Electronic device and program

Abstract

To provide an electronic device capable of allowing a user to easily acquire various kinds of information more conveniently than before.SOLUTION: The electronic device acquires user information which is information of a user via acquisition means for acquiring the user information without direct inputting by the user. The electronic device causes output means to output information corresponding to the acquired user information among pieces of previously prepared information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, an electronic device and a program for providing information to a user. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, the following in-vehicle devices are known that are mounted on vehicles such as rental cars: those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4. FIG.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a record-keeping system that records the running and driving conditions of a vehicle to be used as evidence in insurance processing procedures when an accident occurs. Patent Document 2 discloses an in-vehicle terminal that makes an emergency call to an emergency call center in the event of an accident to request rescue from a fire department or the like. Patent Document 3 discloses a vehicle tracking device that outputs important terms and conditions information by voice when the vehicle departs to avoid trouble caused by not reading the rental terms and conditions when renting a car, and transmits the current location of the missing vehicle to a specific address on a communication network when the vehicle goes missing. Patent Document 4 discloses a video movie camera management system that transmits an operation permission signal to the video movie camera only when location information transmitted from the video movie camera is received when renting a video movie camera to a rental car user, in order to prevent theft of the rented video movie camera, and disables the video movie camera when the video movie camera cannot receive the operation permission signal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-168006 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2002-140403 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2005-135325 A [Patent Document 4] JP 2006-129088 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The devices and systems disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 are intended for use by vehicle managers to manage vehicles or equipment, or when an emergency such as an accident occurs, and cannot provide a wide variety of information desired by vehicle users. Users of electronic devices such as in-vehicle devices want to be provided with the information they want from the electronic devices.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide, for example, an electronic device and a program that enable a user to obtain various pieces of information more easily than ever before. The purpose of the invention of this application is not limited to this, and the applicant intends to obtain rights for configurations that aim to obtain effects from parts of the configurations disclosed in this specification and drawings, etc., by filing a divisional application, amendment, etc. For example, this specification discloses a problem in which the phrase "can be" is read as "the problem is," and the applicant intends to obtain rights for configurations that solve this problem by filing a divisional application, amendment, etc. The applicant intends to include part of the configurations described in this specification in the scope of the patent claims by amendment or divisional application. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) An electronic device that provides information to a user, It is preferable that the electronic device acquires user information, which is information about the user, via an acquisition means that acquires the information without the user having to input it directly, and outputs information corresponding to the acquired user information from among information prepared in advance to an output means.

[0008] A user can obtain information corresponding to user information from an electronic device without directly inputting user information about himself / herself. As a configuration that does not require the user to directly input information, for example, a configuration in which the user does not have to recognize the contents of the user information to be input and perform an operation to input the information may be used. Also, a configuration in which the user does not have to manually input a character string representing the user information using an input device such as a touch panel, a pointing device, or a keyboard may be used. By using such a configuration, it is possible to obtain an effect that the user can be saved from the trouble of understanding the contents of the user information and the trouble of manually inputting the information. Also, a configuration in which the user information is input without the user being involved in the input of the user information at all may be used.

[0009] The electronic device may be used at home, but is particularly suitable for use outside or while traveling. When outside or while traveling, there is often no time to perform cumbersome manual input, etc., so an electronic device that does not require manual input of user information is particularly effective for use outside or while traveling. The electronic device may be, for example, an electronic device used in conjunction with a vehicle. Examples of electronic devices used in conjunction with a vehicle include navigation devices and drive recorders mounted on the vehicle, and portable navigation devices used inside and outside the vehicle. The electronic device may also be an electronic device used by unspecified persons, regardless of the vehicle. Examples of such electronic devices include printers installed in print service providers such as convenience stores.

[0010] The user information may be, for example, information that changes as the user moves, or information that specifies the user's behavior in the future following the present. Information that changes as the user moves may include, for example, location information that indicates the user's current location. Information that specifies the user's behavior in the future following the present may include information that specifies the purpose of vehicle use. For example, longitude and latitude may be used as location information that indicates the user's current location. The information that specifies the purpose of vehicle use may specify one of various purposes, such as tourism or business.

[0011] The information prepared in advance may be, for example, information associated with a specific location or area. Examples of such information include information indicating tourist spots, tourist facilities, etc., information identifying the location of a company to be visited, etc. Examples of information associated with a specific location or area include the names of tourist spots and tourist facilities, information identifying an application that is prepared in association with a region or facility and provides useful information to visitors to the region or facility, information identifying a local government that provides a gift in return for hometown tax donations, map information, etc.

[0012] The information corresponding to the user information output to the output means may be stored in a database in association with the user information in a storage device of the electronic device. Also, the information corresponding to the user information to be output to the output means may be extracted by referring to the database based on the user information.

[0013] The acquisition means may, for example, be one that causes the processing means to acquire the user information without requiring the user to recognize and input the contents of the user information.

[0014] Such an acquisition means may be, for example, a recording medium on which the contents of the user information are recorded, and a reading device that reads the information recorded on the recording medium. The recording medium may be, for example, a contactless IC card compatible with near field communication (NFC). The contactless IC card may be a dedicated card for recording the user information, such as an NFC-compatible driver's license. The reading device may be, for example, a communication device that can communicate with an NFC-compatible contactless IC card. The recording medium may be, for example, a paper medium on which the contents of the user information are coded and recorded. In this case, the reading device may be a reading device that optically reads the code recorded on the paper medium.

[0015] Such an acquisition means may be, for example, a server that stores the contents of user information in association with each of a plurality of users, and an identification means for identifying the user. The identification means may be, for example, a contactless IC card that records the user's identification information and a contactless card reader. The identification means may also be a means for identifying the user using biometric authentication technology such as fingerprint authentication, iris authentication, or face authentication. The processing means can acquire the user information by transmitting the user information associated with the user specified by the user's identification information from the server to the processing means.

[0016] Such an acquisition means may be, for example, a means for causing the processing means to acquire user information without the user's knowledge and without any operation being required by the user. Such an acquisition means may be, for example, a position detection device that acquires position information of the current location of the electronic device. For example, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or the like may be used as this position detection device. When the user carries the position detection device, the processing means can acquire user information including the position information of the user's current location.

[0017] The processing means may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) capable of receiving information via the acquiring means, and a storage device storing a program for operating the CPU.

[0018] As a mode for outputting information corresponding to the user information to the output means, the information may be displayed on a display screen serving as the output means. When the electronic device is used in association with a vehicle, the user of the vehicle can use the vehicle while visually recognizing the information corresponding to the user information. As a mode for providing the information corresponding to the user information to the user, the information may be printed on a paper medium. The user can carry the paper medium on which the information is printed and visually recognize the information printed on the paper medium.

[0019] (2) The electronic device is configured to be used in a vehicle, The user information may include information indicating the purpose of use of the vehicle, and the processing means may be an electronic device having a function of causing the output means to output information corresponding to the purpose of use indicated in the information indicating the purpose of use of the vehicle.

[0020] The vehicle user can obtain information from the electronic device according to the purpose of using the vehicle. The vehicle user is preferably not limited to a specific person, but is unspecified. Even if the vehicle user changes, or if a person other than the vehicle owner uses the vehicle, information can be provided to the user according to the user information of the current user.

[0021] The vehicle may be used by an unspecified person. The vehicle used by an unspecified person may be, for example, a vehicle rented to an unspecified person, such as a vehicle used for rental cars or car sharing. Although the vehicle is rented to an unspecified person, the user can receive information corresponding to the user information from the electronic device as if the vehicle were his or her own. Furthermore, the vehicle used by an unspecified person may be a vehicle rented out by a person renting out the vehicle and receiving a usage fee from the user. When an electronic device is rented out in association with the rented vehicle, the electronic device provides information corresponding to the user information of the user of the vehicle, so that added value can be added to the vehicle rental service.

[0022] The vehicle rental company may register information about the user in a server before the vehicle is rented out. The processing means of the electronic device may acquire the user information from the rental company's server through the acquisition means. Alternatively, the user information may be copied from the rental company's server to a removable memory card, a contactless IC card, or the like, and the contents of the memory card, the contactless IC card, or the like may be read into the acquisition means of the electronic device, thereby allowing the processing means of the electronic device to acquire the user information.

[0023] The electronic device may be usable in the vehicle. The electronic device usable in the vehicle may be an electronic device that can be brought into the vehicle as needed, but is particularly preferably an electronic device that is pre-installed in the vehicle or an electronic device that can be installed later in the vehicle. It is particularly preferably an electronic device that is installed in the vehicle and cannot or is difficult to remove outside the vehicle. By making the electronic device impossible or difficult to remove outside the vehicle, it becomes difficult to take the electronic device out of the vehicle, so that it is possible to avoid as much as possible the occurrence of a situation in which the electronic device is taken out of the vehicle and the vehicle user cannot use the electronic device.

[0024] Examples of the purpose of use indicated by the information indicating the purpose of use of the vehicle include tourism, business, etc. For example, if the acquisition means of the electronic device is a barcode reader, and if the processing means determines that it has read a two-dimensional barcode on a company business card, the purpose of use may be determined to be business, and if the processing means determines that it has read a barcode displayed on a tourist guidebook, the purpose of use may be determined to be tourism.

[0025] When the purpose of use indicated by the information indicating the purpose of use is tourism, the information according to the purpose of use may be information that can identify the tourist destination or tourist facility, for example, the name of the tourist destination or tourist facility. It is even better to provide tourist information in addition to the name of the tourist destination or tourist facility. The user can receive services from the electronic device equivalent to those provided by a tourist guide.

[0026] When the purpose of use indicated by the information indicating the purpose of use is a business purpose, the information according to the purpose of use may be information that can identify a company, for example, information indicating the location of the company.

[0027] (3) The user information may include information indicating a relationship between the user and persons who share the user's activities, and the processing means may be an electronic device having a function of causing the output means to output information corresponding to the information indicating the relationship between the user and persons who share the user's activities.

[0028] The vehicle user can receive information from the electronic device according to the relationship indicated by the information indicating the relationship between the person who is accompanying the vehicle user and the vehicle user. Examples of the relationship between the person who is accompanying the vehicle user and the vehicle user include a family relationship, a romantic relationship, a friend relationship, and the like.

[0029] For example, when the relationship between the person who is with the user and the person is that of family, the processing means may cause the output means to output information indicating tourist spots, tourist facilities, etc. suitable for visiting with a family, such as information indicating an amusement park, as information corresponding to the user information. For example, when the relationship between the person who is with the user and the person is that of a lover, the processing means may cause the output means to output information indicating tourist spots, tourist facilities, etc. suitable for visiting with a lover, such as date spots, as information corresponding to the user information. For example, when the relationship between the person who is with the user and the person is that of a friend, the processing means may cause the output means to output information indicating a place suitable for visiting with a friend, as information corresponding to the user information.

[0030] (4) The pre-prepared information may include information for providing the user with a specified benefit, and the processing means may be an electronic device having a function of causing the output means to output at least a portion of the information for providing the user with a specified benefit in accordance with the user information.

[0031] The user can obtain information on whether or not a specific benefit can be obtained according to the user information. Examples of specific benefits include preferential treatment. For example, benefits include free food and drink or admission, and food and drink or admission at a discounted price.

[0032] The information for granting the specified benefit may be information about a coupon for granting the specified benefit, for example, information that identifies the coupon. The user can obtain the information about the coupon for granting the specified benefit. The information for granting the specified benefit may be provided to the user by displaying it as an image on the display screen of the electronic device. The user can visually recognize the information for granting the specified benefit.

[0033] The coupon-related information may be transferred from the electronic device to the user's mobile terminal using short-range wireless communication or the like, and the user may receive a specific benefit by holding the mobile terminal over a terminal installed at the entrance gate of the facility. Alternatively, the coupon-related information transferred to the mobile terminal may be displayed on the mobile terminal, and the user may receive a specific benefit by showing the displayed information to a staff member at the facility.

[0034] The information on which the predetermined privilege is given may be provided to the user by displaying the information on which the predetermined privilege is given on the display screen of the electronic device. The user can recognize what kind of privilege he or she can receive by looking at the display screen on which the information on which the predetermined privilege is given is displayed.

[0035] (5) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of erasing the acquired user information when a predetermined erasure condition for erasing the user information is satisfied.

[0036] Even when the vehicle is used in a manner that allows it to be rented to unspecified persons, the user can prevent information about himself / herself from being seen by other users. The user information may be, for example, personal information. In this way, the user can prevent his / her personal information from being known by other users who use the electronic device.

[0037] The predetermined deletion condition may be that the user has performed an deletion operation. The vehicle in which the electronic device is used may be one that is rented to a user with a designated return location, such as a rental car. In this case, the predetermined deletion condition may be that the vehicle has been returned to the return location.

[0038] (6) The vehicle is used in a manner such that it is rented to the user for a set period of time, the user information includes information indicating a planned time for using the vehicle, and the processing means is an electronic device having a function of causing the output means to output information corresponding to the information indicating the planned time.

[0039] The user can obtain information corresponding to the planned time for using the vehicle from the electronic device. For example, when the vehicle is used in a manner that it is lent to an unspecified person, the planned time for using the vehicle may be the time from when the vehicle is rented to when it is returned.

[0040] The processing means may cause the output means to output, as information corresponding to the user information, only information that can be used within the planned time for using the vehicle from among the information prepared in advance. For example, the processing means may cause the output means to output, as information corresponding to the user information, information related to places that can be traveled to and from within the planned time for using the vehicle. By excluding from the output targets information with little utility related to places that cannot be visited within the planned time for using the vehicle, the user can obtain only information with high utility related to places that can be traveled to and from within the planned time.

[0041] (7) The vehicle is used in a manner such that a return location is specified and the user information includes information indicating the return location, and the processing means is an electronic device having a function of outputting, to the output means, location information of a refueling facility located on the route from the current location of the vehicle to the return location, or location information of a refueling facility located within a specified area including the current location of the vehicle, when the distance between the current location of the vehicle and the return location becomes less than a specified distance.

[0042] When the distance between the current location and the vehicle return location is within a predetermined distance, the user can recognize the location of a facility suitable for refueling before returning the vehicle. The predetermined area including the current location may be, for example, an area centered on the current location, such as a circular area with a predetermined radius centered on the current location. In this way, even if there is no refueling facility on the route from the current location to the vehicle return location, the vehicle user can recognize a relatively nearby refueling facility that can be reached by making a slight detour.

[0043] The vehicle return location may be a storage location when the vehicle is not rented out, such as a rental car company store, a pay parking lot for car sharing vehicles, etc. In this way, the vehicle user can recognize the location of a facility for refueling that is on the route from the current location to the storage location of the rented vehicle, or the location of a facility for refueling that is in an area including the current location, before returning the vehicle to the storage location of the rented vehicle.

[0044] The refueling facility may be a service station for vehicles located along a road, for example, a gas station. If the rented vehicle is a vehicle that is driven by power charged from an external source, for example, a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV) or an electric vehicle (EV), the refueling facility may be a charging station. This allows the user to know the location of an appropriate facility according to the type of driving energy of the vehicle.

[0045] (8) The vehicle is used in a manner such that an end time of use is specified and the vehicle is rented to the user, the user information includes information indicating the end time of use, and the processing means is an electronic device having a function of causing the output means to output, at a predetermined timing, information indicating the remaining time from the current time to the time indicated in the information indicating the end time of use.

[0046] The user can easily recognize the remaining time until the end of the vehicle use. The end of the vehicle use should be the final time when the rented vehicle must be returned by paying the usage fee, and should be the time when an additional fee must be paid if the vehicle is not returned by that time. The user can determine whether or not to head home based on the notified information indicating the remaining time. By making an appropriate decision as to whether or not to head home, the user can avoid paying an additional fee.

[0047] (9) The user information includes identification information that identifies a specific individual, The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of readably recording a history of the vehicle's travel route in association with the identification information.

[0048] Through the electronic device, the driving route history for each user can be read out separately. The identification information that identifies a specific individual should be assigned to each user by the vehicle rental business. This makes it possible to manage the vehicle's driving route history for each user. For example, the identification information assigned to the vehicle user at the vehicle rental store can be recorded on a contactless IC card from the store's terminal via short-range wireless communication, and then transferred from the contactless IC card to the electronic device. This makes it possible to easily allow the electronic device to obtain the identification information assigned to the user.

[0049] (10) The vehicle is used in a manner such that a return location is specified and the user is rented out, the user information includes information indicating the return location, and the processing means is an electronic device having a function of causing the output means to output a message urging the user to refuel when the distance between the current location of the vehicle and the return location becomes less than a predetermined distance.

[0050] When the distance between the current location and the return location of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance, the user can determine whether or not refueling is necessary by noticing a notification urging the user to refuel. The return location of the vehicle may be a location where the vehicle is stored with a full tank of fuel, such as a rental car company store or a pay parking lot for storing carsharing vehicles. This can prevent the user of the vehicle from returning the vehicle without refueling. The predetermined distance for issuing a notification to refuel may be a distance at which there is a high possibility that at least one service station, such as a gas station, exists between the current location of the vehicle and the return location of the vehicle, such as 1 km. This can eliminate or reduce the trouble of the user of the vehicle having to turn around to stop at a service station to refuel while driving to the return location of the vehicle.

[0051] (11) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of calculating the remaining amount of fuel in a storage unit for storing fuel of the vehicle based on information regarding the amount of fuel in the storage unit obtained from an electronic control unit of the vehicle, and readingably recording information representing the calculated remaining amount of fuel.

[0052] The manager of the vehicle can know the remaining amount of fuel by reading the information indicating the remaining amount of fuel that is recorded in the electronic device.

[0053] The processing means may obtain information regarding the amount of fuel in the storage unit from a device for controlling the engine of the vehicle via an in-vehicle network, for example, from an electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling the engine of the vehicle via a controller area network (CAN). In this manner, the processing means can obtain information regarding the amount of fuel in the storage unit from an existing device provided in the vehicle via an existing network. Since there is no need to provide a new device or system for obtaining information regarding the amount of fuel in the storage unit, information regarding the amount of fuel in the storage unit can be obtained at low cost.

[0054] Examples of the storage unit that stores fuel include a gasoline tank that stores gasoline and a battery that stores power. The information on the amount of fuel in the storage unit may be information that allows the remaining amount of fuel stored in the storage unit to be calculated, such as the measurement result of gasoline consumption. In this way, the remaining amount of fuel stored in the storage unit can be calculated using information obtained from the electronic control unit of the vehicle.

[0055] The readable record may be, for example, a record that can be read on an external recording medium by short-distance wireless communication. An example of the external recording medium is a contactless IC card. In this way, a reading device for this recording medium may be installed in a rental store of a vehicle that is used in a manner that the vehicle is rented to unspecified persons. A store clerk can know the remaining amount of fuel by holding the recording medium over the reading device in the store, and displaying information indicating the remaining amount of fuel, without having to go to the vehicle to check the fuel gauge.

[0056] (12) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of calculating the fee required to fill up a storage unit with fuel based on information regarding the amount of fuel in the storage unit that stores the fuel of the vehicle obtained from an electronic control unit of the vehicle, and outputting the calculation result to the output means.

[0057] The user can easily recognize the cost of filling up the fuel in the storage unit, and can prepare the cost required for refueling in advance before refueling. As a configuration for obtaining information from the electronic control unit of the vehicle, for example, a configuration for obtaining information from the ECU of the vehicle via a CAN is preferable. In this way, the processing means can obtain information regarding the amount of fuel in the storage unit from an existing device provided in the vehicle via an existing network. By eliminating the need to install a new device or system, information regarding the amount of fuel in the storage unit can be obtained at low cost.

[0058] Examples of the storage unit that stores fuel include a gasoline tank that stores gasoline and a battery that stores electricity. The information on the amount of fuel in the storage unit may be information that makes it possible to determine the amount of fuel consumed or the remaining amount stored in the storage unit, such as the measurement result of gasoline consumption. A fee according to the degree of fuel reduction accompanying the running of the vehicle can be notified to the user. The fuel for the vehicle may be fuel that is replenished in the storage unit by paying a fee, such as gasoline or electricity. In this way, the user of the vehicle can recognize the fee when refueling the storage unit by paying a fee.

[0059] (13) The processing means may be an electronic device that stores information regarding contact information to be contacted when trouble occurs with the vehicle and has a function of causing the output means to output the information regarding the contact information.

[0060] The user can easily know the contact number to contact when a vehicle trouble occurs. The vehicle trouble may be a trouble that is likely to upset the vehicle user, for example, a vehicle accident or breakdown. In this way, even if the vehicle user is upset because of a trouble with the vehicle, the vehicle user can contact the contact number to inform them of the trouble. The contact number in the event of a trouble may be the telephone number of the management company that manages the vehicle, for example, the telephone number of the rental car company store that rented the vehicle. In this way, the vehicle user can contact the company that manages the vehicle and receive instructions from the management company on how to deal with the trouble in accordance with the management regulations of the management company when the vehicle trouble occurs.

[0061] (14) A storage means for storing parking prohibition information that defines a parking prohibition area by location information, The processing means should be an electronic device having a function of determining whether the vehicle is parked or not, and if the current position of the vehicle when it is determined that the vehicle is parked is within a no-parking area defined in the no-parking information, readably recording information indicating that the vehicle has been parked in a no-parking area.

[0062] The manager of the vehicle can know whether the vehicle was parked in a no parking area by reading the information indicating that the vehicle was parked in a no parking area. The location information may be latitude and longitude calculated using a signal received from a GPS satellite. The no parking area may be an area that is subject to enforcement under the Road Traffic Act when the vehicle is parked, such as an area including a publicly-publicized priority or most important no parking area.

[0063] The information indicating that the vehicle was parked in a no parking area may be information indicating the time the vehicle was continuously parked in the no parking area. In this way, the vehicle manager can refer to the record to determine the possibility that the user of the vehicle has committed a parking violation, and if there is a high possibility, can check with the user of the vehicle whether they have committed a parking violation. This reduces the burden of the checking work compared to checking with all users of the vehicle whether they have committed a parking violation.

[0064] The no parking information may be, for example, information defining a no parking area in map data. The no parking information may be stored in a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM. In this way, when the supply of power from the power source to the electronic device is stopped by turning off an accessory switch provided in the vehicle, and then the supply of power from the power source to the electronic device is resumed by turning on the accessory switch, the no parking information can be used again.

[0065] (15) The electronic device is used in a manner that moves with the user, the user information includes location information indicating a current location of the electronic device, the prepared information includes information identifying a plurality of applications executable by the electronic device; The information according to the user information may include information for identifying a part of applications selected from a plurality of applications based on location information indicating a current location of the electronic device.

[0066] By using the electronic device in a manner that moves with the user, the location information of the current location of the electronic device can substantially indicate the current location of the user. By the processing means selecting an application based on the location information of the current location of the electronic device, the user can learn of the existence of an application that can be conveniently used, for example, in the vicinity of the point indicated by the location information, without having to search for the application by himself / herself.

[0067] The prepared information may be stored in advance in a storage device of the processing means, and is particularly preferably stored in an external server that can communicate with the electronic device. If the information is stored in an external server, when adding or updating information, the information in the server can be added or updated without having to add or update the information for each electronic device. It is particularly preferably that the server is connected to a public network such as the Internet so that multiple electronic devices can access it.

[0068] The information for identifying the part of the applications selected according to the location information of the current location of the electronic device may be displayed, for example, as an icon on a display screen serving as an output means. By looking at the icon, the user can know the existence of the part of the selected applications.

[0069] The plurality of applications prepared in advance may include so-called "local apps" that are useful in tourist spots, shopping districts, etc. As the electronic device, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a portable navigation device, an in-vehicle navigation device, etc. may be used. For example, as the electronic device, a device equipped with an OS such as Android (registered trademark) or iOS (registered trademark) may be used. As the location information of the current location of the electronic device, for example, latitude and longitude information acquired by GPS may be used.

[0070] Some of the applications selected according to the location information of the current location of the electronic device may be automatically downloaded from the server and installed, or may be downloaded and installed by user operation as described in (16) below.

