Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To more effectively support change in behavior of a user.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes: a transmission control unit configured to control transmission of a first signal for prompting a first user to perform action relative to a first terminal device used by the first user; and an acquisition unit configured to acquire an implementation status of the action performed by the first user who has received a notification based on reception of the first signal by the first terminal device. The transmission control unit controls transmission of a second signal to a second terminal device used by a second user associated with the first user based on an execution status satisfying predetermined conditions, the second signal being for requesting the second user to prompt the first user to take the action.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, systems have been proposed that support behavioral change in users. In order to change the user's behavior, it is important for the system to provide an intervention that is appropriate for the user. Patent Document 1 discloses a system that presents to the user recommended information for recommending an action that satisfies conditions related to the user and conditions related to timing, based on information about the user's daily life activities. The presentation of such recommended information corresponds to an example of direct intervention by the system to the user. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-40981 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, even if the system presents recommended information to the user through direct intervention by the system, the user may not necessarily act in accordance with the recommended information. For example, the user may not act in accordance with the recommended information due to personal reasons, suitability of the system to the user, or other reasons. In other words, the system may not effectively support the user's behavioral change through direct intervention alone.

[0005] Therefore, it is desirable to more effectively support users in changing their behavior. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, an information processing device is provided, comprising: a transmission control unit that controls the transmission of a first signal to a first terminal device used by a first user to encourage the first user to take action; and an acquisition unit that acquires the implementation status of the action by the first user who has received a notification based on the reception of the first signal by the first terminal device, wherein the transmission control unit controls the transmission of a second signal to a second terminal device used by a second user associated with the first user to request the second user to encourage the first user to take action based on the implementation status satisfying a predetermined condition.

[0007] The implementation status may include an implementation success rate, which is a ratio of the number of actions performed by the first user to the number of actions prompted by the first signal, and the specified condition may include a first condition that the implementation success rate is smaller than a specified ratio.

[0008] The predetermined conditions may include the first condition and a second condition that a number of actions prompted by the first signal is greater than a threshold.

[0009] The second user may include a user having a degree of intimacy with the first user higher than a predetermined value.

[0010] The second user may include a user whose positional relationship with the first user satisfies a predetermined relationship.

[0011] The second user may include a user who has a greater than predetermined level of proficiency in encouraging users to take action.

[0012] In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above problem, an information processing method executed by a computer is provided, which includes controlling the transmission of a first signal to a first terminal device used by a first user to encourage the first user to take action, acquiring an implementation status of the action by the first user who has been notified based on receipt of the first signal by the first terminal device, and controlling the transmission of a second signal to a second terminal device used by a second user associated with the first user to request the second user to encourage the first user to take action based on the implementation status satisfying a predetermined condition.

[0013] In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above problem, a program is provided that causes a computer to function as a transmission control unit that controls the transmission of a first signal to a first terminal device used by a first user to encourage the first user to take action, and an acquisition unit that acquires the implementation status of the action by the first user who has received a notification based on the reception of the first signal by the first terminal device, and the transmission control unit controls the transmission of a second signal to a second terminal device used by a second user associated with the first user to request the second user to encourage the first user to take action, based on the implementation status satisfying a predetermined condition. Effect of the Invention

[0014] As described above, according to the present invention, a technique is provided that makes it possible to more effectively support a user's behavioral change. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a terminal device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a server 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an interventioner registration process executed by the system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an intervention process executed by the system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a direct intervention process called from the intervention process shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an indirect intervention process called from the intervention process shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information processing device 900 as an example of the server 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0017] 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Next, the details of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0018] (1-1. System Configuration) First, an example of the configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes terminal devices 10-1 to 10-N (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2), a server 20, and a network 30. Each of the terminal devices 10-1 to 10-N and the server 20 are connected to the network 30, and are capable of communicating with each other via the network 30.

