Information provision method and information provision server

Abstract

To prevent an address of an individual person from being identified.SOLUTION: An information provision method that is a method of providing information indicating distribution of addresses of individual persons comprises: a step (Step S112) of previously storing at least a portion of an address by associating identifiable information and a predetermined attribute, as a database for a plurality of individual persons; a step (Step S122) of extracting an individual person having predetermined attribute satisfying a predetermined condition, from the database; steps (Step S123 and Step S124) of creating information indicating the distribution of the extracted individual persons; and a step (Step S125) of providing information indicating the created distribution to a user. In the step of creating information indicating the distribution, information indicating distribution for each cluster of addresses is created in an aspect in which an address of an individual person cannot be identified.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information providing method and an information providing server, and more particularly to an information providing method and an information providing server that provide information indicating the distribution of addresses of individuals. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, on a map displayed on a screen, symbol images are displayed at the locations of facilities such as stores, and a symbol image showing a grouped display is displayed in an area where facilities are densely packed (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-173154 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is conceivable to apply the method of displaying information on a map as in Patent Document 1 to displaying individual addresses. When one symbol image is displayed in a location where the target individuals are crowded together, the addresses of the crowded individuals are difficult to identify. On the other hand, when one symbol image is displayed in a location where the target individuals are not crowded together (for example, a location where one person or one family lives), there is a risk that the addresses of these individuals may be known by others who view the screen. When information related to individual addresses is displayed on a map in this way, there is a risk that the individual addresses may be identified.

[0005] The present disclosure provides an information providing method and an information providing server that can prevent an individual's address from being identified. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information providing method disclosed here is a method for providing information indicating the distribution of individual addresses, and includes the steps of: associating information capable of identifying at least a portion of an address with a predetermined attribute and storing the information in advance as a database for a plurality of individuals; extracting individuals whose predetermined attribute satisfies a predetermined condition from the database; creating information indicating the distribution of the addresses of the extracted individuals; and providing the created information indicating the distribution to a user. In the step of creating the information indicating the distribution, information indicating the distribution of addresses for each cluster is created in a manner that makes it impossible to identify the individual's address.

[0007] According to this configuration, individuals whose predetermined attributes satisfy predetermined conditions are extracted from a database that previously stores information for identifying at least a portion of an address and predetermined attributes in association with each other for a plurality of individuals, information showing the distribution of addresses for each cluster is created in a manner that makes it impossible to identify the addresses of the extracted individuals, and the created information showing the distribution is provided to a user. As a result, it is possible to provide a method of providing information that makes it possible to prevent the addresses of individuals from being identified.

[0008] In the step of creating the information indicating the distribution, the information indicating the distribution may be created by excluding clusters that include a predetermined number of individuals or less from among the clusters of addresses.

[0009] With this configuration, even if an address cluster contains a predetermined number or less of individuals, the address of an individual can be prevented from being identified.

[0010] The information indicating the distribution may be an image, and in the step of creating the information indicating the distribution, the information indicating the distribution may be created so that the position of the image showing the summary information for each address cluster does not overlap with the position of the addresses of individuals included in that cluster.

[0011] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent an individual's address from being identified based on the position of the image showing the summary information for each address cluster.

[0012] In the step of creating information showing the distribution, if multiple individuals have the same address, if the residence at the address is a detached house, it may be considered as one person, whereas if the residence is an apartment building, it may be considered as the number of individuals with the same address, and the information showing the distribution may be created.

[0013] With this configuration, if multiple individuals have the same address and the residence at that address is a detached house, it is highly likely that they are a family, so by regarding them as one family (one person) rather than multiple different people, it is possible to create information showing the distribution in a manner that makes it impossible to identify the address of the family. Also, if multiple individuals have the same address and the residence at that address is an apartment building, it is possible to accurately count the number of individuals.