[0071] The processing means may cause the output means to output only those applications that are already installed among those selected based on the location information of the current location of the electronic device. The user can specify the application that he / she wants to run from among applications that can be run immediately without the need to newly download and install them. The processing means may cause the output means to output only those applications that are not installed among those selected according to the location information of the current location of the electronic device. The user can become aware of the existence of new applications that he / she has not noticed before. The processing means may output all applications selected based on the location information of the current location of the electronic device to the output means, regardless of whether they are already installed or not. By increasing the options of applications that the user wants to run, the user can find more useful applications.

[0072] Conventionally, navigation devices have competed with each other on the basis of their ability to guide users from their current location to their destination. Portable navigation devices can be taken out of a vehicle and carried on foot, and provide guidance on the walking route from the point where the user gets off the vehicle to the destination. Such devices are called, for example, "walking navigation."

[0073] When sightseeing by car or on foot on one's own, there has been no device that provides detailed guidance on tourist attractions, etc. At best, navigation devices that store information on tourist attractions listed in tourist guidebooks and are equipped with a function that links the navigation function with the information on tourist attractions are known. Therefore, compared to sightseeing tours where a tourist guide accompanies you to show you the tourist attractions, it is difficult to obtain detailed tourist guide information on tourist spots, etc., when traveling on one's own. Map data providers and navigation device manufacturers can create detailed tourist guide information on tourist spots and store it in navigation devices, but creating tourist guide information for every tourist spot in the country requires enormous costs and is not realistic.

[0074] Meanwhile, local apps are being provided by various providers, such as tourism associations, local governments, local communities such as shopping districts, and individuals, as applications for smartphones and tablet devices, rather than navigation devices. There are also businesses that create these local apps. Local apps created for each area include applications that provide tourist guide information for tourist spots, tourist facilities, shopping districts, etc., applications that use augmented reality (AR) technology in connection with location information, applications for participating in stamp rallies that visit various points in the area, and applications that provide games related to the area.

[0075] People visiting tourist spots can become aware of the existence of these applications by accidentally seeing pamphlets or signs at tourist spots, or by searching for the local name on an application provider website, but those who do not notice the pamphlets or signs, or do not actively search for the application, will not be aware of the application's existence. Travelers may not realize that these local apps exist while traveling, and may feel frustrated when they realize they exist after the trip is over. In addition, although many local apps are provided free of charge, the current situation is that the number of application downloads is not increasing.

[0076] Users of electronic devices can easily become aware of the existence of these local apps based on the location information of the electronic device's current location. Application providers can expect an increase in the number of downloads of local apps.

[0077] (16) When the user performs an operation to specify at least one application based on information identifying the selected portion of the applications, the processing means may be configured to cause the electronic device to download and install the specified application.

[0078] When the user is provided with information identifying a selected portion of the applications, the user can select an application of interest from the selected portion, and download the application and make it executable.

[0079] The operation of designating an application may be, for example, an operation of selecting an icon corresponding to an application displayed on a touch panel by tapping or the like. An icon corresponding to an application that has already been installed may be displayed on the touch panel in a manner different from that of an icon corresponding to an application that has not been installed. For example, an overlay icon indicating that the application is already installed may be displayed superimposed on the icon corresponding to the installed application.

[0080] An install button and an execute button may be displayed together with information identifying some of the applications selected based on location information of the current location of the electronic device. When a user taps the install button, the processing means may install the application corresponding to the tapped icon. When a user taps the execute button, the processing means may install and automatically execute the application corresponding to the tapped icon. For applications that have already been installed, it is preferable to display only the execute button without displaying the install button.

[0081] Applications designated by user operations may be downloaded and installed in the background. For example, the electronic device may silently download and install applications while performing a navigation function.

[0082] (17) When the user specifies a downloaded application and performs an operation to execute the application, the processing means may be the electronic device that executes the specified application.

[0083] A user can select only the applications he or she desires from the installed applications and run them at the time he or she desires. For example, when a user arrives at a tourist spot or facility, the user can select and run a local app related to that tourist spot or facility.

[0084] (18) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of setting a destination for the user and a function of searching for a route from a current location to the destination, and a function of selecting some applications from a plurality of applications based on location information of the destination and location information of intermediate points on the route, and outputting information identifying the selected applications to an output means.

[0085] When departing for a destination, the user can learn of the existence of highly useful applications at the destination and along the route to the destination. The user can learn of tourist sites and facilities along the route to the destination, for example, and can make plans to stop at tourist sites and facilities that interest the user.

[0086] The information for identifying the application selected based on the location information of the intermediate points on the route to the destination may be displayed in order of the earliest estimated time of arrival at the points on the route associated with the application. Furthermore, the information for identifying the application may be displayed together with the area name and the estimated time of arrival. This allows the user to intuitively recognize the order in which to stop at tourist spots and tourist facilities on the route to the destination.

[0087] When the processing means detects that the electronic device has entered an area where the installed application is highly useful, the processing means may notify the user of information indicating that a highly useful application is present near the current location. For example, a guide window showing information identifying a useful application may be displayed on the display screen. If the user has forgotten about the existence of a useful application, the user can be reminded of the existence of the application.

[0088] For example, the area where the application is highly useful may be determined from the map data stored in the electronic device and the name of the application. For example, if the name representing the application includes the name of a tourist spot or tourist facility, the area where the application is highly useful may be defined as a circular area with a predetermined radius centered on a point identified by location information associated with the name of the tourist spot or tourist facility included in the map data. For example, if the name representing the application includes the name of a local government, the area within the administrative district identified by the name of the local government included in the map data may be defined as the area where the application is highly useful.

[0089] In the case where the electronic device is configured to be used in a manner mounted on a vehicle, when the processing means detects that the vehicle has been turned off in an area where the installed application is highly useful, the application corresponding to the location where the power was turned off may be automatically executed. This makes it possible to prevent a situation in which the user forgets about the existence of the application and goes sightseeing without executing the application.

[0090] If multiple applications corresponding to the location where the vehicle was turned off are installed, the user may select an application to be executed from the multiple applications. For example, icons identifying the multiple applications corresponding to the location where the vehicle was turned off may be displayed on the display screen, and the user may select one icon. Since these applications are already installed, they may be immediately launched.

[0091] (19) A storage means for storing information for identifying a plurality of applications in association with location information for each application; It is preferable that the electronic device has a function of comparing location information that serves as the basis for selecting some applications from a plurality of applications with location information stored in the storage means, and selecting some applications from the plurality of applications based on the comparison result.

[0092] Information for identifying popular applications and applications that are considered to be highly convenient for users can be stored in advance in a storage means. This allows highly convenient applications to be carefully selected and provided to the user. The user can eliminate applications that are considered to be of no use to the user from the selection candidates and be provided with only information that identifies applications that are likely to be useful. This reduces the effort required to find an application that the user would like to use.

[0093] (20) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of utilizing a database that associates location information with keywords, extracting keywords from location information that serves as the basis for selecting a portion of applications from a plurality of applications, transmitting the extracted keywords to a search server that searches for applications, and selecting an application based on the results returned from the search server.

[0094] The electronic device can select an application by utilizing an external search server, without storing information about the application in the electronic device itself.

[0095] As a database that associates location information with keywords, map data that stores, for example, prefecture names, city / ward / town / village names, names of public facilities, names of tourist spots and tourist facilities, names of stores, names of roads, names of train stations, etc., in association with location information may be used. This map data may be stored, for example, in a storage device of a processing means. Keywords may be, for example, the name of a city / ward / town / village at a point indicated by the location information that is the basis for selecting an application, and names of public facilities, tourist spots, tourist facilities, stores, roads, train stations, etc. that are present within a specified distance from that point. By using these names as keywords, it is possible to select applications that are highly useful near the location indicated by the location information that is the basis for selecting an application.

[0096] The search server may be, for example, a server of a search site on the Internet that searches for applications. Examples of such search sites include Google Play (registered trademark) and App Store (registered trademark), which provide distribution services for applications and the like. The application search site returns information identifying multiple applications extracted based on keywords as search results. The processing device may provide the user with information identifying all applications included in the search results. If the number of applications included in the search results is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the processing device may provide the user with information identifying a predetermined number of applications from the top of the multiple applications listed as the search results. This reduces the user's effort in checking all the provided applications.

[0097] (21) The processing means may be configured to output information inquiring of the user as to whether or not to uninstall the application that satisfies the uninstallation conditions when a specified uninstallation condition for an installed application is met, and, when the user performs an uninstallation operation, uninstall the application that was the subject of the uninstallation operation.

[0098] The user can easily know which applications satisfy the uninstallation conditions. If the number of installed applications becomes too large, for example, a large number of icons are displayed on the launcher, making it difficult to find the desired application from among the many installed applications. By uninstalling applications for which the uninstallation conditions are satisfied, it is possible to prevent the number of installed applications from becoming too large. Furthermore, for example, the capacity of the memory space of a non-volatile memory that stores applications, which is occupied by applications, can be reduced.

[0099] The predetermined uninstallation condition may be that the current location of the electronic device is outside the area in which the service is provided by the application. The area in which the service is provided by the application may be, for example, an area within an administrative district of a prefecture or a city, town, or village that is specified by the name of the application. If the name of the municipality is not specified by the application, the area may be defined as, for example, an area within a predetermined distance from a facility, shopping district, or other location that is specified by the name of the application.

[0100] For example, when the electronic device is used together with a vehicle that is rented to a user, the predetermined uninstallation condition may be that the electronic device has returned to the vehicle rental location. For example, when the vehicle is rented from a store near an airport or a train station, the predetermined uninstallation condition may be determined to be satisfied when the distance between the current location of the electronic device and the store that rented the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.

[0101] The location information of the user's home may be registered in the electronic device, and when the electronic device returns to the user's home, it may be determined that the predetermined uninstallation condition is satisfied. Also, for each installed application, a period during which the electronic device is not within the area in which the service is provided by the application may be calculated, and when the calculated period continues for a predetermined period, for example, one month, it may be determined that the predetermined uninstallation condition is satisfied. In this way, applications that have become less useful can be presented to the user as candidates for applications to be uninstalled.

[0102] The information inquiring of the user as to whether or not to uninstall the application may be, for example, displayed on the display screen of the electronic device with a question such as "Do you want to uninstall the XX application?" along with "Yes" and "No" buttons. When the user taps the "Yes" button, the processing means may start the process of uninstalling the application.

[0103] When a predetermined uninstallation condition is met, the processing means may automatically uninstall the application without asking the user, thereby eliminating the need for the user to go through the trouble of deciding whether or not to uninstall the application, and the hassle of having to carry out the uninstallation operation.

[0104] (22) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of causing the output means to output a message indicating that the electronic device is connectable to a wireless LAN that can be used free of charge, when the processing means detects that the electronic device has entered an area where the electronic device can be connected to a wireless LAN that can be used free of charge.

[0105] Users can realize that they can use wireless LAN for free. When the user switches the network used by the electronic device from a mobile communication network to a wireless LAN, high-speed communication can be performed without consuming the data communication capacity of the mobile communication service to which the user has contracted. In addition, even if the mobile communication service to which the user has contracted is bandwidth-limited, high-speed communication can be performed via the wireless LAN.

[0106] One example of a free wireless LAN is a wireless LAN called "local WiFi." For example, local WiFi is provided by tourist spots, tourist facilities, shopping streets, etc.

[0107] The local WiFi identification name (SSID) and location information defining the area in which the wireless LAN is available may be stored in advance in the storage device of the electronic device. When the processing means detects that the current location of the electronic device has entered an area in which the wireless LAN stored in the storage device is available, the processing means may notify the user that the electronic device can connect to the wireless LAN.

[0108] The device may notify the user that the wireless LAN is available, and may output information inquiring the user as to whether or not to connect to the wireless LAN. When the user notices the inquiry and performs an operation to connect to the wireless LAN, the processing means may start processing to connect to the wireless LAN.

[0109] Depending on the local WiFi, users may need to enter information, such as an email address, before using the local WiFi. It is preferable that the information that needs to be entered before using the local WiFi is preregistered for each local WiFi in the storage device of the processing means, and the processing means has a function to automatically enter the information that needs to be entered. Users can use the local WiFi without having to go through the trouble of entering information.

[0110] (23) The electronic device is used in a manner that moves with the user, The user information includes location information of a current location of the electronic device, The prepared information includes information indicating a local government that provides a gift in return for a hometown tax donation, The information corresponding to the user information may be an electronic device that includes information identifying a portion of municipalities selected from a plurality of municipalities offering gifts based on location information of the current location of the electronic device.

[0111] The user can know the local government that offers the gift based on the current location of the electronic device. As a method of selecting a local government based on the location information of the current location of the electronic device, for example, the processing means may select a local government such as a prefecture and a city, ward, town, or village that corresponds to the administrative district that includes the current location of the electronic device.

[0112] The hometown tax system was originally established to make it easier for people to donate to the prefectures, cities, towns, and villages where they grew up or to local governments that they feel an attachment to. In order to solicit donations using the hometown tax system, many local governments offer donors gifts related to the local government. Donations tend to be concentrated in local governments that offer gifts with high cost performance or popular products as return gifts. As a result, donations are often made only once, which is far from the original purpose of having donors feel that the local government they are donating to is "hometown."

[0113] By receiving information specifying some of the local governments selected based on the location information of the current location of the electronic device, the user of the electronic device can easily find out whether the area he or she is currently visiting is a local government that offers gifts in return. Based on the information provided to the user, the user can decide whether or not to make a donation to the local government that he or she is actually visiting. Since the local government to which the donation is to be made is the local government that the user is currently visiting, the user can make the donation with a sense of attachment to the local government compared to donating to a local government with which the user has no connection. For the local government, this has the effect of increasing donations and encouraging people to feel attached to the local government, which leads to continued donations.

[0114] In order to select some of the multiple municipalities offering gifts based on the location information of the current location of the electronic device, for example, an introduction site on the Internet that introduces municipalities offering gifts may be used. For example, the name of the municipality corresponding to the administrative district that includes the current location of the electronic device may be provided as information (search query) to be provided in a search window of the introduction site, and a search request may be made. The search site returns information that identifies the municipality offering the gift, for example, from the municipality corresponding to the administrative district that includes the current location, or from municipalities in the vicinity of the administrative district. The processing means may, for example, display the returned information on a display screen. For example, the name of the municipality may be displayed.

[0115] (24) The information corresponding to the user information may include information identifying a portion of the municipalities selected based on location information of the current location of the electronic device, as well as information identifying gifts offered by the municipalities, and the processing means may be an electronic device having a function of causing the output means to output the information identifying the selected portion of the municipalities and the information identifying the gifts.

[0116] Users can learn about the local governments offering the gifts in return, as well as information identifying the gifts offered by those local governments. Users can decide whether or not to make a donation based on the information identifying the gifts.

[0117] The information for identifying the gift may be, for example, the name of the gift, an illustration of the gift, etc. The information for identifying the gift may be obtained, for example, from a website introducing the gift-providing local government together with information for identifying the local government.

[0118] The user information may include information specifying the category of the return gift. For example, information specifying the category of the return gift that the user is interested in may be registered in the user information. The processing means may select information specifying the local government to be output by the output means based on the location information of the current location of the electronic device and the information specifying the category of the return gift. For example, the output means may output information specifying a local government that offers a return gift that corresponds to an administrative district that includes the current location of the electronic device and belongs to a category specified by the user information. This allows the user to easily find a local government that offers an item that interests the user as a return gift. Examples of categories of return gifts include "meat," "rice," "fruit," "vegetables," "alcohol," "confectionery," and "crafts."

[0119] If the information specifying the category of the return gift is not registered in advance as user information, the user may be allowed to specify the category of the return gift from the information specifying the local government and the information specifying the return gift outputted to the output means. The processing means may screen local governments offering return gifts that belong to the return gift category specified by the user, and cause the output means to output information specifying the local government selected by the screening.

[0120] (25) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of setting a destination to which the user is heading and a function of searching for a route from the current location of the electronic device to the destination, and a function of selecting some municipalities from a plurality of municipalities offering return gifts based on location information of the destination and location information of points along the route, and outputting information identifying the selected some municipalities to the output means.

[0121] A user can receive information identifying a portion of a plurality of municipalities offering gifts, selected from the municipalities offering gifts, based on location information of the destination and location information of points along the route to the destination. For example, if the municipality in which the destination is located and municipalities passed through on the way to the destination offer gifts in return, the user can obtain information identifying these municipalities offering gifts. The user can use this information as a basis for deciding whether or not to make a donation.

[0122] The user information may include information identifying a category of the gift in return. The processing means may screen for local governments offering gifts in the category identified in the user information from among the local governments in which the destination is located and those that the user passes through on the way to the destination, and cause the output means to output information identifying the screened local governments.

[0123] (26) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of causing the output means to output information indicating locations where products corresponding to the return gifts offered in the selected portion of municipalities are sold.

[0124] The user can visit the place where the product corresponding to the gift is sold based on the information indicating the place where the product is sold. The user can see the actual product corresponding to the gift and decide whether or not to make a donation.

[0125] For example, the information indicating the location where the product corresponding to the gift is sold may be information indicating the location of the store or the roadside station. If the store or roadside station does not have a parking lot, information indicating the location of a nearby parking lot may be provided to the user along with the information about the store, etc. This saves the user the trouble of having to search for a nearby parking lot when visiting a store that does not have a parking lot.

[0126] It is preferable that users can receive the gift on the spot by presenting a certificate proving that they have made a donation at a store, etc. If the gift is a hotel voucher, a ticket to experience an activity such as the right to receive horse riding services, etc., it is preferable that users can exercise their right to stay or experience an activity on the spot. After obtaining the gift, users can avoid the trouble of having to go to the site to exercise their right based on the gift.

[0127] When a gift is given at a store or the like, it is advisable for the store clerk to input into the system that manages the provision of gifts to donors that the gift has already been given, which will prevent the occurrence of a situation in which a gift is given twice.

[0128] Being able to receive a gift immediately can motivate users to donate to the local government, and for the local government that provides the gift, it has the effect of increasing donations.

[0129] If the number of gifts provided in return for a donation is not enough for a user, the user can receive the gift at a store and purchase additional products that correspond to the gift. Furthermore, the user can purchase other products that are different from the gift. This can increase sales for the store, which can contribute to the development of the local area.

[0130] For example, if the local government offering the gift is a fruit-producing region and the gift is apples, which do not spoil easily, a store that sells peaches and grapes in addition to apples can increase sales of peaches and grapes. Also, a set of apples, peaches and grapes can be sold, and a customer who makes a donation can be given a discount equivalent to the price of the apples, which makes it possible to provide the customer with a gift in return.

[0131] For example, if the gift is a local sake, the user can purchase other brands of sake in addition to the local sake received as the gift. Also, retailers may sell the local sake as a gift and other brands of sake as a set.

[0132] (27) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of having the user specify at least one local government from among a selection of local governments selected based on location information of the current location of the electronic device, and further having a function of carrying out donation procedures for the local government specified by the user.

[0133] The user can select the local government to which he / she wishes to make a donation from among a portion of local governments selected based on the location information of the current location of the electronic device, and complete the donation procedure on the spot. Personal information, credit card information, etc. required for the donation procedure may be stored in advance in the storage device of the electronic device. The processing means may use the information about the user stored in the storage device to complete the donation procedure.

[0134] When a donation is made by designating a local government, the user may be notified of the location where the product corresponding to the gift is sold, as explained in (26) above. When the donation procedure is completed, information verifying that the donation has been made may be sent to the electronic device from the server that accepts donations. It is particularly preferable to present the information verifying that the donation has been made at a store or the like, so that the user may receive the gift on the spot.

[0135] When carrying out the donation procedure, it is advisable to register in the storage device of the electronic device information that serves as the criteria for determining whether or not the procedure may be carried out, such as the upper limit of the total donation amount, the upper limit of each individual donation amount, and the upper limit of the number of donation recipient municipalities. If the request for donation procedure application specified by the user does not meet these criteria, the processing means may notify the user of a message asking whether or not it is advisable to carry out the donation procedure. This prevents the user from making an unexpected donation due to a misremembered or erroneous operation.

[0136] For example, when a user performs an operation to make a donation, the processing means may compare the donation amount specified by the user with the upper limit of each individual donation amount, and if the specified donation amount exceeds the upper limit of each individual donation amount, notify the user of that effect. The processing means may accumulate the individual donation amounts, and if the accumulated value exceeds the upper limit of the total donation amount, notify the user of that effect. The processing means may count the number of donation recipient municipalities, and if an operation is performed to make a donation that exceeds the upper limit of the number of donation recipient municipalities, notify the user of that effect. After performing these notifications, the processing means may allow the user to choose whether to proceed with or cancel the donation procedure.

[0137] The "Hometown Tax One-Stop Special System" has been introduced, which eliminates the need to file a tax return if the number of recipient municipalities is five or less. For example, it is a good idea to set the upper limit on the number of recipient municipalities to "5", which is the upper limit on the number of recipient municipalities that can use the Hometown Tax One-Stop Special System. Users can become aware that they will no longer be able to use the Hometown Tax One-Stop Special System by noticing the notification from the processing means.

[0138] The processing means may subtract the total amount of past donations from the upper limit of the total donation amount and inform the user of the remaining amount that can be donated. The user can use the remaining amount as a basis for deciding whether or not to donate to the currently introduced local government.

[0139] Under the current hometown tax payment system, whether the entire amount remaining after deducting the 2,000 yen self-payment amount from the donation amount is eligible for deduction depends on the donor's income, etc. The processing means may calculate the upper limit of the donation amount that can be fully deducted from the user's expected income and notify the user. The user's expected income may be calculated, for example, by having the user input the contents of his / her pay slip and deriving the amount from the input value.

[0140] The processing means may have a function of displaying buttons such as "Apply for Donation", "Interested", "Show Sales Point", and "Share on SNS" for the return gift on the display screen together with information identifying a part of the local government selected based on the location information of the current location of the electronic device. When the user taps the "Apply for Donation" button, the processing means may, for example, carry out the donation procedure and obtain a certificate proving that the donation was made from the donation management server. When the user taps the "Interested" button, the processing means may, for example, add information indicating the local government and the return gift to a favorites list so that the user can read it later. When the user taps the "Show Sales Point" button, the processing means may, for example, display a map on the display screen and perform a route search using the sales point as a stopover or destination. When the user taps the "Share on SNS" button, the processing means may, for example, automatically input information indicating the local government and the return gift into a posting screen for SNS.

[0141] Some local governments allow users to specify how donations are to be used. Examples of uses include industrial promotion, environmental conservation, cultural property protection, childcare, welfare, and disaster relief. It is advisable to prioritize the multiple uses of donations in advance and store the priorities in a storage device. For example, the processing means may rearrange the multiple uses of donations according to their priorities and display them on a display screen so that the user can specify the use. The user can easily find the use he or she wants to specify from the multiple uses. The processing means may also display the multiple uses on the display screen with the use with the highest priority selected as the default value. This allows the user to omit the operation of specifying the use when inputting the use.

[0142] When the processing means receives a request to process a donation to one local government, it is preferable that the processing means provide the user with information identifying other local governments (hereinafter referred to as "recommended local governments") to which people who have donated to that local government are donating. For example, the recommended local governments may preferentially provide the user with information identifying local governments nearby the current location. For example, it is preferable to prioritize local governments in the same prefecture as the destination local government where the donation process was completed. Regardless of the location of the local government, it is also possible to preferentially provide the user with information identifying local governments with many donors. It is particularly preferable to provide the user with both information prioritizing nearby local governments and information prioritizing local governments with many donors.

[0143] (28) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of switching between a corporate mode and an individual mode, and when switched to the corporate mode, carrying out the donation procedure according to the procedure for corporate donations, and when switched to the individual mode, carrying out the donation procedure according to the procedure for individual donations.