[0019] Terminal device 10-1 is used by user U1, terminal device 10-2 is used by user U2, ..., terminal device 10-N is used by user UN. In the following, when describing matters common to all of terminal devices 10-1 to 10-N, terminal devices 10-1 to 10-N may be referred to as "terminal device 10" without distinguishing between them. Similarly, when describing matters common to all of users U1 to UN, users U1 to UN may be referred to as "user U" without distinguishing between them.

[0020] (Terminal device 10) The terminal device 10 is realized by a computer and is used by a user U. The terminal device 10 functions as a presentation control device that controls the presentation of information to the user U. For example, the terminal device 10 may be a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a PC (Personal Computer). Alternatively, the terminal device 10 may be any of various wearable terminals such as a pedometer that measures the number of steps taken by the user U.

[0021] (Server 20) The server 20 is realized by a computer, and functions as an information processing device that performs information processing based on various information received from the terminal device 10 via the network 30. In the following description, it is mainly assumed that there is one server 20. However, the functions of the server 20 described below may be distributed among multiple servers.

[0022] (Network 30) The network 30 relays communication between the server 20 and the terminal device 10. The type of the network 30 is not limited. As a specific example, the network 30 may be configured as a so-called wireless network such as a network based on the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard. As another example, the network 30 may be configured as the Internet, a dedicated line, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or the like.

[0023] An example of the configuration of the system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

[0024] (1-2. Functional configuration of terminal device) Next, a functional configuration example of the terminal device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration example of the terminal device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the terminal device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an input unit 110, a position detection unit 112, a sensor unit 114, a control unit 120, a storage unit 130, a communication unit 140, a presentation unit 150, and a notification unit 160.

[0025] (Input unit 110) The input unit 110 accepts operations input by the user U. Here, the form of the input unit 110 is not particularly limited. For example, the input unit 110 may include a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, or other input devices.

[0026] (Position detection unit 112) The position detection unit 112 detects the position of the user U. For example, the position detection unit 112 may include a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor and detect the position of the user U obtained based on a satellite signal received by the GPS sensor. Alternatively, the position detection unit 112 may include a receiving sensor that receives a signal (such as a beacon or ultrasonic wave) transmitted from a base station and detect the position of the user U obtained by an indoor positioning system based on the signal received by the receiving sensor.

[0027] (Sensor unit 114) The sensor unit 114 includes a sensor and obtains sensor data by the sensor. The sensor data may be treated as attribute information of the user U. For example, the type of the sensor may be an acceleration sensor for detecting the number of steps or movement of the user U. Alternatively, the type of the sensor may be a biosensor for detecting bioinformation of the user U. For example, the biosensor may be a heart rate sensor for detecting the heart rate of the user U, a sweat sensor for detecting the amount of sweat of the user U, or another biosensor.

[0028] (Control unit 120) The control unit 120 includes a processor and controls the overall operation of the terminal device 10. For example, the control unit 120 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as an example of a processor, and the functions of the control unit 120 can be realized by the CPU expanding a program stored in the storage unit 130 into a RAM (Random Access Memory) and executing the program.

[0029] In this case, a computer-readable recording medium having the program recorded thereon may also be provided. Alternatively, these blocks may be configured with dedicated hardware, or may be configured with a combination of multiple hardware components.

[0030] (Storage unit 130) The storage unit 130 is configured by a memory capable of storing various information. For example, the storage unit 130 is a storage device capable of storing programs and data for operating the control unit 120. The storage unit 130 can also temporarily store various data required in the process of operating the control unit 120. For example, the storage device may be a non-volatile storage device.

[0031] (Communication unit 140) The communication unit 140 is realized by a communication interface. For example, the communication unit 140 communicates with the server 20 via the network 30.

[0032] (Presentation part 150) The presentation unit 150 has a function of presenting various information to the user U. Here, the form of the presentation unit 150 is not particularly limited. For example, the presentation unit 150 may be configured with a display. In this case, the presentation unit 150 displays the various information on a screen. Alternatively, the presentation unit 150 may be configured with a microphone. In this case, the presentation unit 150 outputs the various information by sound.