[0014] The information indicating the distribution may be an image indicating the distribution.The information indicating the distribution may be a list indicating the distribution.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an information providing server provides information indicating a distribution of addresses of individuals. The information providing server includes a storage unit that associates information capable of identifying at least a part of an address with a predetermined attribute and stores the information in advance as a database for a plurality of individuals, and a processor. The processor extracts individuals whose predetermined attributes satisfy a predetermined condition from the database, creates information indicating a distribution of the addresses of the extracted individuals by cluster in a manner that prevents the addresses of the individuals from being identified, and provides the created information indicating the distribution to a user.

[0016] According to this configuration, it is possible to provide an information providing server that makes it possible to prevent an individual's address from being identified. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide an information providing method and an information providing server that can prevent an individual's address from being identified. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1]1 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of an individual distribution presentation process executed by the server of the information provision system in this embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a database of personal information in this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a first diagram showing an example of transition of an image displayed on a display of an output unit of the terminal device in this embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing an example of a transition of an image displayed on the display of the output unit of the terminal device in this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and their description will not be repeated.

[0020] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of an information providing system 1 according to this embodiment. With reference to Fig. 1, the information providing system 1 includes a server 100 and a plurality of users' terminal devices 500A to 500C (hereinafter, representatively referred to as "terminal devices 500"). The server 100 and the terminal devices 500 can communicate with each other via a communication network 900. The communication network 900 includes private networks such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a VPN (Virtual Private Network), and public networks such as the Internet, a public line, or a public wireless LAN.

[0021] The server 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 110, a memory 120, a storage device 150, and a communication unit 190. The CPU 110, the memory 120, the storage device 150, and the communication unit 190 are connected to one another by a bus 180.

[0022] The memory 120 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a working area required for the CPU 110 to execute a program, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing the program to be executed by the CPU 110. In addition, the program and data for executing a predetermined process are read from the ROM and stored in the RAM.

[0023] The storage device 150 is composed of a hard disk drive, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) drive, a memory card reader / writer, etc. The storage device 150 magnetically, optically, or electrically records predetermined data or programs received from the CPU 110 on a recording medium 151, or reads the data from the recording medium 151 and transfers it to the CPU 110. Examples of the recording medium 151 include a magnetic disk such as a hard disk, an optical disk such as a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory), a memory card, or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory.

[0024] The communication unit 190 transmits and receives data to and from an external device (for example, the terminal device 500) via the communication network 900. The communication unit 190 transmits data received from a device connected to the bus 180, such as the CPU 110, to the outside, and passes data received from the outside to a device connected to the bus 180, such as the CPU 110.

[0025] CPU 110 controls memory 120, communication unit 190 and storage device 150, executes predetermined processing in accordance with the programs and data stored in memory 120, processes data input from communication unit 190 and storage device 150, and stores the processed data in memory 120, outputs the data from communication unit 190 to another device, or stores the processed data in recording medium 151 of storage device 150.

[0026] In this embodiment, server 100 does not include an operation unit and a display unit, but is not limited thereto and may include the configuration of an operation unit and a display unit. The operation unit may include a keyboard and a mouse, and an operation signal indicating the operation content input to server 100 by operating the keyboard and mouse of the operation unit may be transferred to CPU 110. The display unit may include, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and the LCD may display an image corresponding to image data received from CPU 110.

[0027] Terminal device 500 includes a CPU 510, a memory 520, an operation unit 530, an output unit 540, an external storage device 550, and a wireless communication unit 590. CPU 510, memory 520, operation unit 530, output unit 540, external storage device 550, and wireless communication unit 590 are connected to each other by a bus 580. CPU 510 and memory 520 are similar to CPU 110 and memory 120 of server 100, and therefore overlapping description will not be repeated.

[0028] The external storage device 550 is configured with a memory card reader / writer. The external storage device 550 electrically records predetermined data or programs received from the CPU 510 on a recording medium 551 such as a memory card or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or reads the data or programs from the recording medium 551 and transfers them to the CPU 510. The external storage device 550 may be configured with a storage device such as a hard disk drive, a flexible disk drive, an MO (Magneto-Optical disk) drive, a CD (Compact Disc) drive, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) drive.