[0144] The donation procedure differs depending on whether the donor is an individual or a corporation. By providing a corporate mode and a personal mode, the user can donate either as an individual or as a corporation. For example, if the electronic device is a car navigation device installed in a company car, the user can switch to the corporate mode, and if the electronic device is a car navigation device installed in a private car, the user can switch to the personal mode.

[0145] Hometown tax donations made by individuals and corporate hometown tax donations made by companies differ in the local government to which donations are made, whether or not a gift is given in return, the method of tax deduction, etc. It is preferable to make the criteria for selecting a local government different depending on user information when the processing means is operating in corporate mode and when it is operating in personal mode. For example, when the processing means is operating in corporate mode, it is preferable to select only from local governments that are the target of donation destinations in the corporate hometown tax donation. In addition, it is preferable to change the information output by the output means when the processing means is operating in corporate mode and when it is operating in personal mode. For example, in the corporate hometown tax donation system, donations are made to the "Town, People, and Job Creation Donation Utilization Project" planned by each local government. The processing means may output the contents of the "Town, People, and Job Creation Donation Utilization Project" in addition to the information identifying the local government. The user can use the information output by the output means as a basis for deciding whether or not to make a donation.

[0146] (29) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of registering persons other than the individual identified by the user information as other users, and having a function of identifying the user who will be the entity making the donation from among multiple registered users when carrying out the donation procedure, and carrying out the donation procedure with the identified user as the entity.

[0147] For example, when traveling with multiple people, each traveler can make a donation via electronic device.

[0148] To identify one user making a donation from a plurality of registered users, for example, the processing means may display information identifying each of the registered users as a list on a display screen, and allow the user making a donation to select information identifying him or her from the list. Donors may be identified by holding a near-field communication (NFC) standard-compliant card owned by each user over a reading device. Examples of NFC standard-compliant cards include transportation cards and driver's licenses with personal names registered thereon. Users making donations may also be identified using personal authentication systems such as fingerprint authentication systems and face authentication systems.

[0149] It is advisable to register in advance in a storage device information on the credit card used for donations for each of a number of users. If the name of the donor does not match the name on the credit card, the donor may not be eligible for tax deduction. The processing means should have a function of comparing the name of the registered user with the name on the credit card registered in association with that user, and notifying the user of this fact if they do not match. This makes it possible to prevent a situation in which a donor makes a donation using a credit card in a different name, resulting in the donor being unable to receive a tax deduction.

[0150] (30) The electronic device is used in a manner that the electronic device is loaned to the user, The processing means has a function of allowing the user to specify a local government of interest from among the selected portion of local governments, It is preferable that the electronic device have a function of providing information about the specified local government of interest in a form that can be read by the user even after the electronic device is returned.

[0151] Even after returning the electronic device, the user can retrieve information about the local government they are interested in while using the electronic device. This information can be kept as a memento of the trip and can also serve as motivation to revisit the local government.

[0152] The processing means may display on the display screen information identifying some of the municipalities selected based on location information of the current location of the electronic device, and may also display an "interested" button so that the user can specify the municipality that is of interest by tapping the "interested" button.

[0153] For example, the electronic device may be installed in a rental car and lent to a user, and when the rental car is returned, the user may be asked whether to upload information about the local government of interest to a cloud that the user can read, or to delete it. As a question to the user, the processing means may display the content of the question on a display screen. The cloud that the user can read may be a cloud managed by the rental car company, and the rental car company may notify the user of key information, such as a security code, for reading information about the local government of interest to the user from the cloud. The user can read information about the local government of interest specified by the user by accessing the rental car company's cloud and entering the key information.

[0154] It would be even better if information about the local government that the user is interested in is always uploaded to the cloud when the user returns the rental car. Even if the user thinks that the information about the local government that the user is interested in is not necessary when returning the rental car, there is a possibility that the user will later decide that he or she would like to know the information. In this case, the user can read the information about the local government that is uploaded to the cloud.

[0155] The conditions for determining whether the current time is the time to return the rental car may be, for example, that the fuel tank is full, that the current location is the rental car return location, and that the rental car has been stopped at that location for a predetermined time, for example, 5 minutes, etc. Alternatively, the engine of the rental car has been stopped at the return location.

[0156] (31) The electronic device is a printer installed in a print service store, The user information includes location information of a print service store visited by the user of the printer, The prepared information is map information, The information according to the user information may be an electronic device including a map of a certain area including the location of a print service provider that the user visited, the map being printed out by the printer.

[0157] A user can obtain a map of an area including his / her current location on paper without inputting the location information of the place where the printer is installed. Compared to maps displayed on smartphones, tablet terminals, etc., a large map such as A4 size, B4 size, A3 size, etc. can be obtained. A large map is suitable for use in a form where multiple people consult with each other while looking at it at the same time. Furthermore, a wide area on the map can be viewed at once without scrolling. In addition, a map output on paper can be easily marked by, for example, writing or folding. In particular, when traveling with multiple people, a map can be printed out at a print service store at the travel destination and the printed out map can be referred to during the trip.

[0158] The printed map should be in a manner that allows the print service provider that printed the map to be distinguished from other facilities, for example, by marking the location of the print service provider, by using a color on the map symbol representing the print service provider that is different from the color of symbols representing other facilities, by placing the print service provider in the center of the map, etc.

[0159] For example, examples of print service stores include convenience stores found all over the country. The location information of the print service store may be registered in the printer when the printer is installed. The printer identification information and location information may be stored in the printer management server in association with each other. The printer can obtain location information from the printer management server by inquiring about its own location information. In this way, it is not necessary to set location information on the printer on-site when the printer is installed, and it is possible to prevent forgetting to set location information or setting it incorrectly.

[0160] (32) The printer may be an electronic device having a function of providing information for displaying a map of the same area as the printed map on a mobile terminal carried by the user.

[0161] A user can obtain information for displaying the printed map and display the map on a mobile device. The information for displaying the printed map may be, for example, information for identifying a server on the Internet that provides the map data for that map. By accessing that server, a user can display the printed map on a mobile device. Examples of mobile devices include smartphones and tablet devices.

[0162] The information for identifying the site provided to the mobile terminal may be provided to the mobile terminal by printing out information specifying the URL of the site together with a map. Examples of information specifying the URL include text information indicating a shortened URL and a two-dimensional barcode representing the URL. The information specifying the URL may also be transferred to the mobile terminal from the printer by wireless communication. For example, wireless communication conforming to the NFC standard may be used as the wireless communication.

[0163] (33) the printer prints out information identifying a portion of the map together with the map; Furthermore, the electronic device may have a function of providing information that identifies the area on a printed map to which the current location of a mobile terminal carried by a user belongs, based on location information of the current location of the mobile terminal.

[0164] With the help of the information that identifies the area, a user can easily find his / her location on the map. A mobile terminal usually has a function of displaying a map of an area around the current location on the display screen, with the current location of the mobile terminal fixed at a specific point within the display screen. When the current location of the mobile terminal moves, the mobile terminal automatically scrolls the map so that the current location does not move within the display screen. For this reason, a map displayed on a mobile terminal is convenient for a user to know the situation around the user's current location, but is not suitable for grasping the user's relative location within a specific area that is larger than the area displayed on the display screen. In contrast, when a printed map is used, the user can easily grasp the user's relative location within the specific area shown on the map by finding the user's location on the map.

[0165] For example, text information such as "up", "down", "left", and "right" may be used as information for identifying a part of a map. The printer may print the text "up", "down", "left", and "right" at the top, bottom, left, and right ends of the map to be printed out. For example, the mobile terminal may indicate a point on the map using the center and any of the terms up, down, left, and right, such as "Your current location is at the point to the upper right of the center."

[0166] As information for identifying a portion of a map, for example, the entire area of ​​a printed map may be divided into a number of sections in a matrix, and information for identifying rows and columns may be used. For example, columns may be identified by letters A, B, C, D, etc. from left to right, and rows may be identified by numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. from top to bottom. Each section on the map can be identified by a combination of letters and numbers. For example, a mobile terminal can notify a user of their current location using information for identifying sections, such as "You are currently located in section A1."

[0167] A mobile device with a direction detection function may notify the user of the correspondence between the current upward direction of the mobile device screen and the up, down, left and right directions of a printed map. For example, the user may be notified that "the upward direction of the screen is the right direction of the map."

[0168] In the explanation of (33) above, the printer that printed out the map had the function of providing information identifying the area on the map to which the current location of the mobile terminal belongs, but this function may also be provided by a server that distributes map data to the printer. This specification discloses an invention of an electronic device that is composed of two devices: a printer and a server that has the function of providing information identifying the area on the map to which the current location of the mobile terminal belongs.

[0169] (34) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function of printing out, together with the map, advertisements for stores within the area to be printed out.

[0170] Users can obtain information about stores (souvenir shops, restaurants, etc.) located near their current location. Store advertisements can include information, such as coupons, indicating the right to receive special benefits at the store. For users who print out the map, such as travelers or business travelers, the effect is that they can receive special benefits at the store, such as a 200 yen discount on food and drink. Part or all of the cost of printing out the map can be offset by an amount equivalent to the special benefit received by the user. For stores, the effect is that they can attract travelers and others to their stores.

[0171] (35) The printer may be an electronic device having a function of printing out advertisements based on advertisement data received from a server that provides advertisement providers with an advertisement creation support service.

[0172] A provider of advertisements such as a store can easily create advertisements by receiving an advertisement creation support service from the server. The advertisement creation support service may be, for example, a service that allows the provider of advertisements to create advertisements using an advertisement template. For example, the provider of advertisements may be allowed to create advertisements simply by inserting photos and text into the template. A plurality of templates may be prepared, and the provider of advertisements may be allowed to select a favorite template from the plurality of templates. The provider of advertisements may download template data from the server to his / her terminal, create an advertisement on the terminal using the template, and upload the created advertisement data to the server, thereby storing the advertisement data on the server. The provider of advertisements may directly create an advertisement using the template on the server via a browser on his / her terminal, and store the advertisement data on the server.

[0173] Although it is acceptable to charge a fee for placing advertisements from shops, it is especially good to make it free. If advertisements are free of charge, it will be a great benefit to shops that provide advertisements. For businesses that provide map printing services, it is expected that the number of advertisement providers will increase.

[0174] As the number of advertisements provided increases, it becomes difficult to print out all of the advertisements on a map. In such a case, the printer can filter the large number of advertisements using specified filtering conditions to extract a portion of the advertisements to be printed from the large number of advertisements. The user can provide the printer with the specified filtering conditions by operating the printer. For example, the user can be allowed to select the type of business of the store that is offering the advertisement that the user wants to print out. The printer can extract advertisements for stores in the type of business selected by the user from the large number of advertisements, and print out the advertisements for the extracted stores together with a map.

[0175] Filtering conditions may be preset in a server that provides an advertisement creation support service or in a user's mobile terminal, and advertisements to be printed out may be extracted from a large number of advertisements by applying the preset filtering conditions.

[0176] This specification discloses an invention of an electronic device that is composed of at least two devices: a printer and a server that provides a service to support advertisement creation. Furthermore, this specification discloses an invention of a server that provides a service to support advertisement creation.

[0177] (36) The printer may be an electronic device having a function of printing out information identifying the map together with the map, receiving from a server location information of an installation location of an information acquisition device that has read the information identifying the map among information acquisition devices installed within the area represented by the map as location information of a location visited by the user, and printing out a new map in a manner that makes it possible to identify the location visited by the user.

[0178] A map user can look at the new map printed out in a manner that allows the visited points to be identified, and recognize the points that the user has visited while carrying the map from the print service store where the original map was printed out. The printer that printed out the original map and the printer that prints out the new map do not need to be the same printer. It is convenient to install multiple printers, each having a function for printing out the original map and a function for printing out a new map, at multiple print service stores. For example, the user can print out the original map at a print service store at the travel destination, and then print out a new map that allows the user to recognize the visited points at a print service store near his / her home. This new map can be kept as a memento of the trip.

[0179] The information acquisition device may be a humanoid robot or an electronic signboard (signage) having an information reading function. The user can input the map's identification information to the information acquisition device by having the barcode reader or camera of the information acquisition device read, for example, a barcode printed out together with the map. The humanoid robot or electronic signboard is installed in, for example, a store.

[0180] When a humanoid robot installed in a store reads the map's identification information, it can speak words to introduce the store to the map user. For example, it can obtain the name of the print service store that printed the map from the map's identification information and speak words such as "You came from store XX. I recommend XX."

[0181] The name of the print service shop that printed out the map may be obtained by, for example, having the humanoid robot read the map's identification information and inquiring of a server that stores the map's identification information in association with the name of the print service shop. Alternatively, the name of the print service shop may be obtained by performing image recognition on the entire map.

[0182] When the server receives the map identification information from the information acquisition device, the server may store the map identification information in association with the location information of the location where the information acquisition device is installed (visited location). When the server receives a request from the printer to specify the map identification number and provide location information of the visited location, the server may have a function of transmitting the location information of the visited location associated with the map identification information to the printer. For example, a unique number for identifying the map may be used as the information for identifying the map. The information for identifying the map may be printed out together with the map in the form of, for example, a barcode.

[0183] It is preferable to register the information of the user's payment card in a server, and the server acquires location information of the store where the user has made a purchase using the registered payment card, and stores the location information of the store as location information of the visited location. Even if an information acquisition device is not installed in the store, if the user has made a purchase using the payment card, information that the user has visited the store can be left in the server.

[0184] It is further preferable that the server has a function of storing identification information that identifies the user's terminal in association with the identification information of the map, and delivering to the user's terminal location information of the visited points associated with the identification information of the map, and location information of the location where the printer that printed out the map is installed.

[0185] Based on the location information delivered to their own device, map users can recognize the places they have visited while carrying the map. By operating their device, the user can upload the information of the places they have visited while carrying the map to a social networking service (SNS) server and share it with multiple people. The above-mentioned location information can also be delivered to the devices of friends who traveled together with the map user.

[0186] (37) The printer may be an electronic device having a function of receiving from a server augmented reality information obtained by the user using a terminal within the range shown on the map, and synthesizing the augmented reality information received from the server onto a map of the same range as the map and printing it out.

[0187] By looking at the map printed out from the printer, the user can recognize the augmented reality information obtained at the visited location. The augmented reality information may include, for example, image information of a character that appears in the augmented reality world corresponding to a specific location in the real world, and location information of the location where the character appears. The map printed out by the printer may include an image of the character that appears at the location on the map that corresponds to the location where the character appears.

[0188] The server should have a function of obtaining augmented reality information acquired by a user using a terminal within the area shown on a map, storing the information in association with identification information of the map, and transmitting the identification information of the map and the augmented reality information to a printer that has requested transmission.

[0189] This specification discloses an invention of an electronic device consisting of two devices: a printer and a server described in at least one of the above descriptions (35) to (37). It is particularly preferable to install and operate a plurality of printers that communicate with the server. Furthermore, this specification discloses an invention of a server described in at least one of the above descriptions (35) to (37).

[0190] (38) The present invention may be provided as a program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the electronic device described in any one of (1) to (37) above.

[0191] The inventions shown in (1) to (38) above can be combined in any way. For example, a different invention can be obtained by adding at least a part of the configuration of at least one of the inventions from (2) onwards to all or a part of the configuration of the invention shown in (1). In particular, it is preferable to add at least a part of the configuration of at least one of the inventions from (2) onwards to the invention shown in (1). In addition, any configuration may be extracted from the inventions shown in (1) to (38) and the extracted configurations may be combined. The applicant of this application intends to obtain rights to inventions including these configurations. Effect of the Invention

[0192] A user of the electronic device of the present invention can obtain information corresponding to user information from the electronic device without directly inputting user information about himself / herself. The effects of the invention of this application are not limited to this, and effects obtained from the configurations disclosed in this specification and drawings, etc. are also disclosed, and it is the intention to obtain rights to the configurations that obtain said effects by divisional applications, amendments, etc. For example, in this specification, the phrase "can" is a description that clearly indicates the effect that is obtained, and there are also parts that indicate the effect even without the phrase "can". [Brief description of the drawings]

[0193] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a navigation device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the navigation device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a navigation device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of processes executed by the control unit of the navigation device according to the third embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display unit of a navigation device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display unit when the third screening method is adopted in the navigation device according to the first modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display unit of a navigation device according to a second modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display unit of a navigation device according to a third modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of an image displayed on the display unit of the navigation device according to the third modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image when application icons are displayed on a display unit in order of earliest expected arrival time. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flow of processes executed by a control unit of a navigation device according to a fourth modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display unit, the image showing information inquiring of the user as to whether or not to uninstall an application in the fifth modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an image on the display unit in a state where information for informing a user that connection to a free wireless LAN is possible is displayed in the sixth modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 14]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a flow of processing executed by the control unit of the navigation device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display unit of a navigation device according to a first modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display unit of a navigation device according to a third modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display unit of a navigation device according to a fourth modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display unit of a navigation device according to a fifth modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to a sixth modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to the seventh modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display unit of a navigation device according to an eighth modification of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to a tenth modification of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a functional block diagram of a printer according to the fifth embodiment. [Diagram 25] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the flow of a process in which a printer provides information to a user. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a printed map. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a printed map and advertisement. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a map and a one-dimensional barcode printed out on paper. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a new map printed out in a manner that allows the user's visited points to be identified. [Diagram 30] FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of a map that has been printed out with augmented reality information integrated therein. [Diagram 31] FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the flow of processing executed by a plurality of electronic devices according to the sixth embodiment. [Diagram 32] FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the screen of the personal computer 160 when creating an album using the electronic device according to the sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0194] 2. Description of the Related Art Electronic devices used in vehicles include, for example, navigation devices, drive recorders, and radar detectors.

[0195] The navigation device has a function of guiding a vehicle from its departure point to its destination.

[0196] A drive recorder has a function of recording, for example, images of the surroundings of a vehicle while it is moving, for example, images of the front of the vehicle, and the vehicle's position information. Drive recorders may be installed in rental cars. Rental cars are rented out after an employee of the rental car company checks the body of the vehicle for dents, scratches, and other damage. After the vehicle is returned, if damage is found on the vehicle other than the damage checked by the rental car company employee before the rental, it is determined that the damage was caused by the user who rented the vehicle, and the rental car company will treat it as an accident and request a non-operation charge (NOC (business security deposit)) from the user of the vehicle. A drive recorder can be used to prove the existence of the above-mentioned accident.

[0197] For example, a radar detector has three basic functions: radar warning function, radio warning function, and GPS warning function. The radar warning function is a function that issues a warning when it detects electromagnetic waves emitted toward a vehicle from a speed measuring device installed on the road. The radio warning function is a function that issues a warning when it receives radio waves of a known frequency from a police radio. The GPS warning function is a function that issues a warning when a vehicle approaches an automatic speed violation enforcement device.

[0198] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0199] [First Example] <Configuration of navigation device> The configuration of a navigation device 1 as an electronic device in a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

[0200] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a navigation device 1 in this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation device 1 in this embodiment.

[0201] The navigation device 1 is configured to be installable in a rental car as described below, and is used by an unspecified person in the rental car when that person uses the rental car. For example, the rental car company receives a usage fee from the user according to the rental time, and the rental car is rented to the user by the rental car company.

[0202] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the navigation device 1 has a display unit 5, lamps 6, a touch panel 8, a card insertion slot 9, a microwave receiver 11, a GPS receiver 12, a wireless transceiver 13, a control unit 18, a database 19, a speaker 20, a memory card reader 21, and an On-board diagnostics (hereinafter referred to as "OBD") connector 24.

[0203] The navigation device 1 is supported on the dashboard of the vehicle via the cradle 3. The bottom surface of the cradle 3 is attached onto the dashboard of the vehicle, thereby fixing the navigation device 1 to the dashboard. The navigation device 1 is detachable from the cradle 3, and is used by being placed together with the cradle 3 on the dashboard of a rental car.

[0204] The display unit 5 is provided on the front surface of the navigation device 1 (the surface facing the rear of the vehicle (the driver's side)). The display unit 5 is configured, for example, with a 3.2-inch color TFT liquid crystal display. The display unit 5 displays a menu screen under the control of the control unit 18 as a processing means. The control unit 18 realizes a navigation function, an information provision function, a return time notification function, a refueling notification function, a remaining fuel amount recording function, a fee notification function, and a contact notification function, which will be described later.

[0205] The lamp 6 lights up or blinks under the control of the control unit 18 to issue or notify an alarm.

[0206] The touch panel 8 is provided on the display unit 5. The touch panel 8 detects a position on the display unit 5 that is touched by a vehicle user. The detection result by the touch panel 8 is provided to the control unit 18.

[0207] The card insertion slot 9 is provided on the right side of the navigation device 1. A memory card 22 serving as a removable storage medium is inserted into the navigation device 1 through the card insertion slot 9. As the memory card 22, for example, a micro SD memory card (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as SD) is used.

[0208] The microwave receiver 11 receives microwaves of a predetermined frequency emitted from an external speed measurement device. The microwave receiver 11 detects the signal level of the received microwaves and outputs the detection result to the control unit 18.

[0209] The GPS receiver 12 is disposed inside the navigation device 1 at the upper center on the rear side. The GPS receiver 12 receives GPS signals from a plurality of GPS satellites, and determines the current position (longitude, latitude) based on the received GPS signals. The GPS receiver 12 outputs position information of the determined current position to the control unit 18. The GPS receiver 12 receives time information from the GPS satellites, and outputs the received time information to the control unit 18.

[0210] The wireless transceiver 13 has a function of performing short-distance wireless communication with a communication partner such as a contactless IC card, a personal computer, etc. Using this short-distance wireless communication function, the navigation device 1 performs data communication with the communication partner.

[0211] The control unit 18 is started by receiving power from an in-vehicle battery (not shown) when an accessory switch (not shown) provided in the vehicle is turned on. When the accessory switch is turned off, the navigation device 1 continues to operate using power from the built-in battery, and displays a dialogue on the display unit 5 for a grace period, for example 10 seconds, inquiring of the user whether or not to continue operating on battery power. If an input is received to the effect that operation should continue on battery power, the navigation device 1 continues to operate on battery power. If no input is received within the grace period to the effect that operation should continue on battery power, the navigation device 1 stops operation and turns off the power.

[0212] The control unit 18 is composed of a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, an I / O interface, etc. The control unit 18 realizes a navigation function, an information provision function, a return time notification function, a fuel remaining amount recording function, a refueling notification function, a fee notification function, a contact notification function, a parking record function, etc., by the CPU executing a program stored in the EEPROM. The control unit 18 determines which position on the display unit 5 was touched based on the detection result of the touched position input from the touch panel 8, and executes a program that realizes each of the above functions according to the determination result. Details of each function will be described later.

[0213] The control unit 18 is connected to each of the above-mentioned units, and executes a predetermined process based on the information and detection results input from the above-mentioned various input devices (touch panel 8, GPS receiver 12, microwave receiver 11, wireless transceiver 13, etc.) and OBD connector 24, and further using information stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 18 as necessary, and issues an alarm or gives a notice using output devices (display unit 5, speaker 20, etc.). These basic configurations can basically be the same as those of the conventional ones. For example, sound is output by the control unit 18 reproducing PCM data stored in the EEPROM. The control unit 18 has a real-time clock function that keeps the current time even when the power is turned off.

[0214] The database 19 is stored in an EEPROM externally attached to the control unit 18. Map data is stored in the database 19 at the time of shipment. The map data stored in the database 19 includes position information indicating each point on the map. The map data also includes position information of gas stations and rental car companies, and position information indicating no parking areas. Here, a no parking area is an area that is subject to enforcement under the Road Traffic Act when a vehicle is parked, and includes priority and most important no parking areas.

[0215] Database 19 includes a table (hereinafter referred to as the "tourist destination table") that stores information indicating the names of tourist destinations or tourist facilities, tourist guide information for those tourist destinations or tourist facilities, and location information indicating the locations of those tourist destinations or tourist facilities, all in association with each other. Database 19 also includes a table (hereinafter referred to as the "business destination table") that stores information on company names, company guide information for companies with those company names, and location information indicating the locations of those companies, all in association with each other. The tourist destination table and the business destination table are each assigned information that identifies the tourist destination table and the business destination table. The map data, tourist destination table, and business destination table stored in database 19 are updated as appropriate.