[0033] (Notification section 160) The notification unit 160 notifies the user U that various signals have been received from the server 20 by the communication unit 140. Here, the method of notifying the user U by the notification unit 160 is not limited. For example, the notification unit 160 may include a buzzer or a speaker that notifies the user U by sound. Alternatively, the notification unit 160 may include a vibrator that notifies the user U by vibration. Alternatively, the notification unit 160 may include a light or a display that notifies the user U visually.

[0034] An example of the functional configuration of the terminal device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

[0035] (1-3. Server Functional Configuration) Next, a functional configuration example of the server 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a functional configuration example of the server 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 3, the server 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit 220, a storage unit 230, and a communication unit 240.

[0036] (Control unit 220) The control unit 220 includes a processor and controls the overall operation of the server 20. For example, the control unit 220 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as an example of a processor, and the functions of the control unit 220 can be realized by the CPU expanding a program stored in the storage unit 230 into a RAM (Random Access Memory) and executing the program.

[0037] At this time, a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded may also be provided. Alternatively, these blocks may be configured with dedicated hardware, or may be configured with a combination of multiple pieces of hardware. The control unit 220 includes an acquisition unit 221, a processing unit 222, and a transmission control unit 223. The acquisition unit 221, the processing unit 222, and the transmission control unit 223 will be described in detail later.

[0038] (Storage unit 230) The storage unit 230 is configured by a memory capable of storing various information. For example, the storage unit 230 is a storage device capable of storing programs and data for operating the control unit 220. The storage unit 230 can also temporarily store various data required in the process of operation of the control unit 220. For example, the storage device may be a non-volatile storage device.

[0039] (Communication unit 240) The communication unit 240 is realized by a communication interface. For example, the communication unit 240 communicates with the terminal device 10 via the network 30.

[0040] An example of the functional configuration of the server 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

[0041] (1-4. System Operation) An operation example of the system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0042] In the following description, a user whose behavior is directly or indirectly encouraged by the system 1 is also referred to as a "target user." Furthermore, in the following description, it is mainly assumed that user U1 (first user) is the target user. Therefore, user U1 is also referred to as the "target user U1." However, other users U2 to UN can also be target users, just like user U1.

[0043] In the following description, encouraging the target user U1 to take action is also referred to as "intervention." Directly encouraging the target user U1 to take action by the system 1 is also referred to as "direct intervention."

[0044] In an embodiment of the present invention, the system 1 indirectly prompts the target user U1 to take action via a user (hereinafter also referred to as an "intervener") different from the target user U1, which is also referred to as "indirect intervention." The intervener (second user) receives a request from the system 1 to intervene in the target user U1, and the intervener who has received the request from the system 1 prompts the target user U1 to take action.

[0045] In an embodiment of the present invention, one or more potential interveners are selected from one or more users (hereinafter also referred to as "experts") familiar with behavioral changes among users U1 to UN and are registered in system 1. Then, from among the one or more potential interveners registered in system 1, those determined by system 1 to be appropriate as interveners are registered in system 1 as one or more registered interveners.

[0046] In the following explanation, it is mainly assumed that, among users U1 to UN, users U1 to UJ (where J is an integer satisfying J≦N) are extracted as knowledgeable persons, users U1 to UK (where K is an integer satisfying K≦J) are registered in system 1 as candidate interveners, and users U1 to UL (where L is an integer satisfying L≦K) are registered in system 1 as registered interveners. Therefore, in the following explanation, knowledgeable persons are also referred to as "knowledgeable persons U1 to UJ," candidate interveners are also referred to as "candidate interveners U1 to UK," and registered interveners are also referred to as "registered interveners U1 to UL."

[0047] The target user U1 does not have to be an expert. The target user U1 does not have to be a candidate for an intervener. The target user U1 does not have to be a registered intervener.

[0048] When the system 1 indirectly encourages the target user U1 to take action, one of the registered interveners U1 to UL is selected as the intervener, and the intervener encourages the target user U1 to take action. In the following explanation, it is mainly assumed that the registered intervener U2 is selected as the intervener. Therefore, in the following explanation, the intervener is also referred to as "intervener U2."