[0029] Operation unit 530 includes a touch panel and operation buttons for inputting numbers, alphabets, and other characters such as telephone numbers and various data. Operation unit 530 may also include a portion for other operations. When operation unit 530 is operated by a user, operation signals corresponding to the operation are transmitted from operation unit 530 to CPU 510. CPU 510 controls each unit of terminal device 500 in response to the operation signals from operation unit 530.

[0030] The wireless communication unit 590 is controlled by the CPU 510 and receives wireless signals from the other terminal device 500 or landline phone of the other party via the public line and an antenna, converts the received wireless signals into audio signals, transmits the converted audio signals to the audio input / output unit, and also converts the audio signals from the audio input / output unit into wireless signals and transmits them via the antenna and the telecommunications carrier's communications equipment.

[0031] In addition, wireless communication unit 590 is controlled by CPU 510 to receive wireless signals from devices capable of data communication, such as server 100 or other terminal devices 500, via public lines and an antenna, convert the received wireless signals into data, store the converted data in memory 520, or transmit the data to output unit 540 for display, and also convert the data to be transmitted into wireless signals and transmit them to server 100 or other terminal devices 500 as the data communication destination via an antenna and the telecommunications carrier's communications facilities.

[0032] Further, wireless communication unit 590 is controlled by CPU 510 to exchange data with other devices capable of network communication, such as server 100 and other terminal devices 500, via a public wireless LAN or a private wireless LAN.

[0033] Output unit 540 includes a display and a speaker. Output unit 540 is controlled by CPU 510 to display on the display as an image and output from the speaker as sound, the image signal and sound signal obtained by converting information received by wireless communication unit 590, information stored in memory 520, or information read from recording medium 551 by external storage device 550, by CPU 510, respectively.

[0034] Although the terminal device 500 has been described as being a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, the present invention is not limited to this and may be another information processing device such as a PC (Personal Computer) or a tablet.

[0035] Conventionally, on a map displayed on the display of the output unit 540 of the terminal device 500, symbol images are displayed at the locations of facilities such as stores, and a symbol image showing a grouped display is displayed in areas where the facilities are densely packed.

[0036] It is conceivable that such a method of displaying information on a map could be applied to displaying individual addresses. If a single symbol image is displayed in a location where the target individuals are densely packed, the addresses of the densely packed individuals are difficult to identify. On the other hand, if a single symbol image is displayed in a location where the target individuals are not densely packed (for example, a location where one person or one family lives), there is a risk that the addresses of these individuals may be known by others who view the screen. When information relating to individual addresses is displayed on a map in this way, there is a risk that the individual's address may be identified.

[0037] Therefore, the information providing method may include the steps of: associating information capable of identifying at least a part of an address with a predetermined attribute and storing the information in advance as a database for a plurality of individuals; extracting individuals whose predetermined attribute satisfies a predetermined condition from the database; creating information showing the distribution of the addresses of the extracted individuals; and providing the created information showing the distribution to a user. In the step of creating the information showing the distribution, it may be possible to create information showing the distribution of addresses for each cluster in a manner that makes it impossible to identify the address of an individual.

[0038] This allows individuals whose specified attributes satisfy a specified condition to be extracted from a database that previously stores information for a plurality of individuals that can identify at least a portion of their addresses in association with the specified attributes, and creates information showing the distribution of addresses for each cluster in a manner that makes it impossible to identify the addresses of the extracted individuals, and provides the created information showing the distribution to the user. As a result, it is possible to prevent the addresses of the individuals from being identified.

[0039] 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of an individual distribution presentation process executed by the server 100 of the information provision system 1 in this embodiment. With reference to FIG. 2, this individual distribution presentation process is called from a higher-level process and executed by the CPU 110 of the server 100.

[0040] The CPU 110 judges whether or not personal information has been received from an employee of the operator, which is the corporation that operates the information provision system 1, or from an individual via the communication unit 190 (step S111). The personal information includes the individual's place of residence and attributes. If it is determined that the personal information has been received (YES in step S111), the received personal information is added to and stored in a database accumulated in the storage device 150 of the server 100.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a personal information database in this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, the database stored in the storage device 150 of the server 100 stores information on an individual's place of residence and information on the individual's attributes in association with each other. The information on an individual's place of residence includes a postal code and an address here, but may include other information on an individual's place of residence together with or instead of this information. The information on an individual's attributes includes a name, age, sex, family structure, information indicating whether or not the individual owns a car, information indicating whether or not the individual owns a driver's license, and average annual income, but may include other information on an individual's attributes together with or instead of this information.