[0216] The speaker 20 is built into the lower part of the navigation device 1. The speaker port of the speaker 20 is provided on the bottom surface of the navigation device 1. The speaker 20 issues an alarm or gives a notification under the control of the control unit 18.

[0217] The memory card reader 21 is built inside the card insertion slot 9 in the navigation device 1, and has a reader function and a writer function. A memory card 22 can be inserted into the memory card reader 21 through the card insertion slot 9.

[0218] The OBD connector 24 is connected to an OBD connector (not shown) provided in the rental car, which is the other connection side. The OBD connector provided in the rental car is connected to an ECU (electronic control unit) (not shown) mounted on the rental car. By connecting the OBD connector 24 to the OBD connector provided in the rental car, the control unit 18 obtains the measurement results of the consumption of gasoline in the gasoline tank from the ECU mounted on the rental car. The OBD connector 24 has a terminal for communication via an in-vehicle network such as a CAN (Controller Area Network) or a K-line.

[0219] <Operation of navigation device> The operation of the navigation device 1 in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0220] {Actions at a rental car company store when renting a car} A cradle 3 is installed on the dashboard of a rental car for rent managed by a rental car company store. When a rental car is returned to the rental car company store, the navigation device 1 is removed from the cradle 3. When the navigation device 1 is taken out of the rental car, it is charged within the store.

[0221] A clerk at the rental car company's store lends navigation device 1 to a user who has applied to use a rental car, along with the rental car, and attaches the rented navigation device 1 to a cradle 3 installed in the rental car. The rental car user can receive an explanation from the clerk at the rental car company's store about how to operate the rental car, as well as an explanation of the setting procedures for navigation device 1 that are necessary to receive each function from navigation device 1.

[0222] The navigation device 1 is connected to an in-vehicle battery via an accessory switch, and when the accessory switch is turned on, power is supplied from the in-vehicle battery to the navigation device 1. The control unit 18 is started by receiving power from the in-vehicle battery, and the CPU of the control unit 18 executes a program stored in the EEPROM and displays a menu screen on the display unit 5. On this menu screen, start buttons are displayed for starting the provision of the navigation function, the information provision function, the return time notification function, and the contact information notification function. The control unit 18 starts an operation to provide a function corresponding to the start button on the menu screen selected by the user operating the touch panel 8.

[0223] First, there will be described an operation of providing an information provision function by the navigation device 1. Here, the information provision function is a function of providing information from the navigation device 1 according to the purpose of use of the rental car by the user.

[0224] There are various needs for rental cars depending on whether you want to transport people or luggage. In addition, the needs differ depending on the attributes of the rental car user, such as gender, age, occupation, and hobbies, or the purpose of using the rental car. Specifically, the needs differ when renting a car on a date with a partner and when renting a car for a girls' night out.

[0225] The navigation device 1 switches the information provided to the rental car user according to the rental car user's needs, and in particular switches the information provided according to the purpose of using the rental car. The navigation device 1 switches the information provided depending on whether the rental car is used for leisure or business, broadly speaking.

[0226] The purpose of rental car use is declared to the rental car company when the user applies to rent a car. Information specifying the purpose of use declared by the user is entered by a clerk at the rental car company store, and the navigation device 1 stores this in the EEPROM of the control unit 18. This allows the control unit 18 to refer to this and determine whether the current purpose of use of the user is tourism or business.

[0227] When the purpose of using the rental car is tourism, the control unit 18 has a function of selecting a tourism purpose table based on the identification information given to each table of the database 19, reading information on the names of multiple tourist destinations and tourist facilities from the tourism purpose table, and displaying the read information on the names of multiple tourist destinations and tourist facilities in a selectable manner on the display unit 5. When the purpose of using the rental car is business, the control unit 18 has a function of selecting a business purpose table based on the identification information given to each table of the database 19, reading information on multiple company names from the business purpose table, and displaying the read information on the multiple company names in a selectable manner on the display unit 5.

[0228] The touch panel 8 is provided with a function for allowing a user to operate the touch panel 8 and select an interesting one from among the names of tourist destinations and tourist facilities or company names displayed on the display unit 5. The control unit 18 has a function for storing the information selected by the user from the information showing the names of tourist destinations, tourist facilities, or companies displayed on the display unit 5 in the EEPROM of the control unit 18.

[0229] Next, an operation of the navigation function of the navigation device 1 will be described. Here, the navigation function is basically a function provided in a general car navigation device, such as displaying a route from a current location to a destination on a map displayed on the display unit 5. In addition to the above functions, the navigation function includes various other functions, such as a map display function for displaying a map on the display unit 5, a voice route guidance function, an intersection enlarged display function, and a surrounding facility search function.

[0230] Selection of a start button for instructing the start of provision of the navigation function is detected from the user's operation of the touch panel 8. The control unit 18 causes the display unit 5 to display an input screen for inputting the departure point and destination of the rental car. The rental car user inputs the departure point and destination by looking at the input screen displayed on the display unit 5 and operating the touch panel 8. The destination can be determined, for example, based on information indicating tourist spots, tourist facilities, etc. displayed on the display unit 5 according to user information. The control unit 18 determines the route from the input departure point to the destination. The control unit 18 reads out map data stored in the database 19, causes the display unit 5 to display a map, and causes the display unit 5 to display the determined route on the map displayed on the display unit 5.

[0231] In this embodiment, the navigation device 1 further has the following functions as navigation functions. After the control unit 18 determines the above route, the CPU of the control unit 18 executes a program stored in the EEPROM, and causes the display unit 5 to display a button for selecting to display the rental car return location on a map. When the above button displayed on the display unit 5 is selected, the control unit 18 reads out store information of the rental car company stored in the database 19 and causes the display unit 5 to display the store selectably. Information indicating a store selected by the user from the information of the rental car company stores displayed on the display unit 5 is stored in the EEPROM as the rental car return location, and an icon indicating the store at the return location is displayed on the map displayed on the display unit 5. Store location information can be obtained from the database 19.

[0232] Next, there will be described the operation of the return time notification function of the navigation device 1. Here, the return time notification function is a function that notifies the user of the remaining time until the end of use of the rental car.

[0233] Before the navigation device 1 is rented to a user, a clerk at the rental car company sets in the navigation device 1 use end time information that specifies the scheduled time when the use of the rental car will end (hereinafter referred to as the use end time). Here, the use end time is the scheduled time when the rental car that has been rented out is returned by paying the usage fee, and is the time when an additional fee must be paid if the rental car is not returned by that time. The control unit 18 displays a start button for instructing the start of the return time notification function on the menu screen displayed on the display unit 5. When the user instructs the start of the return time notification function by selecting this start button, the control unit 18 calculates the remaining time, which is the difference between the time indicated by the set use end time information and the current time kept by the real-time clock function or the current time calculated from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12, and starts the process of reporting information on the calculated remaining time.

[0234] Next, there will be described the operation of the contact information notification function of the navigation device 1. Here, the contact information notification function is a function for notifying emergency contact information.

[0235] If you have trouble with a rental car, you must contact the rental car company, explain the situation, and receive instructions from them. This is because rental car companies always have automobile insurance or mutual aid for their rental cars.

[0236] Emergency contact information indicating the telephone number of an emergency contact, etc. is set in the navigation device 1. For example, a clerk at a rental car company's store sets the emergency contact information in the navigation device 1. The emergency contact information includes, for example, the telephone number of the store that rented the rental car.

[0237] {Operations while using a rental car} After completing the above settings, the rental car user drives the rental car and departs from the rental car company's store. The navigation device 1 operates to provide the following functions while the rental car user is using the rental car: navigation function, information provision function, return time notification function, remaining fuel amount recording function, refueling notification function, fee notification function, contact information notification function, and parking record function. Each function will be described in detail below.

[0238] First, the operation of the navigation function of the navigation device 1 will be described.

[0239] The control unit 18 provides a map display function that displays the current position as an icon on the route to the destination on the map displayed on the display unit 5, based on the current position information input from the GPS receiver 12.

[0240] The control unit 18 displays an icon indicating the rental car return location at a position corresponding to the return location on the map displayed on the display unit 5, based on information indicating the store that is the rental car return location recorded in the EEPROM of the control unit 18. This allows the rental car user to recognize the rental car return location.

[0241] It is assumed that a rental car user will return and drop off the rented car at a designated location, and then rent another rental car at a different location to head to the destination. Specifically, it is assumed that a rental car user traveling from Tokyo to Nagoya will drop off the rental car in Shizuoka, take a train to Hamamatsu, rent another rental car in Hamamatsu, and head to the destination of Nagoya. In this way, by making it possible to drop off rental cars, it is possible to eliminate the waste of time that would result from the rental car being left unused when staying overnight during a trip using a rental car.

[0242] In this case, it is conceivable that the rental car user may not know where to return the rental car because the place where the rental car was rented is different from the place where the rental car is returned. In such a case, the rental car user can easily find out where to return the rental car by looking at the icon indicating the place where the rental car is returned.

[0243] Next, the operation of the information providing function of the navigation device 1 will be described.

[0244] The navigation device 1 provides a navigation function and also provides an information providing function.

[0245] First, a case where the purpose of using the rental car is sightseeing will be described. When the distance between the current position of the rental car and the position indicated by the position information associated with the information indicating the names of the tourist destinations and tourist facilities registered in the tourist destination table is within a predetermined distance r1, the control unit 18 starts providing the information indicating the names of the tourist destinations and tourist facilities registered in the tourist destination table and the tourist guide information. When the distance between the current position of the rental car and the position indicated by the position information associated with the information indicating the names of the tourist destinations or tourist facilities registered in the tourist destination table is within a predetermined distance r2 (r1>r2), the control unit 18 stops providing the information regarding the tourist guide information.

[0246] This allows rental car users to receive tourist information from the navigation device 1 in place of a human tourist guide that is available when using Hato Bus, Kobe City Loop Bus, etc.

[0247] The predetermined distance r1 may be set to a distance that the user is estimated to be about to visit the tourist spot or facility that is the target of the measurement of the distance from the rental car, for example, about 1 km. The predetermined distance r2 may be set to a distance that the rental car equipped with the navigation device 1 is estimated to be about to arrive at the target tourist spot or facility, for example, about 20 m.

[0248] Next, a case where the purpose of using the rental car is business will be described. When the distance between the current location of the rental car and the location indicated by the location information associated with the information on the company name registered in the business purpose table is within a predetermined distance r1, the control unit 18 starts providing information on the company name registered in the business purpose table and information on the company guide. When the distance between the current location of the rental car and the location indicated by the location information associated with the information on the company name registered in the business purpose table is within a predetermined distance r2 (r1>r2), the control unit 18 stops providing information on the company guide.

[0249] The predetermined distance r1 may be set to a distance that the user is estimated to be about to visit the company for which the distance to the rental car is to be measured, for example, about 1 km. The predetermined distance r2 may be set to a distance that the rental car equipped with the navigation device 1 is estimated to have almost arrived at the target company, for example, about 20 m.

[0250] As described above, if the purpose of using the rental car is tourism, tourist information and the like can be provided, and if the purpose of using the rental car is business, information regarding the company can be provided, etc. In this way, the rental car user can receive information according to the purpose of using the rental car from the navigation device 1.

[0251] Candidate tourist destinations and tourist facilities for which tourist information is to be provided may be limited to those selected by the user by operating the touch panel 8 when renting a car. This makes it possible to exclude tourist destinations and tourist facilities that do not interest the user and provide tourist information on tourist destinations and tourist facilities that interest the user.

[0252] Next, the operation of the return time informing function of the navigation device 1 will be described.

[0253] The control unit 18 causes the display unit 5 to display information regarding the remaining time until the end of use of the rental car for a predetermined time each time the engine of the rental car is stopped and the accessory switch is turned off at a tourist spot or the like that is visited while using the rental car, and the accessory switch of the rental car is turned on again and the engine is started in order to move from the tourist spot or the like to the next destination. The predetermined time for displaying the remaining time on the display unit 5 may be a time sufficient for the user to notice the remaining time displayed on the display unit 5 after starting the engine, for example, 10 seconds or more. Moreover, when a time that is estimated to be the time when the user would have noticed the remaining time displayed on the display unit 5 has elapsed, for example, 30 seconds, the display of the information regarding the remaining time may be stopped.

[0254] This allows the rental car user to plan to return to the rental car return location by the rental car end time, minimizing the need to unintentionally extend the rental car use time due to not making it in time for the rental car end time. Also, by notifying information indicating the remaining time until the rental car end time for a predetermined period of time when the accessory switch is turned on, it is possible to avoid the annoyance of information indicating the remaining time until the rental car end time being notified more frequently than necessary.

[0255] When the rental car user is using the rental car and the end time for the rental car has passed, the user can receive the following services from the navigation device 1.

[0256] The control unit 18 stores the identification information of the rental car to which the navigation device 1 is attached in the EEPROM of the control unit 18. The identification information of the rental car is information for identifying one of all rental cars owned by the rental car company. When the current time obtained from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12 or the current time kept by the real-time clock function passes the end time of use stored in the EEPROM, the control unit 18 reads out the character data to be notified when the end time of use stored in advance in the EEPROM of the control unit 18 has passed and the identification information of the rental car stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 18, and displays the characters of the read character data on the display unit 5 to notify, and displays the identification information of the rental car on the display unit 5 to notify. Specifically, the control unit 18 notifies by displaying the characters "The return time has passed, so please contact XXX store" and the identification information of the rental car on the display unit 5. The user of the rental car sees the display on the display unit 5 and contacts the rental car company store from which the rental car was rented by telephone or the like to inform the store that the rental car use time will be extended, the extension time, and the identification information of the rental car. Here, the extension time is the time for which the rental car is used beyond the initial rental time according to the amount of the fee paid, on the condition that an additional fee is paid. The store that receives this notification manages the rented rental car on the store's terminal, and by using the received identification information as a search key to search, it becomes easy to find information about the rental car on the terminal.

[0257] In addition to the above notification, the CPU of the control unit 18 executes a program stored in the EEPROM, and displays a selection screen for selecting the extension time on the display unit 5. The rental car user sets the extension time of the rental car for which the rental car shop has been contacted in the navigation device 1. The control unit 18 acquires information regarding the extension time input on the selection screen of the display unit 5. The control unit 18 acquires the time after the extension time indicated in the acquired information regarding the extension time from the current time acquired from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12 or the current time kept by the real-time clock function, and acquires the remaining time after the extension from the difference between the current time and the time after the acquired extension time has elapsed. The control unit 18 causes the display unit 5 to display information regarding the acquired remaining time after the extension for the above-mentioned predetermined time each time the accessory switch is turned on.

[0258] This allows rental car users to easily select the extended time, making it easier for rental car companies to increase revenue from additional fees associated with the extension, and thus improving profits. In addition, by making it easier for rental car companies to receive notification from rental car users that they will be extending the usage time, they can relatively quickly determine how many rental cars that were supposed to be returned within the initial usage time are not being returned.

[0259] Next, there will be described the operation of the remaining fuel amount recording function of the navigation device 1. Here, the remaining fuel amount recording function is a function for recording the amount of gasoline remaining in the gasoline tank of the rental car.

[0260] The vehicle includes an engine ECU, a body ECU, and the like. The body ECU controls door locks, hazard lights, and the like. When the body ECU receives an instruction from the radar detector to turn on the hazard lights, it turns on the hazard lights. Controlling the vehicle's ECU to operate the vehicle in this way is called active control. In contrast, control that only receives information is called passive control. As active control, the radar detector instructs each ECU to perform emergency stop signal control, which causes the hazard lights to flash at high speed when it detects that the brakes have been applied suddenly, and control that automatically locks the doors when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value. The navigation device 1 can also obtain the measurement results of the amount of gasoline consumed in the gasoline tank of the rental car by communicating with such ECUs.

[0261] When the OBD connector 24 is connected to an OBD connector (not shown) on the rental car side, the control unit 18 acquires the measurement results of the amount of gasoline consumed in the gasoline tank from the engine ECU mounted on the rental car. The control unit 18 calculates the remaining amount of gasoline by subtracting the amount of gasoline consumed indicated by the measurement results acquired from the engine ECU from the amount of gasoline when the gasoline tank is filled up, which is recorded in advance in the EEPROM, and records the calculated information on the remaining amount of gasoline while overwriting it in the EEPROM. The control unit 18 performs the overwriting and recording of the remaining amount of gasoline at a predetermined cycle while the accessory switch is on.

[0262] Next, there will be described the operation of the refueling notification function of the navigation device 1. Here, the refueling notification function is a function that notifies the driver that gasoline needs to be refueled.

[0263] Rental car users must fill up the gas tank of their rental car before returning it to the rental car company's store. At this time, rental car users are often advised to refuel at a gas station designated by the rental car company. Rental car users may also be required by the rental car company to submit the receipt they received from the last gas station, or a full tank certificate with a stamp or signature from the last gas station where they refueled. If rental car users return the rental car without filling up the gas tank, they must pay an adjustment fee calculated from the mileage of the rental car. This adjustment fee is set higher than the fee for refueling at a gas station.

[0264] The control unit 18 compares the store location information, which is the rental car return location stored in the EEPROM, with the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12 at a predetermined interval, and starts providing the refueling notification function when the distance from the current location to the rental car return location is a distance where there is a high possibility that at least one gas station exists (hereinafter referred to as the notification distance), for example, within 1 km. The period for comparing the store location information with the current location information should be set to a time that is sufficiently shorter than the time required to travel the notification distance when traveling at the legal speed, for example. For example, the above comparison should be performed at a period that is 1 / 10 or less of the time required to travel the notification distance when traveling at 60 km / h.

[0265] The control unit 18 notifies the driver by displaying on the display unit 5 that the driver is approaching the rental car return location, and further reads character data stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 18 that urges the driver to refuel with gasoline, and displays the characters of the read character data on the display unit 5 to notify the driver to refuel with gasoline and fill up the gasoline tank. Specifically, the control unit 18 causes the display unit 5 to display that the driver is approaching the rental car return location, and the characters "Is your tank full?"

[0266] This allows the rental car user to recognize whether or not it is necessary to refuel the gas tank before returning the rental car when approaching the rental car company's store. Also, the rental car user can avoid as much as possible the inconvenience of arriving at the rental car return location before refueling with gas and being charged the adjustment fee, or having to go back to find a nearby gas station after approaching the rental car return location.

[0267] When the distance from the current location to the rental car return location is within 1 km, the control unit 18 displays a gas station icon at the gas station's location on the map displayed on the display unit 5. In particular, the control unit 18 determines a recommended route from the current location to the rental car return location, and if there is a gas station on this recommended route, it is preferable to display the icon corresponding to this gas station more emphasized than icons corresponding to other gas stations.

[0268] This allows the rental car user to know the locations of gas stations on the route from the current location to the rental car company's store, minimizing the need to wander around looking for a gas station.

[0269] Next, there will be described the operation of the fee notification function of the navigation device 1. Here, the fee notification function is a function that notifies the driver of the fee (gasoline cost) required to fill up the rental car's gas tank before the tank is filled up.

[0270] The control unit 18 starts providing the fee notification function when the distance between the current location indicated by the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12 and the location indicated by the location information of the store where the rental car is returned, which is stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 18, is within 1 km.

[0271] The control unit 18 prestores the fee per standard amount of gasoline and the adjustment fee per standard mileage in the EEPROM of the control unit 18. The control unit 18 acquires the measurement results of the consumption of gasoline in the gasoline tank of the rental car by communicating with an ECU mounted on the rental car via an OBD connector 24 connected to an OBD connector (not shown) on the rental car side. The control unit 18 multiplies the consumption of gasoline indicated by the acquired measurement results by the fee per standard amount of gasoline to obtain the fee for refueling with that amount of gasoline consumed. The control unit 18 multiplies the mileage from the time of rental car rental to the present time by the adjustment fee per standard mileage to obtain the adjustment fee corresponding to that mileage.

[0272] The mileage from the time of rental car rental to the present time can be calculated by subtracting the accumulated mileage at the time of rental car rental from the accumulated mileage of the rental car at the present time. The accumulated mileage of the rental car at the present time can be obtained from the rental car's ECU via the OBD connector 24. The accumulated mileage at the time of rental car rental can be obtained by the navigation device 1 from the rental car's ECU when the accessory switch is turned on for the first time after the navigation device 1 is installed in the rental car. When the rental car is rented, a store clerk may read the accumulated mileage of the rental car and set it in the navigation device 1.

[0273] The control unit 18 displays the charge when refueling at a gas station and the adjustment fee side by side on the display unit 5. This allows the user of the rental car to look at the display unit 5 and compare the charge when refueling at a gas station and the adjustment fee.

[0274] This allows the user of the rental car to easily determine whether to refuel at a gas station and pay the fee, or to pay an adjustment fee, based on the notified fee.

[0275] Next, there will be described the operation of the contact information notification function of the navigation device 1. Here, the contact information notification function is a function for notifying emergency contact information.

[0276] When a rental car user has a breakdown or an accident with the rental car, the user may be so upset that he or she may not be able to remember the emergency contact number of the rental car company's store. In this case, the rental car user looks at the selection screen displayed on the display unit 5 and operates the touch panel 8 to display information indicating the rental car company's store's phone number on the display unit 5.

[0277] For example, when an operation is performed to display information indicating the telephone number of a rental car company store, the control unit 18 reads out the information indicating the telephone number of the rental car company store stored in the EEPROM, and displays the read telephone number on the display unit 5.

[0278] This allows a rental car user to contact the emergency contact number when an accident or breakdown occurs in the rental car even if the user is unable to remember the emergency contact number of the rental car company from which the rental car was rented due to emotional upset or the user cannot find the paper with the emergency contact number written on it.

[0279] Next, there will be described the operation of the parking recording function of the navigation device 1. Here, the parking recording function is a function for recording that the vehicle has been parked in a no-parking area.

[0280] Rental car companies would like to see rental cars stopped parking in no-parking areas. The reason is that if a rental car user commits a parking violation while the rental car company is renting out the car and fails to pay the fine, the rental car company must pay the fine on behalf of the rental car user. After the fine is paid, the rental car company could consider collecting the debt from the rental car user, but the debt collection process would be too much work, so the rental car company usually ends up just putting up with it. Here, a parking violation means parking a rental car in a no-parking area for a specified period of time or more in a state where it cannot be driven immediately.

[0281] According to the National Rental Car Association, there were more than 16,000 such parking violations recorded by the industry as a whole in the one year period from June 2006 to May 2007. Of these, rental car users paid fines in about 10,000 cases, and in 3,004 cases (about 18%) a "payment order" was ultimately sent to the rental car company. Some rental car companies have paid 15 million yen in fines over a period of one and a half years.

[0282] When the position indicated by the current position information input from the GPS receiver 12 is within a no parking area specified by the information indicating the no parking area stored in the database 19, the control unit 18 measures the time that the rental car has been continuously parked in the no parking area using the current time calculated based on the time information input from the GPS receiver 12 or the current time kept by the real time clock function. Specifically, the control unit 18 records information indicating the time that the current position of the rental car is within the no parking area and the elapsed time from the time parking started to the time driving started in the EEPROM. The time parking started is determined, for example, from the time the switch of the vehicle was turned off. The time driving started is determined from the time the driving speed of the vehicle exceeded 0.

[0283] In addition, when the control unit 18 determines that the current position of the rental car is within a no-parking area identified by the information indicating the no-parking area recorded in the database 19 and that parking has begun, it causes the speaker 20 to emit an alarm.

[0284] {Actions at the rental car company store when returning a rental car} When the rental car user returns to the rental car company store where the rental car is to be returned, he or she stops the engine of the rental car and turns off the accessory switch. This stops the supply of power to the navigation device 1 from the vehicle battery installed in the rental car. The store clerk removes the navigation device 1 from the cradle 3 and takes it into the store. The navigation device 1 starts up by receiving power from a power source in the rental car company store, and performs the following operations related to the information provision function, refueling notification function, remaining fuel recording function, and parking recording function.