[0049] The terminal device 10-1 used by the user U1 may correspond to the first terminal device, and the terminal device 10-2 used by the user U2 may correspond to the second terminal device.

[0050] First, with reference to Fig. 4 (and also Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 as appropriate), an interventionist registration process in which the system 1 registers the registered interventionists U1 to UL will be described. Next, with reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. 7 (and also Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 as appropriate), an intervention process in which the system 1 directly or indirectly encourages the behavior of the target user U1 will be described.

[0051] (Intervenor registration process) Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an intervener registration process executed by the system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Before the intervener registration process shown in Fig. 4 is started, the storage unit 230 in the server 20 stores in advance a user ID (Identification) for uniquely identifying the user U, the behavioral change stage reached by the user U, date information when the user U reached the behavioral change stage, the intimacy between the users, and attribute information of the user U.

[0052] The user ID may be assigned to the user U by the server 20 when the user U uses the system 1. The user ID may be included in various information transmitted from the terminal device 10 to the server 20. At this time, the server 20 may specify the user ID extracted from the information received from the terminal device 10 as the user ID of the user who uses the terminal device 10.

[0053] The behavior change stage of the user U is information indicating the stage that the user U has reached among the five stages in the behavior change stage model: "indifference stage" → "interest stage" → "preparation stage" → "action stage" → "maintenance stage." These five stages are periods that people are said to pass through in order when changing their behavior, and the stage increases from the "indifference stage" to the "maintenance stage." The behavior change stage of the user U may be acquired by the server 20 in any manner.

[0054] For example, when the user U uses the terminal device 10 to answer a questionnaire about behavioral change, the server 20 may evaluate the content of the user U's answer, and the better the evaluation result (i.e., the more knowledgeable the user U is about behavioral change), the higher the behavioral change stage of the user U may be. Alternatively, the server 20 may raise the behavioral change stage of the user U as the implementation success rate (hereinafter also referred to as the "direct intervention success rate"), which is the ratio of the number of times the user U performed the behavior to the number of times the user U was prompted to act by direct intervention (hereinafter also referred to as the "number of direct interventions"), is higher. The intervention success rate will be described later.

[0055] The intimacy between users may be the intimacy between any two users among users U1 to UN. For example, the server 20 may obtain the strength of the relationship between two users as the intimacy between the two users. The strength of the relationship between the two users may be obtained from a social networking service (SNS), or may be an analysis result obtained by analyzing data obtained from the SNS.

[0056] The attribute information of user U is information indicating characteristics belonging to user U. For example, the attribute information of user U may include the name of user U and biometric information of user U (e.g., height, weight, age, sex, heart rate, or blood pressure). The attribute information of user U may also include information indicating the environment in which user U exists (e.g., location information of user U, weather information around user U, or the time when user U exists). Note that weather information around user U, etc., is obtained from a weather information service on the Internet based on the location of user U.

[0057] In the terminal device 10, the communication unit 140 transmits attribute information of the user U to the server 20. At this time, in the server 20, the acquisition unit 221 acquires the attribute information of the user U via the communication unit 240 (S11), and the processing unit 222 updates the attribute information of the user U stored in the storage unit 230 with the attribute information of the user U acquired by the acquisition unit 221. Note that the attribute information of the user U may be transmitted from the terminal device 10 to the server 20 in real time and stored in the storage unit 230, or may be transmitted from the terminal device 10 to the server 20 in advance and stored in the storage unit 230.

[0058] The processing unit 222 extracts one or more users who are familiar with behavioral change from the users U1 to UN as experts U1 to UJ. For example, based on the behavioral change stages of the users U1 to UN stored in the storage unit 130, the processing unit 222 extracts, as experts U1 to UJ, users who have been in the "action stage" for more than three months (a predetermined period) and users who have reached the "maintenance stage" as experts U1 to UJ (S12).