[0042] Fig. 4 is a first diagram showing an example of the transition of images displayed on the display 541 of the output unit 540 of the terminal device 500 in this embodiment. Referring to Fig. 4, the individual distribution presentation app is an application program provided by the operator of the information provision system 1, and is installed in the terminal device 500 of a client for use in order to provide the client with the residential distribution of individuals who satisfy predetermined personal attribute conditions from the operator of the information provision system 1.

[0043] When the individual distribution presentation application is started in the terminal device 500 and an operation for starting a distribution search is executed, a screen shown in Fig. 4(A) is displayed on the display 541 of the output unit 540 of the terminal device 500. The screen shown in Fig. 4(A) includes characters "individual distribution presentation application" which is the name of the application, a sentence urging the user to select personal attribute conditions and press a search button, selection buttons 5411A to 5411J for selecting personal attributes, and a search button 5412. Note that the screen shown in Fig. 4(A) may include other information together with or instead of this information.

[0044] For example, when the selection button 5411A of "age" is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 4(A), the screen shown in FIG. 4(B) is displayed on the display 541 of the output unit 540 of the terminal device 500. The screen shown in FIG. 4(B) includes the characters "age selection screen" which is the name of this screen, a plurality of radio buttons 5421 for selecting a desired option from the options of the condition of the age of the individual whose distribution is to be searched, and an OK button 5422 for confirming the selection. For example, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the options of "20-29 years old" and "30-39 years old" are changed from a non-selected state (a white circle in the figure) to a selected state (a black circle in the white circle in the figure) by pressing the radio button 5421 corresponding to the option. In this state, when the OK button 5422 is pressed, the selection of the conditions of the options of "20-29 years old" and "30-39 years old" is confirmed.

[0045] For example, when the selection button 5411J of "Target Name" is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 4(A), the screen shown in FIG. 4(C) is displayed on the display 541 of the output unit 540 of the terminal device 500. The target name is a name indicating a target that combines multiple types of personal attributes. For example, "Young Family" is a name indicating a target who is in the younger generation (e.g., 20-29 years old) and has family members such as a spouse and children. "Mature Couple" is a name indicating a target who is in the elderly generation (e.g., 60 years old or older) and is a family consisting of only a married couple.

[0046] The screen shown in Fig. 4(C) includes the text "Target Name Selection Screen" which is the name of this screen, a plurality of radio buttons 5421 for selecting a desired option from the options of the condition of the target name of the individual for which distribution is to be searched, and an OK button 5422 for confirming the selection. For example, as shown in Fig. 4(C), pressing the radio button 5421 corresponding to the option "Young Family" changes the option from a non-selected state (a white circle in the figure) to a selected state (a black circle in a white circle in the figure). Pressing the OK button 5422 in this state confirms the selection of the condition of the option "Young Family".

[0047] After the selection of the personal attribute conditions is confirmed on the screens shown in Fig. 4(B) and Fig. 4(C), the screen returns to Fig. 4(A). On the screen of Fig. 4(A), after the conditions of any personal information are confirmed, the selection button (here, selection buttons 5411A, 5411J) corresponding to the personal attribute whose condition has been confirmed is displayed in a different manner (here, hatched) from the selection buttons of other personal attributes whose conditions have not been confirmed.

[0048] In the screen shown in FIG. 4(A), selection button 5411D "social group" is a social group to which one belongs. A social group is a group in which human interactions and relationships show regularity and continuity, such as company employees (a group whose occupation is company employee) and farmers (a group whose occupation is agriculture), which are included in the condition options. Selection button 5411G "urbanization level" is the degree to which the residential area is urbanized, and is shown, for example, in terms of population density. "Wealth level" is the degree of wealth of a household, and is shown, for example, in terms of household income.