[0285] First, the operation of the navigation device 1 regarding the information providing function will be described.

[0286] The CPU of the control unit 18 executes a program stored in the EEPROM, and causes the display unit 5 to display a button for erasing the information on tourist destinations, tourist facilities, and company names recorded in the EEPROM. When the button displayed on the display unit 5 is selected, a process is performed to erase the information on tourist destinations, tourist facilities, and company names. This allows the rental car user to prevent the above information from being known to a third party without the user's knowledge. In particular, when the above information is personal information, the rental car user can prevent their personal information from being known to a third party without the user's knowledge.

[0287] Next, the operation of the navigation device 1 regarding the remaining fuel amount recording function will be described.

[0288] The control unit 18 transfers the information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline stored in the EEPROM to a terminal in the store via the wireless transceiver 13. The terminal in the store displays the information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline transferred from the control unit 18 on a display.

[0289] By referring to the information showing the remaining amount of gasoline displayed on the terminal display, the clerk at the rental car company can determine whether the rental car has a full tank of gasoline when the rental car is returned without looking at the fuel gauge of the rental car. If the rental car does not have a full tank of gasoline, the clerk at the rental car company charges the user of the rental car an adjustment fee calculated based on the mileage of the rental car.

[0290] Next, the operation of the navigation device 1 regarding the parking recording function will be described.

[0291] The control unit 18 transmits the information recorded in the EEPROM indicating the time the vehicle has been continuously parked in the no parking area to the store terminal. The store terminal displays the information indicating the time the vehicle has been continuously parked in the no parking area on the display of the terminal.

[0292] This allows the rental car company's store staff to determine the possibility that the rental car user has committed a parking violation based on the length of time indicated by the information indicating the time the car has been continuously parked in a no parking area, which is displayed on the display of the store's terminal. Specifically, the rental car company staff can determine that the longer the time the car has been parked in a no parking area, the more likely it is that the car has committed a parking violation, and can check only with rental car users who are likely to have committed a parking violation whether or not they have committed a parking violation. In this way, the rental car company's store staff only need to check with rental car users who are likely to have committed a parking violation whether or not they have committed a parking violation, which reduces the burden on the rental car company's store staff compared to checking with all rental car users.

[0293] [First Modification of the First Example] The navigation device 1 in the first modification of the first embodiment takes into consideration the usage time of the rental car when providing the information providing function and the navigation function.

[0294] The control unit 18 calculates the distance from the current location of the rental car to the location of the tourist spot, tourist facility, or company selected by the information provision function. The control unit 18 calculates the required round trip time from the current location to the tourist spot, tourist facility, or company based on the calculated distance and the standard vehicle speed previously stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 18.

[0295] If the time obtained by adding the calculated required time to the current time obtained from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12 or the current time kept by the real-time clock function does not exceed the time indicated by the use end time information provided by the return time notification function, the control unit 18 displays the tourist route around the tourist spot or facility on the display unit 5, thereby providing the information provision function and the navigation function. If the time obtained by adding the calculated required time to the current time obtained from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12 or the current time kept by the real-time clock function exceeds the time indicated by the use end time information recorded in the EEPROM, the control unit 18 displays on the display unit 5 that the user will not be able to return within the use time. Note that, if the control unit 18 is not set to provide the return time notification function, the control unit 18 stores the rental car use end time information in the EEPROM of the control unit 18 by an operation similar to the operation of storing the use end time information by the return time notification function.

[0296] This allows the rental car user to receive from the navigation device 1 tourist routes that can be completed within the rental car usage time. In addition, since the rental car user is not provided from the navigation device 1 tourist routes that cannot be completed within the rental car usage time, it is possible to minimize the need to unintentionally extend the rental car usage time by going to a distant tourist spot or facility that the user cannot return to within the usage time.

[0297] [Second Modification of the First Example] The navigation device 1 according to the second modification of the first embodiment provides information that identifies a coupon that provides a predetermined benefit.

[0298] The database 19 includes a table (hereinafter referred to as a "coupon selection table") that stores names of tourist destinations or tourist facilities, information specifying coupons that can be used at the tourist destinations or tourist facilities, and location information indicating the location of the tourist destinations or tourist facilities in association with each other. When providing tourist information by the information providing function, the control unit 18 refers to the coupon selection table and determines whether or not information specifying a coupon is associated with the name of the tourist destination or tourist facility for which tourist information is provided. If information specifying a coupon is associated with the name of the tourist destination or tourist facility for which tourist information is provided, the control unit 18 causes the display unit 5 to display information specifying a coupon associated with the tourist destination or tourist facility together with the tourist information. The information specifying a coupon includes information such as the name of the facility where the coupon can be used, the details of the preferential treatment, and the expiration date. A rental car user can look at the information specifying a coupon displayed on the display unit 5 and find a coupon that can be used at the tourist destination or tourist facility for which tourist information is provided from among the coupons he or she owns.

[0299] When the distance between the current location of the rental car and the tourist spot or facility becomes equal to or less than the above-mentioned predetermined distance r1, information for identifying the coupon is displayed on the display unit 5, thereby making it possible to avoid, as much as possible, a situation in which a coupon likely to be used soon is buried under coupons that are unlikely to be used for the time being, making it impossible to find the coupon likely to be used soon.

[0300] The rental car user compares the coupon specifying information displayed on the display unit 5 with the coupons they have. Then, based on the coupon specifying information provided by the navigation device 1, the rental car user can specify coupons that can be used near the current location from among the coupons they have. This allows the rental car user to receive benefits such as being able to use the specified coupon to eat and drink at a restaurant at a discounted price from the regular price, or being able to enter a tourist spot or facility at a discounted admission fee from the regular admission fee.

[0301] If the rental car user does not have a coupon, information identifying the coupon provided by the navigation device 1 may be transferred from the navigation device 1 to the user's mobile terminal via short-range wireless communication, and the coupon may be displayed on the user's mobile terminal based on the information identifying the coupon, allowing the coupon displayed on the mobile terminal to be used in the same way as a paper coupon. The user can receive preferential treatment by holding the mobile terminal displaying the coupon over a reading device installed at the entrance gate of the facility, or by showing the mobile terminal to a facility attendant.

[0302] In some regions, integrated services are provided within the framework of railroad companies, tourist associations, or local governments such as prefectures. It would be preferable for rental car companies to be included in this framework. Specifically, a service that combines railroad and rental cars, plus a tourist guide and coupons for tourist destinations or facilities, would be provided to people who rent cars for leisure.

[0303] The above set can be marketed to rental car users as one product when renting a car. For example, an Odaiba set including railways, rental cars, tourist information, and coupons for the Odaiba area can be marketed to rental car users. This will help promote tourism and appeal to the variety of ways to enjoy rental cars.

[0304] [Third Modification of the First Embodiment] When providing a navigation function, the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 according to the third modified example of the first embodiment causes the display unit 5 to display a model tourist course that includes a tourist spot or facility when the rental car approaches the tourist spot or facility.

[0305] Specifically, the control unit 18 reads out from the tourist destination table information representing the names of tourist destinations or tourist facilities when the distance calculated from the position specified by the current position information input from the GPS receiver 12 and the position of the position information associated with the information representing the names of the tourist destinations or tourist facilities in the tourist destination table is less than 1 km. The control unit 18 determines a tourist course that sequentially visits the tourist destinations or tourist facilities corresponding to the read information. The control unit 18 causes the CPU to execute a program stored in the EEPROM, and causes the display unit 5 to display a button for selecting the start of guidance for the determined tourist course. Then, when the user operates the touch panel 8 to select this button, the control unit 18 causes the determined tourist course to be displayed on the map displayed on the display unit 5.

[0306] As a result, the rental car user can receive a sightseeing course provided by the navigation device 1 without having to set a destination in the navigation device 1, allowing the user to visit sightseeing spots such as tourist sites or facilities that the user was not aware of.

[0307] [Fourth Modification of the First Embodiment] In the first embodiment, a rental car is used as a vehicle used by unspecified persons, but in the fourth modified example of the first embodiment, a rental bicycle is used as a vehicle used by unspecified persons. A rental bicycle is convenient for short-distance travel.

[0308] Typically, a rental bicycle is not equipped with a power source for supplying power to the navigation device 1. It is preferable that the navigation device 1 rented out together with the rental bicycle has a built-in battery. In order to enable the navigation device 1 without a built-in battery to be used on a rental bicycle, it is preferable to rent out an external mobile battery together with the navigation device 1.

[0309] When the rental bicycle is not in use, it is locked with a key capable of short-distance wireless communication. A mobile terminal having the same functions as the navigation device 1 receives and stores unlocking information consisting of a four-digit number sent to an e-mail address that the mobile terminal can receive. The lock is unlocked by holding up the mobile terminal with the unlocking information stored therein. This allows the rental bicycle to be used. The e-mail address for receiving the unlocking information is registered in advance with the bicycle rental management company using the World Wide Web.

[0310] A portable terminal used for such bicycle rentals can provide a navigation function when an unspecified person renting a bicycle does not know the location of a no-bicycle parking area or a cycle port where bicycles can be rented and borrowed.

[0311] This allows the user of the mobile device to receive information on bicycle parking prohibition zones and cycle port locations from the mobile device. Also, by receiving cycle port location information, the user of the mobile device can return a rental bicycle within the time frame that needs to be returned.

[0312] [Fifth Modification of the First Embodiment] In a fifth modified example of the first embodiment, a paper medium such as a travel magazine is linked to a mobile terminal having the same functions as the navigation device 1. By photographing a QR code printed on a travel magazine with the mobile terminal, it is possible to download only the necessary pages of the travel magazine to the mobile terminal. Note that such a mobile terminal can be used by a rental car user when using the rental car.

[0313] Paper travel magazines and the like are bulky and inconvenient to carry around. A user of a mobile terminal having the same functions as the navigation device 1 can obtain information on tourist spots or facilities from the mobile terminal without looking at a paper travel magazine, eliminating the hassle of carrying around a paper travel magazine.

[0314] [Sixth Modification of the First Embodiment] In a sixth modified example of the first embodiment, a portable terminal having the same function as the navigation device 1 provides a navigation function by displaying a route from a train station exit to a tourist spot or facility where a coupon is to be used. This portable terminal is useful when the direction from the train station exit to the tourist spot or facility where a coupon is to be used is unknown.

[0315] Specifically, database 19 includes a table (hereinafter referred to as the "guide table") that stores, in association with each other, information on train stations, information on the names of tourist destinations or facilities, information identifying coupons that can be used at the tourist destinations or facilities, location information indicating the location of the tourist destinations or facilities, benefit information indicating whether a coupon will be free or a discount will be provided when it is used, price information indicating the regular price when no coupon is used and the discount amount when a coupon is used, and image information of pictures or photographs showing the exterior of the tourist destinations or facilities.

[0316] The CPU of the control unit 18 executes a program stored in the EEPROM, and causes an input screen for inputting the name of a station and the name of a tourist spot or facility to be displayed on the display unit 5. When a user inputs the name of a station and the name of a tourist spot or facility by looking at the input screen displayed on the display unit 5, the control unit 18 judges the input name, finds a route from the station to the tourist spot or facility via an exit of the station that is closest to the tourist spot or facility, and displays the found route on a map displayed on the display unit 5, providing a navigation function. The displayed route includes identification information that specifies one of the station's multiple exits.

[0317] The control unit 18 causes the display unit 5 to display information and image information identifying a coupon that is associated with the information on the name of a tourist destination or tourist facility in the guidance table, and also causes the display unit 5 to display bonus information and amount information that are associated with the information identifying the coupon in the guidance table.

[0318] As a result, a user of a mobile terminal having the same functions as the navigation device 1 can receive from the mobile terminal a navigation function that guides the route from the exit of a train station to a tourist spot or facility. Furthermore, by receiving image information, the user of the mobile terminal can visually confirm the tourist spot or facility he or she is heading for. Furthermore, by receiving special offer information, the user of the mobile terminal can know before using the coupon whether it will be free or a discount will be given when using the coupon at the tourist spot or facility. Furthermore, by receiving price information, the user of the mobile terminal can judge how much financial benefit there is when using the coupon compared to not using the coupon.

[0319] [Other Modifications of the First Embodiment] In the first embodiment, when the control unit 18 provides the parking record function while the rental car is in use, information indicating the time the car has been continuously parked in a no parking area is recorded in the EEPROM, but time information indicating the time when the current position indicated by the current position information input from the GPS receiver 12 went from outside the no parking area to inside the no parking area (hereinafter referred to as "entry time information") and time information indicating the time when the current position indicated by the current position information input from the GPS receiver 12 subsequently went from inside the no parking area to outside the no parking area (hereinafter referred to as "exit time information") may also be recorded in the EEPROM. When the rental car returns to the store, a clerk at the rental car company transfers the entry time information and the exit time information from the navigation device 1 to a terminal at the store and displays them on the display of the terminal.

[0320] The clerk at the rental car company's store refers to the entry time information and the exit time information displayed on the terminal, calculates the time from the time indicated by the entry time information to the time indicated by the exit time information, and can determine that the longer the calculated time, the more likely it is that a parking violation has occurred, so that the clerk can ask only those rental car users who are determined to be more likely to have committed a parking violation whether or not they have committed a parking violation. This reduces the processing load on the control unit 18 compared to recording the time that the vehicle has been continuously parked in a no-parking area, and therefore reduces the decrease in the processing speed of the navigation function, etc. of the navigation device 1 during the period when the parking record function is provided by the navigation device 1.

[0321] In the first embodiment, when the parking record function is provided during use of the rental car, information indicating the time the car has been continuously parked in the no parking area is recorded. However, 1-bit data indicating whether the car has been parked in the no parking area may be recorded in the parking record area of ​​the non-contact IC card as information indicating whether the car has been parked in the no parking area. When the rental car returns to the store, the clerk at the rental car company holds the non-contact IC card on which the data indicating whether the car has been parked is held up to a terminal at the rental car company store, causing the data to be transferred from the non-contact IC card to the terminal, and causing the information regarding whether the car has been parked in the no parking area to be displayed on the display unit of the terminal. The clerk at the rental car company store can determine whether the car has been parked in the no parking area by referring to the information regarding whether the car has been parked in the no parking area displayed on the display unit of the terminal, and can therefore ask only the user of the rental car who has parked in the no parking area whether or not he or she has committed a parking violation. The data length of the data indicating whether the car has been parked can be made shorter than the data length of the data indicating the parking time, thereby shortening the time required for recording on the non-contact IC card.

[0322] In the first embodiment, the information providing function provides information about the company when the rental car is used for business purposes, but it may be possible to provide only a general navigation function. This eliminates the need to store a business purpose table, thereby reducing the capacity of the database 19.

[0323] In the first embodiment, various pieces of information are provided by displaying them on the display unit 5 in the information provision function, return time notification function, refueling notification function, fee notification function, and contact information notification function, but the various pieces of information may be provided by voice or sound from the speaker 20. This allows the rental car user to receive each function without looking at the display unit 5, and allows the user to concentrate on driving, particularly while driving the rental car.

[0324] In the first embodiment, various pieces of information are provided in the return time notification function and the refueling notification function by displaying them on the display unit 5, but various pieces of information may be provided by turning on or blinking the lamps 6. This allows the rental car user to receive each function without looking at the display unit 5, and allows the user to concentrate on driving, particularly while driving the rental car.

[0325] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when providing the information provision function, the navigation device 1 provided tourist guide information or company guide information by obtaining information on the names of tourist destinations, tourist facilities, or companies. However, if the rental car user and the person accompanying them in the rental car are the user's family, partner, or friend, information indicating the relationship between the user and the person accompanying them may be obtained to provide information for family, partner, or friends.

[0326] Specifically, the database 19 includes a table (hereinafter referred to as the "type table") that stores type information indicating the type of relationship between the rental car user and the person who uses the rental car and travels with them (family, lover, friend, etc.), tourist information on tourist spots or facilities, or company information on a company, in association with location information indicating the location of the tourist spots, facilities, or companies. In the type table, tourist information on tourist spots or facilities suitable for family visits, such as amusement parks, is associated with family type information, tourist information on tourist spots or facilities suitable for visiting with a lover, such as date spots, is associated with lover type information, and tourist information on tourist spots or facilities suitable for visiting with friends is associated with friend type information.

[0327] The type information may be declared by the user when applying for a rental car. A clerk at the rental car company store may set the type information in the navigation device 1 based on the user's declaration. When applying for a rental car using an Internet website or a terminal installed in the store, the type information may be transferred to the navigation device 1 from a server that manages the rental car application status.

[0328] Alternatively, a category information input button may be displayed on a menu screen that control unit 18 displays on display unit 5. When the user selects the category information input button displayed on the menu screen, control unit 18 causes display unit 5 to display a dialog box that prompts the user to input category information. When the user inputs category information, control unit 18 stores the input category information in the EEPROM.

[0329] The operations at the rental car company store during rental car use and when returning the rental car are the same as when the information provision function is provided using the tourist destination table and business destination table, so the explanation thereof is omitted.

[0330] This allows the user of the rental car to receive from the navigation device 1 information intended for family members, partners, or friends who will be traveling together using the rental car.

[0331] In the first embodiment, when providing the information provision function, the navigation device 1 provides tourist information or company information based on the current location information of the vehicle and the location information of the tourist spot, tourist facility, or company, but the navigation device 1 may provide tourist information or company information based on information indicating the rental car destination. Examples of information indicating the destination include location information of the destination, and the name of the tourist spot, tourist facility, or company that is the destination. This allows the rental car user to receive information according to the rental car destination from the navigation device 1.

[0332] When the purpose of using the rental car is sightseeing, for example, after the navigation device 1 starts the navigation function, the user operates the touch panel 8 to input information indicating the destination, and the control unit 18 can obtain tourist guide information from the tourist destination table based on the information indicating the destination.

[0333] In addition, in the first embodiment, when providing the return time notification function, the remaining time until the end of rental car use is notified each time the accessory switch is turned on and power supply from the vehicle battery begins, but if the rental car is rented for, for example, six hours, the remaining time may be notified every three hours, one hour, and 30 minutes until the end of rental car use.

[0334] For example, while a rental car is being used, the control unit 18 notifies the user of the remaining time until the end of use of the rental car each time the difference between the end of use time indicated by the information relating to the end of use time recorded in the EEPROM of the control unit 18 and the current time determined from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12 or the current time kept by the real-time clock function reaches 3 hours, 1 hour, and 30 minutes.

[0335] This allows the rental car user to be aware of the remaining time more frequently as the remaining time gets shorter.

[0336] Also, the notification may be started when the remaining time is one hour or less. This allows the user of the rental car to use the rental car without being aware of the remaining time when there is still plenty of time left.

[0337] In addition, in the first embodiment, when providing the refueling notification function, icons indicating gas stations located along the route from the current location to the rental car return location are superimposed on the map, but when doing this display, icons indicating gas stations located within a circular area with a radius of 1 km centered on the current location may also be superimposed on the map.

[0338] Specifically, the control unit 18 compares, at a predetermined timing, the location information of the store where the rental car is returned with the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12. When the distance from the current location to the rental car return location is within 1 km, the control unit 18 reads out information on gas stations included in a circular area with a radius of 1 km centered on the current location indicated by the current location information from the map data. The control unit 18 displays an icon indicating the gas station at the location of the gas station on the map displayed on the display unit 5.

[0339] This allows vehicle users, when approaching a rental car store, to find out which gas stations are located within a circular area with a radius of 1 km from their current location.

[0340] In the first embodiment, a rental car is used as the vehicle used by unspecified persons, but a vehicle used for car sharing may also be used. When the vehicle used by unspecified persons is a vehicle used for car sharing, the return location of the vehicle is a paid parking lot. In addition, as a vehicle used by unspecified persons other than a rental car or a vehicle used for car sharing, a private car used by persons other than family members or a company car used by persons other than employees may also be used. The navigation device 1 attached to the vehicle used by unspecified persons may obtain information about the user based on information stored in an IC chip built into the driver's license.

[0341] In the first embodiment, the store where the rental car was rented is notified as the emergency contact, but an affiliated store of the store where the rental car was rented may be notified as the emergency contact. Specifically, the database 19 stores information indicating the telephone number of the affiliated store of the rental car company where the rental car was rented in association with the location information. The control unit 18 identifies the nearest affiliated store from the current location of the rental car, and displays the telephone number of the identified affiliated store on the display unit 5 as the emergency contact. This allows the rental car user to contact the nearest affiliated store even if the rental car has trouble in a location far away from the store where the rental car was rented.

[0342] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the navigation device 1 is detachably attached to the cradle 3, but the navigation device 1 may be attached to the cradle 3 so that it is impossible or difficult to remove from the cradle 3. Furthermore, the navigation device 1 may be realized by installing (including pre-installing) a predetermined application program on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. The application program may itself have a navigation function, or may be for accessing a server in which a system for performing navigation is implemented and using the system. This specification discloses inventions of various types of such navigation systems.

[0343] Also, when downloading the desired pages of a travel magazine to a mobile terminal, coupons in electronic data format may also be downloaded.

[0344] In addition, the vehicle used by the unspecified person may be an electric one-seater vehicle. In this way, the user of the vehicle can receive information from the navigation device 1 according to the purpose of using the vehicle.

[0345] In addition, a rental car user can hold a contactless IC card over a short-range wireless communication device of a rental car company terminal connected to a server that stores electronic data related to coupons, and have the electronic data related to the coupons transferred from the server to the contactless IC card and stored in the card. A rental car user can receive a specified benefit by holding the contactless IC card that stores the coupon information over a short-range wireless communication device of a terminal installed at a tourist spot or facility where the coupons can be used.

[0346] In the first embodiment, the rental car is a vehicle that runs on gasoline, but it may be a vehicle that runs on electricity stored in an on-board battery, such as a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV) or an electric vehicle (EV). In this case, when providing the refueling notification function, the navigation device 1 displays and notifies the location of a charging station for charging the on-board battery on a map.

[0347] In the first embodiment, when the refueling notification function is provided, a notification is issued to encourage the driver to refuel when the distance between the current location and the rental car company store where the rental car is returned is within 1 km. In addition to this condition, a notification may be issued to encourage the driver to refuel when the amount of gasoline in the gasoline tank has decreased to a level that requires refueling. Here, a case where the amount of gasoline in the gasoline tank has decreased to a level that requires refueling may be a case where the needle on the rental car's fuel gauge has dropped even slightly from the level indicating that the tank is full. This allows the vehicle user to refuel the gasoline tank of the rental car without having to determine whether or not it is necessary to refuel the gasoline tank.

[0348] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the navigation device 1 provided the information provision function while providing the navigation function, but the destination set for receiving the navigation function and the tourist destination or tourist facility set for receiving the information provision function may be different, and the navigation function and the information provision function may be provided separately.

[0349] In addition, in the first embodiment, the refueling notification function and the fee notification function are started when the distance between the current location of the rental car and the return location becomes 1 km or less, but the distance between the current location of the rental car and the return location for starting the refueling notification function and the fee notification function can be set arbitrarily.

[0350] In the first embodiment, the user inputs user information including the purpose of using the rental car into the navigation device 1 without the user directly inputting the information manually, but the rental car user may input information indicating the purpose of using the rental car by operating the touch panel 8. For example, the control unit 18 may display a plurality of pieces of user information on the display unit 5 in a selectable manner, and the user may select from the displayed user information.

[0351] In the first embodiment, the navigation device 1 that is installed and used in a vehicle has been described, but the navigation device 1 may be removed from the cradle 3 and used as a portable navigation device (PND). The navigation device 1 that can be used as a PND has a built-in battery, and when the navigation device 1 is used outside the vehicle, the navigation device 1 receives power from the built-in battery.