[0059] The transmission control unit 223 controls the communication unit 140 so that a registration yes / no message asking whether or not to register as an intervener candidate is transmitted to each of the terminal devices 10-1 to 10-J used by the knowledgeable persons U1 to UJ (S13). The intervener candidate is a candidate for an intervener who will encourage the target user U1 to take action based on a request from the server 20. In each of the terminal devices 10-1 to 10-J, when the communication unit 140 receives the registration yes / no message from the server 20, the control unit 120 controls the presentation of the registration yes / no message by the presentation unit 150. The knowledgeable persons U1 to UJ input whether or not to register as an intervener candidate to the input unit 110.

[0060] When each of the knowledgeable persons U1 to UJ refuses to be registered as an interventionist candidate, the knowledgeable persons input a refusal to be registered as an interventionist candidate into the input unit 110. On the other hand, when each of the knowledgeable persons U1 to UJ accepts to be registered as an interventionist candidate, the knowledgeable persons input a permission to be registered as an interventionist candidate into the input unit 110. The permission to be registered as an interventionist candidate input into the input unit 110 is transmitted to the server 20 by the communication unit 140 and is acquired by the acquisition unit 221 via the communication unit 240.

[0061] When the processing unit 222 determines that all of the knowledgeable persons U1 to UJ have rejected the registration as an interventionist candidate based on the possibility of registration as an interventionist candidate ("NO" in S14), it ends the interventionist registration process. On the other hand, when the processing unit 222 determines that at least one of the knowledgeable persons U1 to UJ has accepted the registration as an interventionist candidate based on the possibility of registration as an interventionist candidate ("YES" in S14), it proceeds to S15.

[0062] The processing unit 222 designates one or more of the knowledgeable persons U1 to UJ who have accepted registration as the interventionist candidates as the interventionist candidates U1 to UK, and registers the user IDs of the interventionist candidates U1 to UK in the storage unit 230 as an interventionist candidate list (S15). Then, the transmission control unit 223 controls the communication unit 140 so that a learning message, which is a message for obtaining knowledge required to encourage the target user U1 to take action, is transmitted to each of the terminal devices 10-1 to 10-K used by the interventionist candidates U1 to UK whose user IDs are registered in the interventionist candidate list (S16).

[0063] In each of the terminal devices 10-1 to 10-K, when the communication unit 140 receives a learning message from the system 1, the control unit 120 controls the presentation of the learning message by the presentation unit 150. In the following description, it is mainly assumed that the learning message is displayed on a screen. At this time, the learning message may be read by the potential interventionists U1 to UK. However, the learning message may also be output by sound. At this time, the learning message may be heard by the potential interventionists U1 to UK.

[0064] For example, when one or more pieces of learning information for acquiring knowledge are included in the learning message, each of the potential interveners U1 to UK can acquire the knowledge by reading a part or all of the learning information. Each of the potential interveners U1 to UK can input the already read part to the input unit 110 after reading a part or all of the learning information. For example, the already read part can be input by pressing a read button corresponding to the already read part. When the already read part is input, the control unit 120 controls the communication unit 140 so that information indicating the already read part is transmitted to the server 20 as a response to the learning message.

[0065] Alternatively, when one or more questions for verifying knowledge are included in the learning message, each of the potential interventionists U1 to UK can input an answer to the question to the input unit 110. For example, the answer can be input by inputting an operation of selecting or writing the answer. When the answer is input, the control unit 120 controls the communication unit 140 so that the answer is transmitted to the server 20 as a response to the learning message.

[0066] In the server 20, when the communication unit 240 receives a response to the learning message, the processing unit 122 judges the proficiency level of each of the intervention candidate U1 to UK in encouraging the target user U1 to take action based on the response (S17).

[0067] For example, when information indicating a read portion is received as a response to a learning message, the processing unit 122 may determine the reading rate, which is the ratio of the read portion to the entire learning information included in the learning message, as the proficiency level based on the information indicating the read portion. Alternatively, when an answer to a question is received as a response to the learning message, the processing unit 122 may calculate the correct answer rate of the answer to the question based on the answer to the question and the correct answer, and determine the correct answer rate as the proficiency level.