[0049] 4(A), when the conditions of the personal attributes to be searched are confirmed, the requester presses a search button 5412. When the search button 5412 is pressed in the terminal device 500, the CPU 510 executing the personal distribution presentation application controls the wireless communication unit 590 to transmit the confirmed conditions of the personal attributes for the distribution search to the server 100 via the communication network 900.

[0050] Returning to FIG. 2, if the server 100 determines that no personal information has been accepted (NO in step S111), and after step S112, the CPU 110 determines whether or not personal attribute conditions for distribution search have been accepted by the communication unit 190 from the requester's terminal device 500 via the communication network 900 (step S121).

[0051] When it is determined that the personal attribute conditions have been received (YES in step S121), the CPU 110 extracts individuals who meet the received personal attribute conditions from the database shown in Fig. 3 (step S122). For example, if the received personal attribute conditions include a condition that the age is between 40 and 49 years old and a condition that the individual owns a car, an individual with the name A who meets these personal attribute conditions is extracted.

[0052] Next, CPU 110 reads out the residence of the extracted individual (step S123). For example, the postal code and address of an individual named A are read out.

[0053] CPU 110 creates a map showing the distribution of the read residential areas by cluster in a manner that prevents the identification of individual addresses (step S124). CPU 110 controls communication unit 190 to transmit the created map to the requester's terminal device 500 via communication network 900 (step S125). If CPU 110 determines that the individual attribute conditions have not been accepted (NO in step S121) or after step S125, CPU 110 returns the process to be executed to the higher-level process that called this individual distribution presentation process.

[0054] Fig. 5 is a second diagram showing an example of transition of an image displayed on display 541 of output unit 540 of terminal device 500 in this embodiment. With reference to Fig. 5, in terminal device 500, when a created map is received by wireless communication unit 590 from server 100 via communication network 900, CPU 510 controls display 541 of output unit 540 to display the received map on the screen shown in Fig. 5(A).

[0055] The screen shown in Figure 5 (A) includes the text "Search Results" which is the name of the screen, an image 5431 showing the received map, an enlarge button 5433 for enlarging the map, a reduce button 5434 for reducing the map, and movement buttons 5435 to 5438 for moving the map up, left, right, and down, respectively.

[0056] Image 5431 in FIG. 5(A) shows the distribution of individuals by cluster of residences that match the personal attribute conditions selected by the requester in the region centered on Aichi Prefecture. In image 5431 in FIG. 5(A), the range of the cluster is, for example, an area obtained by dividing a prefecture into several areas, such as eastern Aichi Prefecture, central Aichi Prefecture, and western Aichi Prefecture. Icon 5432 of information summarized by cluster is an image including the number of individuals that match the personal attribute conditions belonging to the cluster in a circle. For example, in FIG. 5(A), icon 5432 of information summarized by cluster shows that 156 individuals who match the personal attribute conditions selected by the requester live in eastern Aichi Prefecture, 234 individuals in central Aichi Prefecture, and 111 individuals in western Aichi Prefecture.

[0057] When the enlargement button 5433 is pressed on the screen of Fig. 5(A), the image 5431 is enlarged. When this enlargement is repeated several times, the image 5431 is displayed in the most enlarged state as shown on the screen of Fig. 5(B). In the image 5431 of Fig. 5(B), the range of the cluster is a section surrounded by roads. For example, in Fig. 5(B), the icon 5432 of the summary information for each cluster shows that 2, 6, 4, 5, 3, 6, 7, and 9 individuals who match the personal attribute condition selected by the requester reside in each cluster.

[0058] In image 5431 of Fig. 5(B), when icon 5432 is displayed in which the number of individuals matching the personal attribute condition belonging to the cluster indicated by the number of summary information icon 5432 is a predetermined number or less, if the number of individuals is approximately equal to the number of dwelling units belonging to the cluster, it is highly likely that individuals matching the personal attribute condition are living in these dwelling units. For this reason, in step S124 of Fig. 2, a map is created so that icon 5432 in which the number of individuals matching the personal attribute condition belonging to the cluster indicated by the number of summary information icon 5432 is a predetermined number or less is not included in image 5431. This predetermined number may be determined taking into account the population density, building density, or urbanization degree.