[0352] In the first embodiment, the rental car use end time is set in the navigation device 1 by a clerk at the rental car company store, but the navigation device 1 may have the rental car user set the use end time information. For example, when a start button for instructing the start of provision of the return time notification function displayed on a menu screen displayed on the display unit 5 is selected, the control unit 18 causes the display unit 5 to display a reception screen for receiving input of the rental car use end time. When the user operates the touch panel 8 to input use end time information indicating the use end time, the control unit 18 stores the input use end time information.

[0353] In the first embodiment, the emergency contact information is preset in the navigation device 1, but the rental car user may set the emergency contact information in the navigation device 1. For example, a start button for setting emergency contact information may be included in the menu screen that the control unit 18 causes to be displayed on the display unit 5. When the user selects this start button, the control unit 18 causes the display unit 5 to display a reception screen for receiving input of emergency contact information. The rental car user inputs information indicating the telephone number of the rental car company store where the rental car was rented as emergency contact information into the navigation device 1. The control unit 18 stores the information indicating the telephone number of the rental car company store input into the reception screen of the display unit 5. For example, the user may input the telephone number of the rental car company store while being told by a clerk at the rental car store.

[0354] In the first embodiment, various information such as information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline was sent directly between the navigation device 1 and the terminal of the store, but the information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline may be sent and received via a contactless IC card. For example, the contactless IC card may be brought close to the wireless transceiver 13 of the navigation device 1, data may be transferred from the navigation device 1 to the contactless IC card, and the contactless IC card may be held up to a reader of a terminal installed in the store, whereby the information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline may be transferred from the contactless IC card to the terminal of the store.

[0355] [Second Example] <Drive recorder configuration> The configuration of a drive recorder 2 as an electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0356] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a drive recorder 2 according to a second embodiment. In Fig. 3, the same components as those in Fig. 2 are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0357] The drive recorder 2 is configured so as to be installable in a rental car as described below, and is used by an unspecified person using a rental car in the rental car when the unspecified person uses the rental car.

[0358] As shown in FIG. 3, the drive recorder 2 has a lamp 6, a microwave receiver 11, a GPS receiver 12, a wireless transceiver 13, a camera 17, a speaker 20, a memory card reader 21, a control unit 50, a display unit 52, an input unit 53, an acceleration sensor 54, and a database 60.

[0359] Camera 17 is incorporated in the housing of drive recorder 2 at a position and orientation that allows it to capture an image of the area in front of the rental car when drive recorder 2 is attached to the rental car. Camera 17 captures an image of the area in front of the rental car under the control of control unit 50, and outputs the captured image data to control unit 50.

[0360] The control unit 50 is composed of a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, an I / O interface, etc. The control unit 50 performs processing to provide a driving history recording function, etc., by the CPU executing a program stored in the EEPROM. Here, the driving history recording function is a function that readably records the driving history of a rental car in association with the identification information of the rental car user. The identification information of a rental car user is information assigned to each user when a rental car is rented, and is a combination of multiple alphabets, a combination of multiple numbers, or a combination of alphabets and numbers.

[0361] The control unit 50 records the video data captured by the camera 17 onto the memory card 22 via the memory card reader 21 based on the acceleration detection value input from the acceleration sensor 54, the comparison result between the location indicated by the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12 and the location indicated by the location information of places requiring caution (areas requiring caution) stored in the database 60, or the detection result input from the microwave receiver 11.

[0362] For example, based on the detected acceleration value input from the acceleration sensor 54, the occurrence of an event such as an accident, sudden acceleration, sudden stop, or sudden turn is detected. When the control unit 50 determines that such an event has occurred, it records video data captured by the camera 17 during a predetermined period before and after the event occurrence in the memory card 22. This predetermined period should be a period during which it is estimated that useful video remains for analyzing the cause of the accident or the like. For example, it should be a period from one minute before to one minute after the event occurrence.

[0363] For example, during a period when the distance from the vehicle's current position to the caution point is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, the video data captured by the camera 17 may be recorded in the memory card 22. This predetermined distance may be, for example, 500 m, which is a distance sufficient to confirm how the vehicle was driven through the caution point. The caution point may be, for example, a location where a fixed automatic speed violation enforcement device is installed, or a location where speed violations, stop sign violations, etc. are frequently enforced.

[0364] For example, video data captured by camera 17 during a predetermined period before and after the time when it is determined that microwaves from a speed enforcement device have been received based on the strength of the radio waves input from microwave receiver 11 may be recorded on memory card 22. This predetermined period may be a period sufficient to confirm how the vehicle was traveling at the time when microwaves from the speed enforcement device were received, for example, a period from 30 seconds before to 30 seconds after the time when microwaves from the speed enforcement device were received.

[0365] When the distance calculated from the location indicated by the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12 and the location indicated by the location information of the caution area recorded in the database 60 becomes 500 m or less, the control unit 50 issues an alarm by flashing or lighting the lamp 6, or by outputting audio from the speaker 20, etc.

[0366] When a switching signal for switching the screen is input from the input unit 53, the control unit 50 switches between a process of displaying the current image captured by the camera 17 on the display unit 5 and a process of reading out images of the driving history previously captured by the camera 17 and recorded on the memory card 22 and displaying them on the display unit 5.

[0367] Display unit 52 is provided on the front surface (the surface facing the rear of the vehicle (the driver's side)) of drive recorder 2. Display unit 52 displays the current image captured by camera 17 or the image of the past driving history recorded in memory card 22 under the control of control unit 50.

[0368] The input unit 53 detects an input operation for switching between the current image captured by the camera 17 and images of the driving history captured in the past by the camera 17 and recorded in the memory card 22, and outputs a switching signal to the control unit 50. The input unit 53 uses, for example, a push button. The input operation for switching the images can be performed, for example, by the user pressing the push button. It is preferable to provide a separate push button for each function.

[0369] The acceleration sensor 54 detects the acceleration applied to the drive recorder 2, and outputs the detected value to the control unit 50. The acceleration applied to the drive recorder 2 is a value that reflects the acceleration applied to the vehicle in which the drive recorder 2 is mounted.

[0370] The database 60 is constructed using an EEPROM externally attached to the control unit 50. The database 60 stores location information indicating the locations of places where attention should be given.

[0371] <Dashcam operation> The operation of the drive recorder 2 according to the second embodiment will be described below.

[0372] {Actions at a rental car company store when renting a car} A drive recorder 2 is attached to a rental car for rental managed by a rental car company store.

[0373] A clerk at the rental car company's store lends a rental car equipped with a drive recorder 2 to a user who has applied to use the rental car. The rental car user can receive an explanation from the clerk at the rental car company's store about the operation of the rental car, as well as an explanation of the setting procedure for the drive recorder 2 that is necessary to receive the driving history recording function from the drive recorder 2.

[0374] The drive recorder 2 is connected to an in-vehicle battery, and when the accessory switch is turned on, power is supplied to the drive recorder 2 from the in-vehicle battery. The control unit 50 is started up by receiving power from the in-vehicle battery, and the CPU of the control unit 50 executes a program stored in the EEPROM and displays a menu screen on the display unit 5. A start button for starting the driving history recording function is displayed on this menu screen. When a user looks at the menu screen and performs an operation to start the driving history recording function, the control unit 50 starts an operation to provide the driving history recording function. The operation to start the driving history recording function can be performed, for example, by the user pressing a push button.

[0375] The rental car company assigns identification information to the rental car user for managing the user. A clerk at the rental car company records the identification information for identifying the rented vehicle and the identification information of the user on memory card 22, and inserts memory card 22 into drive recorder 2 installed in the rental car.

[0376] The control unit 50 reads the vehicle identification information and the user identification information from the memory card 22 and records them in the EEPROM. This allows the control unit 50 to record the identification information and the driving history in the memory card 22 in association with each other.

[0377] A contactless IC card may be used to set the vehicle identification information and the user identification information in the drive recorder 2. For example, a store clerk may record the vehicle identification information and the user identification information in a contactless IC card, and when the store clerk brings the contactless IC card close to the wireless transceiver 13 of the drive recorder 2, the control unit 50 may read the vehicle identification information and the user identification information from the contactless IC card.

[0378] {Operations while using a rental car} The drive recorder 2 provides a driving history recording function to a rental car user while the rental car is in use.

[0379] When the detection value of acceleration input from acceleration sensor 54 becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, when the distance from the position indicated by the current position information input from GPS receiver 12 to the position indicated by the position information of the location recording in database 60 that requires attention becomes equal to or less than 500 m, or when the detection result of receiving radio waves of a predetermined frequency is input from microwave receiver 11, control unit 50 associates the video data of the image captured by camera 17, the identification information of the rental car user input from wireless transceiver 13, the current time calculated from the time information input from GPS receiver 12 or the current time information kept by the real-time clock function, and the current position information input from GPS receiver 12, and records them on memory card 22 via memory card reader 21.

[0380] {Actions at the rental car company store when returning a rental car} When the rental car returns to the rental car company's store where the rental car is returned, the drive recorder 2 ends the provision of the driving history recording function. For example, when a store clerk presses a push button on the drive recorder 2, the control unit 50 ends the processing of the driving history recording function. When the rental car returns to the store where the rental car is returned, the store clerk removes the memory card 22 from the drive recorder 2 and takes it into the store. Then, the store clerk inserts the memory card 22 into a memory card reader of a terminal in the rental car company's store, and transfers the identification information, driving history, time information, and current location information recorded in the memory card 22 to the store terminal. The store terminal associates the identification information, driving history, time information, and current location information transferred from the memory card 22 with the user of the rental car, and records them, for example, in a folder or file for each user.

[0381] When a rental car company employee wants to view the driving history recorded on the terminal, the employee searches for the file or folder in which the driving history is recorded, using the identification information associated with the driving history that the employee wants to view. The rental car company terminal displays the driving history recorded in the folder or file found by the search on the display of the terminal.

[0382] This allows a person viewing the driving history to search for the driving history he or she wishes to view on the rental car company terminal using the identification information associated with the driving history, making it relatively easy to find the driving history he or she wishes to view.

[0383] For example, if new damage that was not present before the rental is found on a returned vehicle, the vehicle manager may be able to find the cause of the damage by looking at the vehicle's driving history. Also, if the rental car company is notified by the police after the return of the vehicle that there has been a violation of the Road Traffic Act, the rental car company staff can confirm whether or not there was a violation by looking at the driving history of the vehicle that was the subject of the violation notice.

[0384] The driving history of the rental car recorded on the memory card 22 by the drive recorder 2 installed in the rental car is the personal information of the user. The driving history of each rental car user recorded on the memory card 22 must not be viewed by a third party unless permitted by each user who uses the rental car. The driving history recorded on the memory card 22 must not be viewed by even an employee of the rental car company unless permitted by each user who uses the rental car.

[0385] When the identification information associated with the driving history is assigned to the rental car user, if the identification information is not known to the rental car company, at least a part of the identification information can be used as a key for searching the driving history. In order to prevent the identification information from being known to the rental car company, the rental car user can set the identification information himself / herself without the rental car company seeing it. The rental car user inputs the identification information set by the user into the rental car company's terminal as an encryption key for the folder or file in which the rental car user's driving history is recorded, and encrypts the folder or file. A person who wants to view his / her driving history can display his / her driving history on the terminal by inputting his / her identification information as the encryption key into the rental car company's terminal. In this way, the identification information is used as a key for viewing the driving history.

[0386] This allows rental car users to prevent their driving history from being viewed by third parties without their knowledge.

[0387] In the second embodiment, the driving history is recorded in the terminal of the rental car company's store via a memory card in the driving history recording function, but when the rental car approaches the store, the driving history may be transmitted to the terminal of the rental car company's store by using short-distance wireless communication such as wireless LAN via the wireless transceiver 13 and recorded therein. This saves the store staff the trouble of removing the memory card from the drive recorder 2 and inserting the memory card into the memory card reader of the store's terminal.

[0388] [Third Example] Next, a navigation device 1 as an electronic device according to a third embodiment will be described. Below, a description of the configuration common to the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0389] Fig. 4 shows the flow of processing executed by the control unit 18 (Fig. 2) of the navigation device 1 (Figs. 1 and 2) according to the third embodiment. When the power of the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1 is turned on, the navigation device 1 is started up, and the control unit 18 acquires position information indicating the current location of the vehicle from the GPS receiver 12 (step S01), and displays a map of the surroundings of the current location on the display unit 5 (Figs. 1 and 2). The position information indicating the current location of the vehicle can be used as information indicating the current location of the navigation device 1 and information indicating the current location of its user, and can be called information about the user (user information).

[0390] The control unit 18 extracts keywords for selecting an application based on map data stored in the database 19 (FIG. 2) and the current position information of the vehicle (step S02). The map data stores location information (point or area information) such as latitude and longitude in association with prefecture names, city, ward, town, village names, names of public facilities, names of tourist spots and tourist facilities, names of stores and shopping streets, names of roads, names of train stations, etc. For example, the control unit 18 extracts, as keywords, the names of prefectures and cities in the administrative division to which the current location of the vehicle belongs, and names of public facilities, tourist spots, tourist facilities, stores, shopping streets, roads, train stations, etc. that exist within a predetermined area centered on the current location of the vehicle.

[0391] The control unit 18 makes a search request to the application search server 62 using the extracted keyword as a search key (step S03). The search request can be made, for example, by the control unit 18 transmitting a search request signal to the application search server 62 via the wireless transceiver 13 and the Internet.

[0392] The application search server 62 searches a database in which a plurality of applications executable on the navigation device 1 are stored, using a search key, and selects some of the applications. The database of the application search server 62 stores so-called "local applications" that are highly useful in tourist spots, shopping malls, and the like. After the search, the application search server 62 returns information identifying the selected application to the navigation device 1 (step S04). Examples of such an application search server 62 include servers such as Google Play (registered trademark) and App Store (registered trademark), which provide distribution services for applications and the like. The information identifying the application includes, for example, the name of the application, a brief description of the application's functions, and image information of an icon indicating the application. The control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 displays information identifying the application selected by the application search server 62, superimposed on the map displayed on the display unit 5 (step S05). The search key may be generated by a process in which the same operation as a human search is performed on a server providing a distribution service for applications, etc., for a search app, etc. (for example, a process such as robotics process automation (RPA) in which a character string is input into a dialog box for inputting a search key, a search start button is pressed, and information identifying the application of the search results displayed in the search app is obtained by scraping, etc.), or a process in which the same data as that in which the search key is transmitted to the app search server 62 by a human operation in such a search app is transmitted, a response to the data is received, and information identifying the application of the search results is extracted. However, if the app search server 62 has published an API such as a WebAPI for searching apps, it is preferable to transmit to the API the name of the prefecture and the name of the city, ward, town, or village of the administrative district to which the current location of the vehicle belongs, and the names of public facilities, tourist spots, tourist facilities, stores, shopping streets, roads, railway stations, etc. existing in a predetermined area centered on the current location of the vehicle as the search key, as the search key, and to receive the information identifying the application responded to from the API. This also applies to the following exchange with the app search server.

[0393] FIG. 5 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a map of the area around Ueno Station is displayed on the display unit 5. The scale of the map can be changed in sequence by a setting operation (touching the button area marked "200m" in the upper left corner of the screen in FIG. 5). Information indicating whether or not to display the name for each scale is stored in association with the name, and the name that is to be displayed at the current map scale is displayed on the screen. The control unit 18 extracts, as keywords to be search keys, names that exist in a position area corresponding to the currently displayed screen range and are displayed on the screen at the current map scale from the map data. In the example of FIG. 5, railway station names such as "Ueno Station" and "Inaricho Station", names of tourist spots such as "Shinobazu Pond", names of tourist facilities such as "Ueno Zoo", "National Museum", and "Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum" are extracted, and further, names of local governments such as "Tokyo" and "Taito Ward" are extracted from the address of the current location. The application search server 62 selects applications such as "Ueno Zoo Navi", "Asakusa Tourist Guide", and "Ueno Okachimachi Tourist Guide" based on these keywords. The control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 displays icons 65 of these applications on the display unit 5, superimposed on the map. Such a search for applications is performed whenever the name displayed on the map changes as the vehicle moves. And whenever the information identifying the application in the search result changes, the display of the icon is updated. In this way, the user can display the icon of the application related to the name of the range including the current position displayed on the screen. Also, by simply pressing the scale button, the icon of the application displayed can be changed to an appropriate range. Also, since the result is a search result with the character string displayed on the screen, the user can easily know what keyword the application was searched for. The number of icons is displayed in a row from the upper right to the left, up to 6 icons, and thereafter, the next row is provided below and similarly displayed, up to a maximum of 4 icons in the downward direction, up to about 24 icons in total. In this way, it is preferable to control the display so that the scale button and menu button in FIG. 5 are not hidden by the icons. If a part other than the icon is touched, the icon is erased and the original map display is restored.

[0394] The user of the navigation device 1 looks at the icons 65 displayed on the display unit 5, and selects the icon 65 of the application he or she wishes to download, thereby specifying the application to be downloaded (step S06). The icon 65 can be selected, for example, by tapping a position on the touch panel 8 (FIG. 2) corresponding to the icon 65. The control unit 18 identifies the application specified by the user's operation (step S07), and transmits a download request signal for that application to the application search server 62 (step S08).

[0395] The application search server 62 delivers the application requested for download to the navigation device 1 (step S09). The control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 stores the downloaded application in a storage device and executes an installation process (step S10). The application download and installation process are executed by the control unit 18 in the background while the navigation function is being executed.

[0396] When the user performs an operation to display a list of installed applications (step (S11), control unit 18 displays icons of the installed applications on display unit 5 (step S12). The user specifies the application by tapping the icon of the application that the user wants to execute (step S13). Control unit 18 executes the application specified by the user's operation (step S14).

[0397] [Effects of the third embodiment] Next, the excellent effects of the third embodiment will be described. By using the navigation device 1 in a manner that moves together with the user, the current location of the user can be substantially indicated by the location information indicating the current location of the navigation device 1. Since the control unit 18 uses the application search server 62 to select an application based on the location information indicating the current location of the navigation device 1, the user can know the existence of highly useful applications near the user's current location by looking at the icon 65 displayed on the display unit 5, without having to perform an operation to search for the application himself.

[0398] A user can select an application of interest from among the applications represented by icons 65 displayed on the display unit 5, and download the application to make it executable.

[0399] When sightseeing by car or on foot on one's own, there has been no device that provides detailed guidance on tourist attractions, etc. At best, navigation devices that store information on tourist attractions listed in tourist guidebooks and are equipped with a function that links the navigation function with the information on tourist attractions are known. Therefore, compared to sightseeing tours where a tourist guide accompanies you to show you the tourist attractions, it is difficult to obtain detailed tourist guide information on tourist spots, etc., when traveling on one's own. Map data providers and navigation device manufacturers can create detailed tourist guide information on tourist spots and store it in navigation devices, but creating tourist guide information for every tourist spot in the country requires enormous costs and is not realistic.

[0400] Meanwhile, local apps are being provided by various providers, such as tourism associations, local governments, local communities such as shopping districts, and individuals, as applications for smartphones and tablet devices, rather than navigation devices. There are also businesses that create these local apps. Local apps created for each area include applications that provide tourist guide information for tourist spots, tourist facilities, shopping districts, etc., applications that use augmented reality (AR) technology in connection with location information, applications for participating in stamp rallies that visit various points in the area, and applications that provide games related to the area.

[0401] People visiting tourist spots can become aware of the existence of these applications by accidentally seeing pamphlets or signs at tourist spots, or by searching for the local name on an application provider website, but those who do not notice the pamphlets or signs, or do not actively search for the application, will not be aware of the application's existence. Travelers may not realize that these local apps exist while traveling, and may feel frustrated when they realize they exist after the trip is over. In addition, although many local apps are provided free of charge, the current situation is that the number of application downloads is not increasing.

[0402] Users of the navigation device 1 can easily become aware of the existence of these local apps based on their current location information. Application providers can expect an increase in the number of downloads of local apps.

[0403] The download and installation of applications is performed in the background while the navigation function is being performed, so the user can use the navigation function even during the download and installation.

[0404] A user can select only a desired application from the installed applications and execute it at a desired time. For example, when the user removes the navigation device 1 from the vehicle and carries it with him / her, when the user arrives at a tourist spot or a tourist facility, the user can select and execute a local app related to the tourist spot or a tourist facility.

[0405] Since so-called local apps are stored in the database of the app search server 62, the navigation device 1 can select an application according to user information without storing information about the application in the storage device of the navigation device 1 itself. When adding or updating an application, there is no need to add or update the database for each navigation device 1. This reduces the maintenance work for the database of the navigation device 1.

[0406] The control unit 18 extracts keywords based on the user's current location, and can therefore inform the user of applications that are highly useful in the vicinity of the user's current location.

[0407] [First Modification of the Third Example] Next, a first modified example of the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the control unit 18 displays the icon for identifying the application transmitted from the application search server 62 on the display unit 5 without screening (step S05). However, in the first modified example, screening is performed.

[0408] As a first screening method, the control unit 18 extracts only those applications that have already been installed from among those notified by the application search server 62, and displays their icons 65 on the display unit 5. The user can specify an application that he or she wants to run from among the immediately executable applications without the need to newly download and install the application.

[0409] As a second screening method, the control unit 18 extracts only those applications that have not been installed from among the applications notified by the application search server 62, and displays their icons 65 on the display unit 5. The user can become aware of the existence of new applications that he or she has not noticed before.

[0410] As a third screening method, the control unit 18 displays icons 65 of all applications notified by the application search server 62, regardless of whether they are installed or not, in a manner that allows the user to know whether they are installed or not. A selection item for the user to select which screening method is to be used for processing is provided in the setting screen, and display processing, etc. is performed using the screening method selected on the screen. This selection screen also provides a selection item for turning on the display processing of the icon that identifies the application, or turning it off so that the icon that identifies the application is not displayed, and processing is performed by determining whether or not to execute the display processing of this icon according to this.

[0411] 6 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 when the setting is such that icons identifying applications are displayed and the third screening method is adopted. The control unit 18 adds an overlay icon 66 of a check mark symbol to the icon 65 of an installed application, and adds an overlay icon 67 of a cloud symbol to the icon 65 of an application that is not installed. In this way, the two are displayed in a distinguishable manner.

[0412] Compared with the first and second screening methods, this method can present more applications to the user, and therefore has the effect of providing the user with more application choices. The user can see the overlay icons 66, 67 and know whether the application indicated by the icon is already installed. By referring to the information on whether the application is already installed, the user can specify an application of interest from among multiple applications. For example, if the current communication environment is not suitable for downloading an application, the user may specify an application of interest from among the installed applications.

[0413] [Second Modification of the Third Example] Next, a second modified example of the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the control unit 18 displays the icon 65 indicating the application notified from the application search server 62 on the display unit 5. However, in the second modified example, in addition to the icon 65, an install button and an execute button are displayed.

[0414] 7 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the second modified example of the third embodiment. The control unit 18 displays an execute button 68 and install buttons 69 and 70 in the vicinity of an icon 65. The install button 70 corresponding to an icon 65 indicating an installed application is displayed in gray and cannot be selected by the user.

[0415] When the user taps the install button 69, the control unit 18 downloads and installs the corresponding application. When the user taps the run button 68 corresponding to an application that is not installed, the control unit 18 downloads and installs the corresponding application and then automatically runs the application. When the user taps the run button 68 corresponding to an installed application, the control unit 18 runs the corresponding application.

[0416] A user can execute an application that is not installed with a single operation. Furthermore, since the Install button 70 is grayed out, the user can know that the application corresponding to that Install button 70 has already been installed. Note that for an application that has already been installed, only the Run button 68 may be displayed without displaying the Install button 70.

[0417] [Third Modification of the Third Example] Next, a third modified example of the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the control unit 18 selects an application based on location information of the user's current location, but in the third modified example of the third embodiment, the control unit 18 selects an application based on location information of a destination and location information of an intermediate point on the route to the destination in addition to the current location. The function of setting a destination and the function of searching for a route to the destination are basic functions of the navigation device 1.