[0068] Next, the processing unit 122 determines whether or not there is an interventionist candidate whose proficiency level is greater than a predetermined level among the interventionist candidates U1 to UK (S18).

[0069] If there is no one or more intervener candidates among the intervener candidates U1-UK whose proficiency is greater than a predetermined level ("NO" in S18), the processing unit 122 proceeds to the process of S16. On the other hand, if there is one or more intervener candidates among the intervener candidates U1-UK whose proficiency is greater than a predetermined level (i.e., a predetermined proficiency) ("YES" in S18), the processing unit 122 sets the intervener candidates as registered interveners U1-UL, and registers the user IDs of the registered interveners U1-UL in the storage unit 230 as a registered intervener list (S19).

[0070] The intervention participant registration process has been described above.

[0071] (Intervention Processing) FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of an intervention process executed by the system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] The acquisition unit 221 acquires the attribute information of the user U transmitted in real time from the terminal device 10 via the communication unit 240 (S31). Alternatively, the acquisition unit 221 acquires, from the storage unit 230, the attribute information of the user U transmitted in advance from the terminal device 10 and stored in the storage unit 230. The attribute information of the user U includes location information of the user U. As described above, the acquisition unit 221 may acquire weather information around the user U, which is an example of the attribute information of the user U, from a weather information service on the Internet based on the location of the user U.

[0073] Furthermore, the acquiring unit 221 acquires from the storage unit 230 the degree of intimacy between users that is stored in advance by the storage unit 230 .

[0074] As will be described later, the storage unit 230 may store whether or not the target user U1 has performed an action prompted by a direct intervention in the target user U1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as "whether or not the target user U1 has performed an action in response to a direct intervention"). The processing unit 222 obtains the implementation status of the action by the target user U1 based on whether or not the target user U1 has performed an action in response to a direct intervention, which is stored in the storage unit 230. Here, it is assumed that the implementation status of the action by the target user U1 includes both the number of direct interventions in the target user U1 and the success rate of direct intervention in the target user U1. However, the implementation status of the action by the target user U1 may include only one of the number of direct interventions in the target user U1 and the success rate of direct intervention in the target user U1.

[0075] Specifically, the processing unit 222 may calculate the total number of times of action implementation with and without by the target user U1 for direct intervention stored by the storage unit 230 as the number of direct intervention times for the target user U1. Further, the processing unit 222 may calculate the ratio of the number of times of action implementation with by the target user U1 for direct intervention to the number of direct intervention times for the target user U1 as the direct intervention success rate for the target user U1.

[0076] Here, when the condition that the number of direct intervention times for the target user U1 is equal to or less than the threshold value n (n is an integer of 1 or more) is satisfied, there is a possibility that the direct intervention for the target user U1 is effective. Further, when the condition that the direct intervention success rate for the target user U1 is equal to or more than a predetermined ratio r (0 < r ≤ 1) is satisfied, there is also a possibility that the direct intervention for the target user U1 is effective.

[0077] Therefore, when the condition that the number of direct intervention times for the target user U1 is equal to or less than the threshold value n is satisfied, or when the condition that the direct intervention success rate for the target user U1 is equal to or more than a predetermined ratio r is satisfied (\"NO\" in S32), the operation proceeds to the direct intervention process S40.

[0078] On the other hand, when the condition (the second condition) that the number of direct intervention times for the target user U1 is greater than the threshold value n is satisfied, and when the condition (the first condition) that the direct intervention success rate for the target user U1 is less than a predetermined ratio r is satisfied, there is a possibility that the indirect intervention for the user U is more effective than the direct intervention for the target user U1.

[0079] Therefore, when the condition that the number of direct intervention times for the target user U1 is greater than the threshold value n is satisfied, and when the condition that the direct intervention success rate for the target user U1 is less than a predetermined ratio r is satisfied (\"YES\" in S32), the processing unit 222 proceeds to the operation in S33.