[0059] In image 5431 in Fig. 5(B), if summary information icon 5432 overlaps with the location of the residence of an individual who matches the personal attribute conditions belonging to the cluster, the individual is likely to be identified as living in the overlapping location. For this reason, in step S124 in Fig. 2, a map is created so that summary information icon 5432 is shifted so as not to overlap with the location of the residence of an individual who matches the personal attribute conditions belonging to the cluster, or is displayed in a location where there is no building.

[0060] In step S124 of Fig. 2, if multiple individuals have the same address, they are considered to be one person if the residence at that address is a detached house, but if the residence is an apartment building, the number of individuals with the same address is considered to be the number of individuals, and a map is created. As a result, if multiple individuals have the same address and the residence at that address is a detached house, they are likely to be a family, so by considering them as one family (one person) rather than multiple different people, a map can be created in a manner that makes it impossible to identify the address of the family. Also, if multiple individuals have the same address and the residence at that address is an apartment building, the number of individuals can be counted accurately.

[0061] [Variations] (1) In the above-described embodiment, the information indicating the distribution is a map-like image 5431 as shown in Fig. 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the information indicating the distribution may be a list. This list may include information for identifying a cluster and the number of individuals matching the individual attribute conditions for each cluster in association with each other.

[0062] (2) In the above-described embodiment, the range of a cluster is set to a range of a prefecture divided into several parts and a section surrounded by roads, as shown in Fig. 5. However, the range is not limited to this, and the range of a cluster may be a range of the same postal code, a range of the same prefecture, a range of the same city, ward, town, or village, a range of area codes of the same telephone numbers, or a range previously determined by the operator of the information provision system 1.

[0063] (3) In the above-described embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, in step S124, a map is created in such a manner that the addresses of individuals cannot be identified. The present invention is not limited to this, and the application of terminal device 500 may operate in such a way that the addresses of individuals cannot be identified. For example, when enlarging image 5431, CPU 510 may control output unit 540 not to display icon 5432 of summary information of a cluster in which the number of individuals matching the individual attribute condition belonging to the cluster is equal to or less than a predetermined number.

[0064] (4) In the above-described embodiment, the residence of an individual is specified by the address as shown in Fig. 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the residence of an individual may be specified by other information, for example, longitude and latitude. In this case, the range of a cluster may be determined by the longitude and latitude.

[0065] (5) The above-mentioned disclosure may be understood as disclosure of an information providing system 1, an information providing server such as server 100, or an information processing device such as terminal device 500 shown in FIG. 1, may be understood as disclosure of an information providing method executed by the information providing server and the information processing device in the information providing system 1, may be understood as disclosure of an information providing program executed by the information providing server or the information processing device, or may be understood as disclosure of a computer-readable recording medium 151, 551 having recorded thereon an information providing program such as that shown in FIG. 2.

[0066] [summary] (1) As shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 5, the information providing method is a method for providing information indicating the distribution of addresses of individuals. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the information providing method includes a step of associating information capable of identifying at least a part of an address with a predetermined attribute and storing the information in advance as a database for a plurality of individuals (for example, step S112 in Fig. 2). As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5, the information providing method includes a step of extracting individuals whose predetermined attributes satisfy a predetermined condition from the database (for example, step S122 in Fig. 2), a step of creating information indicating the distribution of the addresses of the extracted individuals (for example, steps S123 and S124 in Fig. 2), and a step of providing the created information indicating the distribution to a user (for example, step S125 in Fig. 2). As shown in step S124 in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5, in the step of creating the information indicating the distribution, information indicating the distribution of addresses for each cluster is created in a manner in which the address of an individual cannot be identified.

[0067] This allows individuals whose specified attributes satisfy a specified condition to be extracted from a database that previously stores information for a plurality of individuals that can identify at least a portion of their addresses in association with the specified attributes, and creates information showing the distribution of addresses for each cluster in a manner that makes it impossible to identify the addresses of the extracted individuals, and provides the created information showing the distribution to the user. As a result, it is possible to prevent the addresses of the individuals from being identified.