[0418] Next, a procedure for selecting an application by the control unit 18 when a destination is set and a route is searched will be described. The control unit 18 extracts keywords based on the location information of the destination and the location information of intermediate points on the route to the destination, and transmits a search request signal to the application search server 62 (FIG. 4) using these keywords as search keys. The control unit 18 can obtain information for identifying the application selected by the application search server 62 for each destination and intermediate point on the route.

[0419] FIG. 8 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the third modified example of the third embodiment. The control unit 18 displays, on the display unit 5, a symbol 74 indicating a current location (hereinafter simply referred to as "current location"), a symbol 75 indicating a destination (hereinafter simply referred to as "destination"), and a curved line indicating a route 76 to the destination, together with a map. The control unit 18 displays an icon 77 indicating an application selected based on position information of the current location 74 near the current location 74, and displays an icon 78 indicating an application selected based on position information of the destination 75 near the destination 75. Furthermore, the control unit 18 displays an icon 79 indicating an application selected based on position information of a plurality of points along the route 76 (for example, an app searched for based on the names of points within a width of 5 km on each side of the route) near the points corresponding to the application.

[0420] If there are too many icons for one location to be displayed side-by-side, the icons will be displayed partially overlapping each other. If the map is enlarged to provide enough space to display the icons side-by-side, the icons will be displayed side-by-side.

[0421] The process after the user designates an application by tapping an icon is the same as the process when the user taps the icon 65 shown in FIG. 5 in the third embodiment.

[0422] When the control unit 18 detects that the vehicle has entered an area where the installed application has high utility value, it notifies the user of information indicating the presence of a highly useful application near the current location. For example, it selects up to four locations corresponding to applications searched for based on the name within a range of 5 km on either side of the road (5 km to the left and 5 km to the right in the direction perpendicular to the route direction) on the route from the current location in the direction of travel to the destination, in order of proximity to the current location, and displays the app icons for those locations. For example, the control unit 18 displays a guide window on the display unit 5 that displays information identifying useful applications.

[0423] 9 shows an example of an image displayed on display unit 5. Control unit 18 displays a guidance window 80 on display unit 5. Within guidance window 80, an icon 81 corresponding to an application that is highly useful in the vicinity of the current location is displayed. When the user specifies an application by tapping icon 81 within guidance window 80, control unit 18 executes the specified application.

[0424] For example, the area where the application is highly useful may be determined from the map data stored in the navigation device 1 and the name of the application. For example, if the name representing the application includes the name of a tourist destination or tourist facility, the area where the application is highly useful may be defined as a circular area with a predetermined radius centered on a point identified by location information associated with the name of the tourist destination or tourist facility included in the map data. For example, if the name representing the application includes the name of a local government, the area within the administrative district identified by the name of the local government included in the map data may be defined as the area where the application is highly useful.

[0425] According to the third modification of the third embodiment, when departing for a destination, the user can learn of the existence of highly useful applications at the destination and on the way to the destination. The user can learn of tourist spots and tourist facilities that exist on the way to the destination, for example, and can make plans to stop at tourist spots and tourist facilities that interest the user.

[0426] When the vehicle enters an area where the application is highly useful, a guide window 80 (FIG. 9) is displayed, so that if the user has forgotten about the existence of a useful application, the user can be reminded of the existence of the application.

[0427] The information for identifying the application selected based on the position information of the intermediate points on the route to the destination may be displayed in order of the earliest scheduled time of arrival at the points on the route associated with the applications.

[0428] 10 shows an example of an image when application icons are displayed on the display unit 5 in order of earliest expected arrival time. A list window 83 is displayed on the display unit 5, and icons 84 representing applications are displayed in the list window 83 in order of earliest expected arrival time in association with the expected arrival time. Furthermore, the icon 84 representing the application may be displayed together with the name of a region closely related to the application.

[0429] By displaying application icons in order of earliest expected arrival time, users can intuitively recognize the order in which to stop at tourist attractions and facilities along the route to their destination.

[0430] When the control unit 18 detects that the vehicle has been turned off in an area where applications installed in the navigation device 1 are highly useful, the application corresponding to the location where the power was turned off may be automatically executed. This makes it possible to prevent a situation in which the user forgets about the existence of an application and goes sightseeing without executing the application.

[0431] When multiple applications corresponding to the location where the vehicle power was turned off are installed, the user may select the application to be executed from the multiple applications. For example, icons identifying the multiple applications corresponding to the location where the vehicle power was turned off may be displayed on the display unit 5, and the user may select one icon. Since these applications are already installed, they can be started immediately.

[0432] [Fourth Modification of the Third Embodiment] Next, a fourth modified example of the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the navigation device 1 selects an application related to the current location by using the database of the application search server 62. In the fourth modified example of the third embodiment, information for identifying a plurality of applications is stored in the storage device of the navigation device 1 as a location information application correspondence table 86 in association with location information for each application.

[0433] Fig. 11 shows the flow of processing executed by the control unit 18 (Fig. 2) of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth modified example of the third embodiment. Below, explanations of steps common to the processing executed by the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 according to the third embodiment shown in Fig. 4 will be omitted.

[0434] When the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 acquires current location information (step S01), the control unit 18 selects some applications from the multiple applications registered in the location information application correspondence table 86 based on the current location information and the location information application correspondence table 86 (step S20). For example, the control unit 18 compares the current location information with the location information registered in the location information application correspondence table 86, and selects an application corresponding to the location information that satisfies a condition that the distance between the points indicated by the two pieces of location information is shorter than a predetermined distance.

[0435] The process of displaying an icon representing the selected application on the display unit 5 (step S05) and subsequent processes are the same as those in the third embodiment (FIG. 4).

[0436] Information that identifies popular applications and applications that are considered to be highly convenient for the user can be stored in advance in the storage device of the navigation device 1. This makes it possible to provide highly convenient applications to the user by carefully selecting them. The user can eliminate applications that are considered to be of no use to him / her from the selection candidates and be provided with only information that identifies applications that are likely to be useful. This reduces the effort required to find an application that the user would like to use.

[0437] [Fifth Modification of the Third Embodiment] Next, a fifth modified example of the third embodiment will be described. In the fifth modified example of the third embodiment, when a predetermined uninstallation condition of an installed application is satisfied, the control unit 18 displays information on the display unit 5 inquiring of the user whether or not to uninstall the application that satisfies the uninstallation condition. The predetermined uninstallation condition may be, for example, that the current location of the navigation device 1 is out of the area where the application has a high utility value, or may be a condition where the navigation device 1 moves to a location farther away than this area. For example, it may be a condition where the navigation device 1 moves to a different prefecture or moves 200 km or more away. For example, an area within an administrative district of each local government, such as a prefecture or a city, town, or village, specified from the name of the application, may be adopted as an area where the application has a high utility value. When the name of the local government is not specified from the application, for example, an area within a predetermined distance from a facility, shopping street, or other location specified from the name of the application may be adopted as an area where the application has a high utility value.

[0438] 12 shows an example of an image in which information inquiring of the user as to whether or not to uninstall an application is displayed on the display unit 5. The control unit 18 displays an uninstall application candidate window 88 on the display unit 5. In the uninstall application candidate window 88, icons indicating applications for which the uninstallation conditions are satisfied are displayed.

[0439] When the user performs an operation to uninstall an application by tapping an icon indicating the application that the user wishes to uninstall, the control unit 18 uninstalls the application that is the target of the uninstallation operation.

[0440] A user can easily know the applications for which the uninstallation conditions are satisfied by looking at the icons displayed in the uninstall application candidate window 88. If the number of installed applications becomes too large, for example, a large number of icons are displayed on the launcher, making it difficult to find the desired application from among the many installed applications. By uninstalling applications for which the uninstallation conditions are satisfied, it is possible to prevent the number of installed applications from becoming too large. Furthermore, for example, it is possible to reduce the amount of storage capacity occupied by applications out of the total storage capacity of the storage device that stores the applications.

[0441] If the navigation device 1 is installed in a rental car, the predetermined uninstallation condition may include a condition that the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1 has returned to the rental point. For example, if the vehicle is rented from a store near an airport or a station, the control unit 18 determines that the uninstallation condition is satisfied when the distance between the current location of the navigation device 1 and the store that rented the vehicle becomes equal to or less than a predetermined distance.

[0442] The predetermined uninstallation condition may include a condition that the position information of the user's home is registered in the navigation device 1 and the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1 has returned to the user's home. Also, for each installed application, a period during which the current location of the navigation device 1 was not included in an area with high utility value for that application is calculated, and the calculated period continues for a predetermined period, for example, one month. This makes it possible to present applications with low utility value to the user as candidates for applications to be uninstalled.

[0443] In the uninstall application candidate window 88 (FIG. 12), "Yes" and "No" buttons may be displayed together with an icon representing the application. When the user taps the "Yes" button, the control unit 18 starts the process of uninstalling the application. When the user taps the "No" button, the control unit 18 erases the icon representing the application from the uninstall application candidate window 88.

[0444] When a predetermined uninstallation condition is satisfied, the control unit 18 may automatically uninstall the application without asking the user. In this way, the user can be relieved from the trouble of deciding whether or not to uninstall the application, and from the trouble of performing the uninstallation operation.

[0445] [Sixth Modification of the Third Embodiment] Next, a sixth modified example of the third embodiment will be described.

[0446] In a sixth modified example of the third embodiment, when the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 detects that the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1 has entered an area where connection to a wireless LAN that can be used free of charge is possible, the control unit 18 displays information on the display unit 5 to inform the user that connection to the wireless LAN that can be used free of charge is possible. One example of a wireless LAN that can be used free of charge is a wireless LAN called "local WiFi." For example, local WiFi is provided by tourist spots, tourist facilities, shopping streets, etc.

[0447] 13 shows an example of an image on the display unit 5 in a state where information for informing the user that a free wireless LAN is available for connection is displayed. A connectable wireless LAN notification window 89 is displayed on the display unit 5. The connectable wireless LAN notification window 89 displays the identification name (SSID) of the wireless LAN that can be connected to for free, and a connection button.

[0448] When the user taps the connect button to specify a wireless LAN and connect to that wireless LAN, the control unit 18 executes a procedure to enable communication via the specified wireless LAN. When this process is completed, various applications installed in the navigation device 1 become able to communicate via the wireless LAN.

[0449] The user can be aware that the wireless LAN can be used free of charge. When the network used by the navigation device 1 is switched from the mobile communication network to the wireless LAN, high-speed communication can be performed without consuming the data communication capacity of the mobile communication service to which the user has subscribed. In addition, even if the mobile communication service to which the user has subscribed is band-limited, high-speed communication can be performed via the wireless LAN.

[0450] The SSID of the local WiFi and location information defining the area in which the wireless LAN is available may be stored in advance in the storage device of the navigation device 1. When the control unit 18 detects that the current location of the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1 has entered an area in which the wireless LAN stored in the storage device is available, it notifies the user that connection to the wireless LAN is possible.

[0451] Depending on the local WiFi, there may be cases where the user needs to input information, such as an email address, before using the local WiFi. The information that needs to be input before using the local WiFi may be preregistered for each local WiFi in the storage device of the control unit 18, and the control unit 18 may have a function of automatically inputting the information that needs to be input. By adopting this configuration, the user can use the local WiFi without having to perform the troublesome operation of inputting information.

[0452] [Other Modifications of the Third Embodiment] When the number of applications selected based on the location information of the current location (step S04 in FIG. 4) is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, icons indicating a predetermined number of applications from the top of the multiple applications lined up as search results may be displayed on the display unit 5. This can reduce the user's effort in checking all the provided applications.

[0453] A dedicated in-vehicle navigation device, a portable navigation device that can be used outside the vehicle, or the like can be used as the navigation device 1. In addition, a smartphone or tablet terminal on which an application having a navigation function is installed may be used as the navigation device 1. For example, a device equipped with an OS such as Android (registered trademark) or iOS (registered trademark) can be used as the navigation device 1.

[0454] The control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 according to the third embodiment downloads and installs an application selected according to location information of the current location of the vehicle in which the navigation device 1 is mounted, through operation by the user. However, the application selected according to the location information of the current location may also be downloaded and installed automatically without operation by the user.

[0455] [Fourth Example] Next, a navigation device 1 as an electronic device according to a fourth embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, a description of the configuration common to the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment will be omitted. In this embodiment, the search for whether donations are accepted for a prefecture and the return gifts may be performed in the same manner as the search for the app in the third embodiment.

[0456] The navigation device 1 according to the fourth embodiment is used in a manner that moves with the user. The navigation device 1 may be an in-vehicle navigation device or a portable navigation device called "walking navigation." It may also be realized as a smartphone application. User information relating to the user of the navigation device 1 includes location information of the current location of the navigation device 1. The control unit 18 displays on the display unit 5 information identifying some municipalities selected from a plurality of municipalities offering return gifts, based on the location information of the current location of the navigation device 1.

[0457] Fig. 14 shows the flow of processing executed by the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth embodiment. The control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 acquires current location information from the GPS receiver 12 (Fig. 2) (step S31). The control unit 18 acquires the names of prefectures and municipalities corresponding to the administrative division that includes the point indicated by the current location information from the current location information and map data (step S32). The control unit 18 transmits a search request signal to the hometown tax donation introduction server 90 using the name of the municipality as a search key (step S33).

[0458] For example, a server of a website that introduces local governments that offer return gifts under the hometown tax payment system on the Internet can be used as the hometown tax payment introduction server 90. The hometown tax payment introduction server 90 includes a database that stores information that identifies local governments that offer return gifts under the hometown tax payment system and information that identifies the return gifts offered by the local governments. The navigation device 1 requests a search by providing, for example, the name of the local government to the hometown tax payment introduction server 90 as information (search query) to be provided in the search window of the introduction site.

[0459] The hometown tax donation introduction server 90 searches this database using the received name of the local government as a search key, and selects a local government that offers a gift in return. For example, if the local government specified by the received name of the local government offers a gift in return, the hometown tax donation introduction server 90 selects that local government. Furthermore, if there is a local government that offers a gift in return among the neighboring local governments specified by the received name of the local government, the hometown tax donation introduction server 90 selects that local government.

[0460] The hometown tax payment introduction server 90 returns information identifying the selected local government to the navigation device 1 (step S34). The navigation device 1 displays the information identifying the local government received from the hometown tax payment introduction server 90 on the display unit 5 (step S35).

[0461] 15 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth embodiment. A local government introduction window 91 is displayed on the display unit 5. The local government introduction window 91 displays names 92 of the local government to which the current location belongs and of neighboring local governments that offer gifts in return. In addition to the names 92 of the local governments, a donation application button 93 is also displayed.

[0462] The user taps the donation application button 93 corresponding to the name 92 of the local government to which the user wishes to make a donation, thereby designating the local government to which the donation is to be made (step S36). The control unit 18 executes the procedure for making a donation to the local government to which the user wishes to make a donation (step S37). Personal information, credit card information, etc., required for the donation procedure are stored in advance in the storage device of the navigation device 1. The control unit 18 uses the information about the user stored in the storage device to carry out the donation procedure.

[0463] [Effects of the fourth embodiment] Next, the excellent effects of the fourth embodiment will be described. Based on the current location of the navigation device 1, the user can find out which local governments are offering gifts in return.

[0464] The hometown tax system was originally established to make it easier for people to donate to the prefectures, cities, towns, and villages where they grew up or to local governments that they feel an attachment to. In order to solicit donations using the hometown tax system, many local governments offer donors gifts related to the local government. Donations tend to be concentrated in local governments that offer gifts with high cost performance or popular products as return gifts. As a result, donations are often made only once, which is far from the original purpose of having donors feel that the local government they are donating to is "hometown."

[0465] By being provided with information identifying some of the local governments selected based on the location information of the current location of the navigation device 1, the user of the navigation device 1 can easily find out whether the local government he or she is currently visiting or a nearby local government is offering a gift in return. Based on the information provided to the user, the user can decide whether or not to make a donation to the local government he or she is actually visiting or a nearby local government. Since the local government to which the donation is to be made is the local government he or she is currently visiting or a nearby local government, the user can make the donation with a sense of attachment to the local government compared to donating to a local government with which he or she has no connection. For the local government, this has the effect of increasing donations and encouraging people to feel attached to the local government, which leads to continued donations.

[0466] Furthermore, the user can tap donation application button 93 to complete the donation procedure on the spot.

[0467] [First Modification of the Fourth Example] Next, a first modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. In a first modification of the fourth embodiment, the hometown tax donation introduction server 90 transmits to the navigation device 1 information specifying the return gift offered by the local government in addition to the name of the local government. Examples of information specifying the return gift include the category of the return gift, the product name, and an illustration representing the return gift. Examples of categories of return gifts include "meat," "rice," "fruit," "vegetables," "alcohol," "confectionery," and "handicrafts."

[0468] The control unit 18 displays on the display unit 5 the name of the local government, a donation application button, and also the category of return gifts.

[0469] 16 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the first modified example of the fourth embodiment. In a local government introduction window 91, in addition to the name of the local government 92 and a donation application button 93, categories 94 of gifts in return provided by the local government are displayed.

[0470] Users can learn about the local governments offering gifts in return, as well as the categories of gifts offered by those local governments. Users can decide whether or not to make a donation based on the category of the gift.

[0471] [Second Modification of the Fourth Example] In a second modified example of the fourth embodiment, the user information includes information for identifying a category of return gifts. For example, information for identifying a category of return gifts in which the user is interested is registered in the user information. The control unit 18 selects a local government offering a return gift that belongs to the category of return gifts identified by the user information from among the local governments identified by the information received from the hometown tax donation introduction server 90. The control unit 18 displays the name of the selected local government, the category of return gifts, and a donation application button in the local government introduction window 91 (FIG. 16).

[0472] Users can easily find local governments that offer items that interest them as rewards.

[0473] If information specifying the category of the return gift is not registered in advance as user information, the user may be allowed to specify the category of the return gift from among the names of the local governments and the categories of return gifts displayed in the local government introduction window 91. The control unit 18 screens local governments offering return gifts that belong to the category of return gifts specified by the user, and displays on the display unit 5 the names of the local governments selected by the screening.

[0474] [Third Modification of the Fourth Example] Next, a third modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. The navigation device 1 has a function of setting a destination to which the user is heading, and a function of searching for a route from the current location to the destination. The control unit 18 has a function of selecting some of the local governments that offer return gifts based on the location information of the destination and the location information of points on the route to the destination, and displaying information identifying the selected part of the local governments on the display unit 5.

[0475] 17 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the third modified example of the fourth embodiment. A current location 74, a destination 75, and a route 76 from the current location 74 to the destination 75 are displayed on the display unit 5, and names 95 of municipalities that offer gifts among those that the route 76 passes through are also displayed on the display unit 5.

[0476] When a user taps on the name 95 of a local government to specify the local government, the control unit 18 pops up a window 96 displaying the details of the return gifts from that local government. Fig. 17 shows an example in which a user specifies "Chonan Town" and a window 96 pops up displaying the details of the return gifts provided by Chonan Town.

[0477] Users can find out which municipalities offer gifts in return, including the municipality where their destination is located and the municipalities they will pass through on the way to their destination. Furthermore, they can find out the types of gifts offered by each municipality. Users can use this information to decide whether or not to make a donation.

[0478] In the third modified example of the fourth embodiment, a donation application button 93 may be displayed near the name 95 of the local government displayed on the display unit 5 as shown in Fig. 15. Furthermore, a category 94 of return gifts may be displayed as shown in Fig. 16.

[0479] [Fourth Modification of the Fourth Example] Next, a fourth modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. The control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth modified example of the fourth embodiment has a function of displaying on the display unit 5 the name of a local government selected based on the position information of the current location, and displaying on the display unit 5 information indicating a place where a product corresponding to a gift provided by the local government is sold. For example, when a user specifies one local government by tapping on the name 92 (FIGS. 15 and 16) of one local government displayed on the display unit 5, the control unit 18 displays on the display unit 5 information indicating a place where a product corresponding to a gift provided by the local government is sold. Examples of places where a product corresponding to a gift is sold include a store, a roadside station, etc.

[0480] 18 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth modified example of the fourth embodiment. On the map displayed on the display unit 5, the symbol of the store that sells the product corresponding to the return gift is displayed at the location of the store, and the name of the store is also displayed. Furthermore, the category of return gifts sold at each store is displayed.

[0481] If a dealer or roadside station displayed on the display unit 5 does not have a parking lot, the display unit 5 has a function of displaying the location of a nearby parking lot along with information about the dealer, etc. When the user specifies a dealer by tapping the name of the dealer, etc. displayed on the display unit 5, the control unit 18 searches for a route from the current location to the dealer and displays it on the display unit 5.

[0482] When a user operates navigation device 1 to make a donation, electronic data of a certificate certifying that a donation has been made is sent to navigation device 1 from the server that accepted the donation. The user can receive the gift on the spot by displaying this certificate on display unit 5 and presenting it at a store or the like. If the gift is a hotel voucher, a ticket to experience an activity such as the right to receive horse riding services, or the like, the user can exercise the right to stay overnight or experience an activity on the spot. When a gift is provided to a user of navigation device 1 at a store or the like, a clerk at the store inputs into a system that manages the provision of gifts to donors that the gift has already been provided. This registers in the system that the gift has already been provided.

[0483] A user of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth modified example of the fourth embodiment can easily visit the store or the like displayed on the display unit 5. The user can see the actual product corresponding to the gift and decide whether or not to make a donation. In addition, since parking lots near the store are displayed on the display unit 5, the user can save the trouble of searching for a nearby parking lot when visiting a store that does not have a parking lot. If the gift is an experience ticket or the like, the user can save the trouble of having to visit the store in order to exercise the right based on the experience ticket after obtaining the experience ticket or the like.

[0484] Once the gift is provided by the retailer, the system that manages the provision of gifts will register that the gift has already been provided, thereby preventing the provision of duplicate gifts.

[0485] Being able to receive a gift immediately after making a donation can be an incentive for users to donate to local governments, and for local governments that offer gifts, it can have the effect of increasing donations.

[0486] If the number of gifts provided in return for a donation is not enough for a user, the user can receive the gift at a store and purchase additional products that correspond to the gift. Furthermore, the user can purchase other products that are different from the gift. This can increase sales for the store, which can contribute to the development of the local area.

[0487] For example, if the local government offering the gift is a fruit-producing region and the gift is apples, which do not spoil easily, a store that sells peaches and grapes in addition to apples can increase sales of peaches and grapes. Also, a set of apples, peaches and grapes can be sold, and a customer who makes a donation can be given a discount equivalent to the price of the apples, which makes it possible to provide the customer with a gift in return.

[0488] For example, if the gift is a local sake, the user can purchase other brands of sake in addition to the local sake received as the gift. Also, retailers can sell the local sake as a gift and other brands of sake as a set.

[0489] [Fifth Modification of the Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fifth modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. In a fifth modification of the fourth embodiment, when a donation procedure is executed, information that serves as criteria for determining whether or not the procedure may be continued, such as an upper limit on the total donation amount, an upper limit on an individual donation amount, and an upper limit on the number of donation recipient municipalities, is registered in a storage device of the control unit 18. If a request to execute the donation procedure specified by a user does not satisfy these criteria, the control unit 18 has a function of notifying the user of a confirmation message asking whether or not the donation procedure may be continued.

[0490] For example, when a user performs an operation to make a donation, the control unit 18 compares the donation amount designated by the user with the upper limit of each individual donation amount, and when the designated donation amount exceeds the upper limit of each individual donation amount, displays a message to that effect on the display unit 5 to notify the user. The control unit 18 accumulates the individual donation amounts, and when the accumulated value exceeds the upper limit of the total donation amount, displays a message to that effect on the display unit 5 to notify the user. The control unit 18 counts the number of donation destination municipalities, and when an operation is performed to make a donation that exceeds the upper limit of the number of donation destination municipalities, displays a message to that effect on the display unit 5 to notify the user. After performing these notifications, the control unit 18 allows the user to select whether to proceed with or cancel the donation procedure, and executes the donation procedure only when the user performs an operation to proceed with the donation procedure.