[0080] In addition, the conditions (predetermined conditions) for transitioning to S33 are not limited to including both the condition that the number of direct interventions with the target user U1 is greater than a threshold n and the condition that the success rate of direct intervention with the target user U1 is smaller than a predetermined rate r.

[0081] For example, the processing unit 222 may shift the operation to S33 when a condition that the number of direct interventions on the target user U1 is greater than a threshold n is satisfied, regardless of whether or not a condition that the success rate of direct intervention on the target user U1 is less than a predetermined rate r is satisfied. Alternatively, the processing unit 222 may shift the operation to S33 when a condition that the success rate of direct intervention on the target user U1 is less than a predetermined rate r is satisfied, regardless of whether or not a condition that the number of direct interventions on the target user U1 is greater than a threshold n is satisfied.

[0082] Next, the processing unit 222 selects a registered intervener associated with the target user U1 as an intervener from among the registered interveners U2 to UL whose user IDs are registered in the registered intervener list, excluding the target user U1. Here, it is mainly assumed that a registered intervener whose intimacy with the target user U1 is higher than a predetermined value and whose positional relationship with the target user U1 satisfies a predetermined relationship is selected as the registered intervener associated with the target user U1. However, the registered intervener associated with the target user U1 may be selected by other methods.

[0083] A registered intervener who has a higher degree of intimacy with the target user U1 than a predetermined value (hereinafter, also referred to as a "close registered intervener") may be selected as a registered intervener who is related to the target user U1. Alternatively, a registered intervener who has a positional relationship with the target user U1 that satisfies a predetermined relationship may be selected as a registered intervener who is related to the target user U1.

[0084] The registered interveners whose positional relationship with the target user U1 satisfies a predetermined relationship may be registered interveners who are in the vicinity of the target user U1 (hereinafter, also referred to as "nearby registered interveners"). The near registered interveners of the target user U1 may be a predetermined number of registered interveners located closer to the target user U1. Alternatively, the near registered interveners of the target user U1 may be registered interveners who are located within a predetermined distance from the target user U1.

[0085] For example, the processing unit 222 identifies one or more nearby registered interveners of the target user U1 from the registered interveners U2 to UL based on the attribute information of the user U acquired by the acquisition unit 221 (S33). Then, the processing unit 222 identifies a close registered intervener of the target user U1 from one or more nearby registered interveners of the target user U1 (S34). The processing unit 222 selects the close registered intervener thus identified as the intervener (S35).

[0086] If the processing unit 222 fails to select an intervener ("NO" in S36), the processing unit 222 transitions to S40. Note that the processing unit 222 may fail to select an intervener if there is no intervener registered near the target user U1 or if there is no intervener registered as a close friend of the target user U1. On the other hand, if the processing unit 222 succeeds in selecting an intervener ("YES" in S36), the processing unit 222 transitions to S50.

[0087] (Direct intervention processing) Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a direct intervention process called from the intervention process shown in Fig. 5. When the direct intervention process S40 is called, the processing unit 222 generates prompt information (first signal) for encouraging the target user U1 to take an action (S41). The prompt information may include information indicating an action to which the target user U1 should be encouraged, multimedia content for emphasizing the information indicating the action, and the like.

[0088] The processing unit 222 may specify the behavior to be encouraged from the target user U1 based on the attribute information of the target user U1, etc. For example, when the target user U1 is present during the time before lunch (e.g., between 11:00 and 12:00) and the target user U1 is located on a floor different from the floor where the cafeteria is located, the information indicating the behavior to be encouraged from the target user U1 may be information such as "How about taking the stairs to the cafeteria?". This is expected to encourage the target user U1 to take the behavior of taking the stairs to the cafeteria.

[0089] The processing unit 222 records a prompt ID for uniquely identifying the generated prompt information and the attribute information of the target user U1 used to generate the prompt information in the storage unit 230 (S42). Then, the transmission control unit 223 controls the transmission of the prompt information to the terminal device 10-1 used by the target user U1 (S43).