[0068] (2) As shown in step S124 of FIG. 2, in the step of creating information indicating distribution, the information indicating distribution may be created by excluding clusters that include a predetermined number of individuals or less from among the address clusters.

[0069] This makes it possible to prevent an individual's address from being identified even if an address cluster contains a predetermined number of individuals or less.

[0070] (3) As shown in step S124 of FIG. 2, the information indicating the distribution is an image, and in the step of creating the information indicating the distribution, the information indicating the distribution may be created so that the position of the image showing the summary information for each address cluster does not overlap with the position of the addresses of individuals included in that cluster.

[0071] This makes it possible to prevent an individual's address from being identified based on the position of the image showing the summary information for each address cluster.

[0072] (4) As shown in step S124 of FIG. 2, in the step of creating information showing the distribution, if multiple individuals have the same address, if the residence at the address is a detached house, it may be regarded as one person, whereas if the residence is an apartment building, it may be regarded as the number of individuals with the same address, and information showing the distribution may be created.

[0073] As a result, if multiple individuals have the same address and the residence at that address is a detached house, it is highly likely that they are a family, so by regarding them as one family (one person) rather than multiple different people, it is possible to create information showing the distribution in a manner that makes it impossible to identify the address of the family. Also, if multiple individuals have the same address and the residence at that address is an apartment building, it is possible to accurately count the number of individuals.

[0074] (5) As shown in FIG. 5, the information indicating the distribution may be an image indicating the distribution.

[0075] (6) As shown in modification (1), the information indicating the distribution may be a list indicating the distribution.

[0076] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims, not by the description of the embodiments described above, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1 Information providing system, 100 server, 110, 510 CPU, 120, 520 memory, 150 storage device, 151, 551 recording medium, 180, 580 bus, 190 communication unit, 500, 500A to 500C terminal device, 530 operation unit, 540 output unit, 541 display, 550 external storage device, 590 wireless communication unit, 900 communication network, 5411A to 5411J selection button, 5412 search button, 5421 radio button, 5422 OK button, 5431 image, 5432 icon, 5433 enlarge button, 5434 reduce button, 5435, 5438 move button.

Claims

1. 1. An information providing method for providing information indicating a distribution of addresses of individuals, comprising the steps of: a step of associating information capable of identifying at least a part of an address with a predetermined attribute and storing the information in advance as a database for a plurality of individuals; extracting from the database individuals whose predetermined attributes satisfy predetermined conditions; creating information indicating a distribution of addresses of the extracted individuals; providing a user with information indicating the created distribution; In the step of creating information indicating the distribution, the information indicating the distribution of addresses for each cluster is created in a manner that makes it impossible to identify the addresses of individuals.

2. 2. The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of creating information indicating a distribution, the information indicating a distribution is created by excluding clusters including a predetermined number or less of individuals from among clusters of addresses.

3. 2. The information providing method of claim 1, wherein the information indicating the distribution is an image, and in the step of creating the information indicating the distribution, the information indicating the distribution is created so that the position of the image showing summary information for each address cluster does not overlap with the position of the addresses of individuals included in the cluster.

4. 2. The information providing method of claim 1, wherein in the step of creating information indicating the distribution, when multiple individuals have the same address, if the residence at the address is a detached house, the residence is considered to be one person, whereas if the residence is an apartment building, the residence is considered to be the number of individuals with the same address, and information indicating the distribution is created.

5. The information providing method according to claim 1 , wherein the information indicating the distribution is an image indicating the distribution.

6. The information providing method according to claim 1 , wherein the information indicating the distribution is a list indicating the distribution.

7. An information providing server that provides information indicating a distribution of addresses of individuals, a storage unit that associates information capable of identifying at least a part of an address with a predetermined attribute and stores the information in advance as a database for a plurality of individuals; a processor; The processor, extracting from the database individuals whose predetermined attributes satisfy predetermined conditions; Creating information showing the distribution of the extracted individual addresses by cluster in a manner that prevents the individual addresses from being identified; An information server that provides users with information showing the created distribution.

Images