[0491] 19 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the fifth modified example of the fourth embodiment. The display unit 5 displays the upper limit of the total donation amount, the upper limit of each individual donation amount, and the upper limit of the number of donation recipient municipalities, all of which are registered in advance, as well as the total donation amount after this donation, the current donation amount, and the total number of donation recipient municipalities after this donation.

[0492] Furthermore, the control unit 18 displays a message 97 on the display unit 5 inquiring whether or not to go ahead with the donation procedure, although the current donation does not meet the criteria for determining whether or not it is OK to proceed with the donation procedure, along with ``Yes'' and ``No'' buttons.

[0493] If the user taps the "Yes" button, the control unit 18 executes the donation procedure. If the user taps the "No" button, the control unit 18 stops the donation procedure.

[0494] According to the fifth modification of the fourth embodiment, it is possible to prevent an unexpected donation from being made due to a user's misremembering or an incorrect operation.

[0495] The "Hometown Tax One-Stop Special System" has been introduced, which eliminates the need to file a tax return if the number of recipient municipalities is five or less. For example, it is preferable to set the upper limit of the number of recipient municipalities to "5", which is the upper limit of the number of recipient municipalities that can use the Hometown Tax One-Stop Special System. When the user notices the message displayed on the display unit 5, the user can recognize that the Hometown Tax One-Stop Special System will no longer be available.

[0496] The control unit 18 may subtract the total amount of past donations from the upper limit of the total donation amount and inform the user of the remaining amount that can be donated. The user can use the remaining amount that can be donated as a basis for deciding whether or not to donate to the currently introduced local government.

[0497] Under the current hometown tax payment system, whether the remaining amount after deducting the 2,000 yen self-payment amount from the donation amount is fully deductible or not depends on the donor's income, etc. The control unit 18 may have a function to calculate the upper limit of the donation amount that can be fully deducted from the user's expected income and notify the user of this. The user's expected income can be calculated, for example, by having the user input the contents of his or her pay slip and deriving it from the input value.

[0498] [Sixth Modification of the Fourth Embodiment] Next, a sixth modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. 20 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the sixth modified example of the fourth embodiment. The control unit 18 displays a local government introduction window 91 on the display unit 5, and within that, displays buttons for each local government, such as "Apply for donation," "Interested," "Show sales outlet," and "Share on SNS."

[0499] When the user taps the "Apply for Donation" button, the control unit 18 processes the donation and obtains electronic data of a certificate proving that the donation has been made from the donation management server. When the user taps the "Interested" button, the control unit 18 adds information indicating the local government and the return gift to a favorites list in the storage device. The contents of the favorites list can be read by the user later, for example, after returning the vehicle in which the navigation device 1 is installed to the rental car company. When the user taps the "Show Sales Point" button, the control unit 18 displays a map on the display unit 5 and searches for a route using the sales point as a stopover or destination. When the user taps the "Share on SNS" button, the control unit 18 automatically inputs information indicating the local government and the return gift into the SNS posting screen.

[0500] Next, the process when the user taps the "interested" button will be described in detail. When returning the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1, the control unit 18 displays a message on the display unit 5 inquiring of the user as to whether to upload information about the local government of interest to a cloud where the user can read it, or to delete it. If the user selects uploading to the cloud, the control unit 18 uploads the information stored in the favorites list to the cloud. If the user selects deleting, the control unit 18 deletes the information stored in the favorites list.

[0501] The cloud that the user can read is managed by the rental car company, and the rental car company notifies the user of key information such as a security code for reading information about the local government that the user is interested in from the cloud. The user can access the rental car company's cloud and input the key information to read information about the local government that the user has specified.

[0502] Even after returning the vehicle in which the navigation device 1 is installed, the user of the navigation device 1 can retrieve information about the local government that was specified while using the navigation device 1. This information can be kept as a memory of the trip and can also motivate the user to revisit the local government.

[0503] When returning the vehicle, information about the local government that the user is interested in may be uploaded to the cloud. Even if the user thinks that the information about the local government that the user is interested in is not necessary when returning the rental car, the user may change his / her mind at a later date and want to know the information. In this case, the user can read the information about the local government that is uploaded to the cloud.

[0504] The conditions for determining whether the current time is the time to return the vehicle may be, for example, that the fuel tank is full, the current location of the vehicle coincides with the return location of the vehicle, and the time that the vehicle has been stopped at that location exceeds a predetermined time, for example, 5 minutes, etc. Alternatively, the engine of the rental car may be stopped at the return location, etc.

[0505] [Seventh Modification of the Fourth Embodiment] Next, a seventh modification of the fourth embodiment will be described. Some local governments allow users to specify how donations are to be used. Examples of uses include industrial promotion, environmental conservation, cultural property protection, child rearing, welfare, disaster relief, etc. Priorities are assigned to the multiple uses of donations in advance, and the priorities are stored in the storage device of the control unit 18 as part of the user information.

[0506] FIG. 21 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the seventh modified example of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 21 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 when the user operates the navigation device 1 to apply for a donation to a certain local government. The control unit 18 displays a use designation window 98 on the display unit 5. The control unit 18 displays, in the use designation window 98, buttons indicating the uses selectable in the local government to which the donation is to be made, and a button for not specifying the use. If the priorities of the uses are set according to the user information, the buttons indicating the uses are displayed in order of the highest priority. When the user designates the use by tapping a button indicating one of the uses, the control unit 18 transmits the use designated by the user to the hometown tax payment reception system.

[0507] According to the seventh modification of the fourth embodiment, a user can make a donation to a local government by designating the use of the donation he or she wishes. The buttons showing the use of the donation are displayed in order of priority, so that the user can easily find the use he or she wishes to designate from among multiple uses.

[0508] The control unit 18 may display a plurality of uses on the display screen in a state in which the use with the highest priority is selected as a default value. This allows the user to omit the operation of specifying a desired use from among the plurality of uses.

[0509] [Eighth Modification of the Fourth Embodiment] Next, an eighth modification of the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 22 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the eighth modified example of the fourth embodiment. When the process of the donation procedure to one local government is completed, the control unit 18 displays a recommended local government introduction window 99 on the display unit 5 as shown in FIG. 22. The recommended local government introduction window 99 displays the names of other local governments (hereinafter referred to as "recommended local governments") to which people who have donated to the donation destination local government for which the donation procedure has already been completed have donated. This mechanism can be realized by applying a known recommendation engine to the donation destination of the local government. The control unit 18 provides the user with information that specifies a local government in the vicinity of the current location as a recommended local government, with priority. For example, the control unit 18 gives priority to a local government in the same prefecture as the donation destination local government to which the donation procedure has been completed. The control unit 18 may give priority to a local government with a large number of donors to the user, regardless of the location of the local government. The control unit 18 may give the user both information that gives priority to nearby local governments and information that gives priority to local governments with a large number of donors.

[0510] For users, this has the benefit of increasing the number of local governments to which they can donate, and for local governments, this has the benefit of leading to an increase in donations.

[0511] [Ninth Modification of the Fourth Embodiment] Next, a ninth modification of the fourth embodiment will be described. The navigation device 1 according to the ninth modification of the fourth embodiment has a function of switching between a corporate mode and an individual mode. When switched to the corporate mode, the control unit 18 carries out the donation procedure according to the procedure for corporate donations, and when switched to the individual mode, the control unit 18 carries out the donation procedure according to the procedure for individual donations.

[0512] The donation procedure differs depending on whether the donor is an individual or a corporation. By providing a corporate mode and a personal mode, the user can donate as either an individual or a corporation. For example, if the navigation device 1 is installed in a company car, it can be switched to the corporate mode, and if the navigation device 1 is installed in a private car, it can be switched to the personal mode.

[0513] Hometown tax donations made by individuals and corporate hometown tax donations made by companies differ in the local government to which donations are made, whether or not a gift is given in return, the method of tax deduction, etc. The control unit 18 may use different criteria for selecting a local government according to user information when operating in corporate mode and when operating in individual mode. For example, when the control unit 18 operates in corporate mode, it may select candidate local governments only from local governments that are eligible for donations in the corporate hometown tax donations.

[0514] Furthermore, it is advisable to change the information displayed on the display unit 5 depending on whether the control unit 18 is operating in the corporate mode or the individual mode. For example, in the corporate version of the hometown tax payment system, donations are made to the "Town, People, and Job Creation Donation Utilization Project" planned by each local government. The control unit 18 may display the details of the "Town, People, and Job Creation Donation Utilization Project" in addition to information identifying the local government. The user can use the information displayed on the display unit 5 as a basis for deciding whether or not to make a donation.

[0515] [Tenth Modification of the Fourth Embodiment] Next, a tenth modification of the fourth embodiment will be described. In a tenth modification of the fourth embodiment, the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 has a function of registering a person other than an individual identified by the user information as another user. When carrying out a donation procedure, the control unit 18 identifies a user who will be the main donor from among multiple registered users, and carries out the donation procedure with the identified user as the main donor.

[0516] 23 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the tenth modified example of the fourth embodiment. When a user performs an operation to apply for a donation, the control unit 18 displays a donor selection window 100 on the display unit 5. The donor selection window 100 displays a list of the names of multiple users who have been registered in advance.

[0517] When a user designates a user to be a donor by tapping the name of one of the multiple users displayed in the donor selection window 100, the control unit 18 proceeds with the donation procedure with the designated user as the main person.

[0518] Information on the credit card used for donations is registered in advance for each of multiple users in the storage device of the control unit 18. If the name of the donor does not match the name on the credit card, the donation may not be eligible for tax deduction. The control unit 18 has a function of comparing the name of the registered user with the name on the credit card registered in association with that user, and notifying the user of this fact if they do not match.

[0519] When using the navigation device 1 according to the tenth modification of the fourth embodiment, when multiple people are traveling, each of the travelers can make a donation via the navigation device 1. When the name of the user making the donation does not match the name on the credit card, the control unit 18 notifies the user to that effect, thereby preventing the user from making a donation using a credit card in a different name and becoming ineligible for tax deduction.

[0520] A user who will make a donation may be designated from among multiple registered users by holding a near field communication (NFC) card owned by each user over a reading device. Examples of NFC-compatible cards include transportation cards and driver's licenses. In addition, a personal authentication system such as a fingerprint authentication system or a face authentication system may be used to identify the user who will make a donation.

[0521] [Fifth Example] Next, a printer installed in a print service shop will be described as an electronic device according to the fifth embodiment. Examples of print service shops include convenience stores located all over the country. This printer is used by unspecified persons.

[0522] 24 is a functional block diagram of a printer 105 according to the fifth embodiment. The printer 105 includes a control unit 110, a communication device 111, a short-range wireless communication device 112, a display device 113, and an input device 114.

[0523] The control unit 110 is composed of a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, non-volatile memory, and an I / O interface. The CPU of the control unit 110 executes a program stored in a storage device to realize a function of providing information to a user. An EEPROM, for example, can be used as the non-volatile memory. In addition to the program, the non-volatile memory stores various data necessary for the control unit 110 to realize the function of providing information to a user, such as location information of the print service store where the printer 105 is installed. The location information of the print service store is registered in the printer 105 by the installer when the printer 105 is installed.

[0524] A user visits a print service provider to receive information provided by the printer 105. Since the location information of the print service provider coincides with the location information of the user's current location, the location information of the print service provider can be considered as one piece of information (user information) about the user receiving the information providing service. The information that the printer 105 provides to the user includes a map of a certain area including the user's current location (the location of the print service provider).

[0525] The communication device 111 has a function of performing data communication with the management server 120 via a communication network 140. For example, the Internet is used as the communication network 140. The management server 120 accumulates map data, and in response to a request from the printer 105, transmits the map data including the location of the print service provider where the printer 105 is installed to the printer 105.

[0526] The short-range wireless communication device 112 has a function of performing data communication with a user's mobile terminal 130. For example, the NFC standard, the Bluetooth standard, etc. can be adopted as the wireless communication standard. The mobile terminal 130 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc.

[0527] The display device 113 displays various images under the control of the control unit 110. As the display device 113, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like is used.

[0528] The input device 114 is operated by a user to input various commands to the control unit 18. As the input device 114, for example, a touch panel, operation buttons, etc. are used.

[0529] Fig. 25 shows the flow of a process in which printer 105 provides information to a user. First, a user operates input device 114 (Fig. 24) of printer 105 to request printer 105 to print out a map (step S30). When control unit 110 of printer 105 accepts the printout request, it transmits a signal to management server 120 requesting map data (step S31). This signal contains location information of the print service provider where printer 105 is installed.

[0530] Based on the location information of the print service provider, management server 120 distributes map data including that location to printer 105 (step S32). Control unit 110 of printer 105 that has received the distributed map data prints out a map based on the distributed map data (step S33).

[0531] An example of a printed map is shown in Fig. 26. The map is printed out on paper of A4 size, B4 size, A3 size, etc. The user specifies the size of the paper to printer 105 by operating input device 114. The characters "up", "down", "left", and "right" are printed near the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the paper, respectively. Furthermore, control unit 18 prints on the paper a two-dimensional barcode 150 that serves as information for displaying a map of the same area as the printed map on mobile terminal 130.

[0532] The two-dimensional barcode 150 represents a character string that identifies the URL of the management server 120. Instead of the two-dimensional barcode, a character string indicating a shortened URL may be printed as information that identifies the URL. On the printed map, a mark 151 such as a star is printed at the location of the print service provider that printed the map.

[0533] [Effects of the Fifth Example] A user can obtain a map of a certain area including his / her current location on paper without performing an operation of inputting the location information of the place where the printer 105 is installed. For example, if the printer 105 is installed in all convenience stores of a certain convenience store chain, a map including the location of the convenience store can always be obtained by simply finding the convenience store of the chain and printing with the printer 105 of the store. In particular, if the location of the convenience store is placed near the center as shown in FIG. 26 and the map is printed, the user can go from one convenience store to another and always obtain a map centered on the user's location. Compared to maps displayed on smartphones, tablet terminals, etc., a large map of A4 size, B4 size, A3 size, etc. can be obtained. A large map is suitable for use by multiple people to consult with each other while looking at it at the same time. Furthermore, a wide area on the map can be viewed at once without scrolling. In addition, a map output on paper can be easily marked by writing, folding, etc., for example. In particular, when multiple people are traveling, a map can be printed out at a print service store at the travel destination and the printed out map can be referred to during the trip.

[0534] A user can easily find his / her current location on the map by finding a mark on the location of the print service provider on the printed map. Instead of marking the location of the print service provider, a color different from the color of the symbols indicating the print service provider on the map may be used. Also, the print service provider may be placed at the center of the map to make it easier to find the location of the print service provider.

[0535] By having the mobile terminal 130 read the two-dimensional barcode 150 printed out together with the map, the user can easily access the management server 120 with the mobile terminal 130 and download the map data from the management server to the mobile terminal 130. The mobile terminal 130 displays the downloaded map data on the display screen.

[0536] It is preferable that the mobile terminal 130 has a function of providing the user with information that identifies the area on the map to which the current location of the mobile terminal 130 belongs, based on the location information of the current location of the mobile terminal 130. For example, the mobile terminal 130 may perform processing to indicate a point on the map using the term center or any of the terms up, down, left, and right, such as "Your current location is a point to the upper right of the center." It is particularly preferable to perform such processing in a map application or a route guidance application.

[0537] With the help of the information that identifies the area, the user can easily find the location where he / she is located on the map. The mobile terminal 130 usually has a function of displaying a map of an area around the current location on the display screen, with the current location of the mobile terminal 130 fixed at a specific point within the display screen. When the current location of the mobile terminal 130 moves, the mobile terminal 130 automatically scrolls the map so that the current location does not move within the display screen. For this reason, the map displayed on the mobile terminal 130 is convenient for the user to know the situation around the user's current location, but is not suitable for grasping the user's relative location in a specific area that is larger than the area displayed on the display screen. In contrast, when a printed map (FIG. 26) is used, the user can easily grasp the user's relative location within the specific area shown on the map by finding the user's location on the map.

[0538] As information for identifying a portion of a map, for example, the entire area of ​​a printed map may be divided into a number of sections in a matrix, and information for identifying rows and columns may be used. For example, columns may be identified by letters A, B, C, D, etc. from left to right, and rows may be identified by numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. from top to bottom. Each section on the map can be identified by a combination of letters and numbers. For example, a mobile terminal can notify a user of their current location using information for identifying sections, such as "You are currently located in section A1."

[0539] It is preferable that the mobile terminal 130 has an orientation detection function. It is preferable that the mobile terminal 130 having the orientation detection function has a function of notifying the user of the correspondence between the top direction of the screen of the mobile terminal 130 at the current time and the up, down, left and right directions of the printed out map. For example, the mobile terminal 130 can have a function of notifying the user that "the top direction of the screen is the right direction of the map." In particular, when the mobile terminal application displays the map in a heading up manner, this has the excellent effect of reducing the loss of the correspondence with the printed out paper map.

[0540] The management server 120 (FIG. 24) may store the printer identification information and location information in association with each other. The printer 105 can obtain location information from the management server 120 by inquiring about its own location information from the management server 120. In this way, it becomes unnecessary to set location information in the printer 105 on-site when the printer is installed, and it is possible to prevent forgetting to set location information or setting it incorrectly.

[0541] Instead of having the mobile terminal 130 read the two-dimensional barcode 150 (FIG. 26) printed together with the map, information specifying a URL may be transferred from the printer 105 to the mobile terminal 130 by short-range wireless communication.

[0542] In the fifth embodiment, printer 105 has a function for providing information identifying the area on the map to which the current location of the mobile terminal belongs, for example a function for printing the characters “up”, “down”, “left”, and “right”, but this function may also be provided in management server 120 which distributes map data to printer 105.

[0543] [First modified example of the fifth embodiment] Next, a printer 105 according to a first modification of the fifth embodiment will be described. In a first modified example of the fifth embodiment, the control unit 110 of the printer 105 has a function of printing out, together with the map, advertisements for shops within the area of ​​the map to be printed out. Data for the advertisements to be printed is distributed to the printer 105 from the management server 120 together with the map data. The management server 120 provides advertisement providers with a support service for creating advertisements.

[0544] An example of a printed map and advertisement is shown in Figure 27. Several advertisements 152 are printed on the edge of the paper.

[0545] By looking at the printed advertisement 152, the user can obtain information about stores (souvenir shops, restaurants, etc.) located near the current location. The store advertisement 152 may include information indicating the right to receive a special benefit at that store, such as a coupon. For users who print out the map, such as travelers or business travelers, the effect is that they can receive a special benefit at that store, such as a 200 yen discount on food and drink. A part or all of the fee for printing out the map can be offset by an amount equivalent to the special benefit received by the user. For stores, the effect is that they can attract travelers to their stores.

[0546] A provider of advertisements such as a store can easily create advertisements by receiving a support service for creating advertisements from the management server 120. The support service for creating advertisements may be, for example, a service that allows the provider of advertisements to create advertisements using a template. For example, the provider of advertisements may be allowed to create advertisements by simply inserting photos and text into the template. A plurality of templates may be prepared, and the provider of advertisements may be allowed to select a favorite template from the plurality of templates. The provider of advertisements may download template data from the management server 120 to his / her terminal, create an advertisement on the terminal using the template, and upload the created advertisement data to the management server 120, thereby storing the advertisement data in the management server 120. The provider of advertisements may directly create an advertisement using the template on the management server 120 via a browser on his / her terminal, and store the advertisement data in the management server 120.

[0547] Although it is acceptable to charge a fee for placing advertisements from shops, it is especially good to make it free. If advertisements are free of charge, it will be a great benefit to shops that provide advertisements. For businesses that provide map printing services, it is expected that the number of advertisement providers will increase.

[0548] As the number of advertisements provided increases, it becomes difficult to print out all of the advertisements on the map. In such a case, the control unit 110 of the printer 105 may filter the large number of advertisements using predetermined filtering conditions to extract a portion of the advertisements to be printed from the large number of advertisements. The predetermined filtering conditions may be provided to the printer 105 by the user operating the printer 105. For example, it may be possible for the user to select the type of business of the store that is providing the advertisement that the user wishes to print out. The control unit 110 of the printer 105 may extract advertisements for stores in the type of business selected by the user from the large number of advertisements, and print out the advertisements for the extracted stores together with the map.

[0549] Filtering conditions may be set in advance in management server 120 that provides the advertisement creation support service or in user's mobile terminal 130, and advertisements to be printed out may be extracted from a large number of advertisements by applying the set filtering conditions.

[0550] [Second Modification of the Fifth Example] Next, a printer 105 according to a second modification of the fifth embodiment will be described. The printer 105 according to the second modification of the fifth embodiment prints out information for identifying a map together with the map. The information for identifying a map is unique to that map, and different users who print out a map give different identification information to the map.

[0551] The information for identifying the map may be, for example, a unique number for identifying the map. The information for identifying the map is sent by management server 120 to printer 105 together with the map data when the map data is distributed (step S32). Control unit 110 of printer 105 prints out the received identification information together with the map in the form of a barcode or the like.

[0552] 28 shows an example of a map printed out on a sheet of paper and a one-dimensional barcode 153. For example, the one-dimensional barcode 153 is printed in a corner of the sheet of paper. This one-dimensional barcode 153 represents information for identifying the printed out map.

[0553] When a user of the map causes an information acquisition device installed within an area represented by the map to read the identification information, the identification information of the map is transferred from the information acquisition device to the management server 120. When the management server 120 receives the identification information of the map from the information acquisition device, it stores the identification information of the map in association with the position information of the point where the information acquisition device is installed (visited point). When the management server 120 receives a request from the printer 105 specifying the identification number of the map and providing the position information of the visited point, the management server 120 has a function of transmitting the position information of the visited point associated with the identification information of the map to the printer 105.

[0554] When the printer 105 receives the location information of the visited places from the management server 120, the control unit 110 of the printer 105 has a function of printing out a new map in a form in which the visited places of the user can be identified.

[0555] An example of a new map printed out in a manner that allows the user to identify the places visited by the user is shown in Figure 29. Numbers in circles are printed on the newly printed out map at the places visited by the user in the order in which they were visited.

[0556] A map user can look at the new map (FIG. 29) printed out in a manner that allows the visited points to be identified, and recognize the points that the user has visited while carrying the map from the print service shop where the first map was printed out. The printer 105 that printed out the first map and the printer 105 that prints out the new map do not need to be the same printer. It is convenient to install multiple printers 105, each having a function for printing out the first map and a function for printing out a new map, at multiple print service shops. For example, the user can print out the first map (FIG. 28) at a print service shop at a travel destination, and after returning from the trip, print out a new map (FIG. 29) at a print service shop near his / her home, allowing the user to recognize the visited points. This new map can be kept as ...

Claims

1. An electronic device having a printing function that is installed in a print service provider, The electronic device has a function of printing out a map in which a past map of a certain area including the location of the print service store visited by a user is arranged together with the latest map of the certain area including the location of the print service store visited by a user.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a function for searching the past map to see whether there is a record in the user's device or server of the user having been to the same place in the past, and if so, to make the map the closest to the past point in time.

3. a function of printing out information for identifying the map together with the map; When a user prints out the map, different identification information is given to the map.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a function for printing out coupons for stores located near the current location together with the map.

5. 5. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a function for allowing a user to select a type of store offering an advertisement to be printed out, and for printing out advertisements for stores of the selected type together with the map.

6. 6. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a function of printing out an advertisement based on advertisement data received from a server that provides an advertisement creation support service to an advertisement provider together with the map.

7. A system comprising the electronic device according to claim 6 and the server, The server providing the advertisement creation support service has a function of preparing a plurality of templates, allowing the advertisement provider to select a favorite template from the plurality of templates and create the advertisement by inserting photographs and characters into the template.

8. A system comprising the electronic device according to claim 6 and a mobile terminal of a user, The system has a function of setting filtering conditions in advance in the user's mobile terminal and extracting advertisements to be printed out by applying the set filtering conditions.

9. A program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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