installation of the desired item to the specific base is transmitted to a terminal at the delivery base. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

Images