[0090] In the terminal device 10-1, the communication unit 140 receives the prompt information. The notification unit 160 notifies the target user U1 that the prompt information has been received, based on the communication unit 140 receiving the prompt information from the server 20. In addition, the presentation unit 150 presents information indicating an action that the user U1 is prompted to take by the prompt information, based on the communication unit 140 receiving the prompt information from the server 20.

[0091] After viewing the information indicating the action to be taken by the target user U1, the target user U1 can input the fact that the prompt information has been read to the input unit 110. For example, the fact that the prompt information has been read can be input by inputting an operation of pressing a read button corresponding to the fact that the prompt information has been read. When the fact that the prompt information has been read is input, the control unit 120 controls the communication unit 140 so that prompt read information indicating that the prompt information has been read is transmitted to the server 20 as a response to the prompt information.

[0092] The prompt read information may include the time when the target user U1 inputs the operation of pressing the read button as the read time.

[0093] In the server 20, the prompt read information is received via the communication unit 240 (S44). The acquisition unit 221 acquires the prompt read information received by the communication unit 240. The processing unit 222 registers the prompt read information acquired by the acquisition unit 221 in the storage unit 230 (S45).

[0094] The target user U1 inputs action implementation information to the input unit 110 (S46). For example, the action implementation information can be input by an operation of selecting prompt information that prompted the target user U1 to take the action, and an operation of selecting whether or not the target user U1 has taken the action. When these operations are input, the control unit 120 controls the communication unit 140 so that a prompt ID for uniquely identifying the prompt information and information on whether or not the target user U1 has taken the action are transmitted to the server 20.

[0095] In the server 20, the acquisition unit 221 acquires the prompt ID transmitted from the terminal device 10-1 and information on whether the target user U1 has performed an action via the communication unit 240. The processing unit 222 associates the prompt ID that matches the prompt ID acquired by the acquisition unit 221 with information on whether the target user U1 has performed an action (i.e., whether the target user U1 has performed an action in response to a direct intervention) and records the information in the storage unit 230 (S47).

[0096] As explained above, System 1 prompts target user U1 to take action through direct intervention using prompt information. It is expected that when target user U1 takes the action prompted by System 1, the behavior of target user U1 will change and target user U1 will improve his / her behavior voluntarily.

[0097] (Indirect intervention processing) Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an indirect intervention process called from the intervention process shown in Fig. 5. Here, it is assumed that the intervention person U2 has already been selected in S35.

[0098] When the direct intervention process S40 is called, the processor 222 generates an intervention request message (second signal) for requesting the intervener U2 to prompt the target user U1 to take action (S51). The intervention request message may include the name of the target user U1 to whom the intervener U2 should prompt the target user U1 to take action, information indicating the action to which the intervener U2 should prompt the target user U1, and the like.

[0099] The processing unit 222 may specify the behavior that the intervention person U2 should encourage the target user U1 to, based on the attribute information of the target user U1, etc. For example, when the target user U1 is present before lunch (e.g., between 11:00 and 12:00) and the target user U1 is located on a floor different from the floor where the cafeteria is located, the information indicating the behavior that the intervention person U2 should encourage the target user U1 to may be information such as "Let's invite Mr. A (target user U1) to go to the cafeteria by taking the stairs."

[0100] As a result, it is expected that intervention from an intervener U2 related to the target user U1 (e.g., an intervener U2 who has a high degree of closeness to the target user U1) will more strongly encourage the target user U1 to take action.

[0101] The processing unit 222 records an intervention request ID for uniquely identifying the generated intervention request message and attribute information of the target user U1 used to generate the intervention request message in the storage unit 230 (S52). Then, the transmission control unit 223 controls the transmission of the intervention request message to the terminal device 10-2 used by the interventionist U2 (S53).

[0102] In the terminal device 10-2, the communication unit 140 receives the intervention request message. The notification unit 160 notifies the intervener U2 that the intervention request message has been received, based on the communication unit 140 receiving the intervention request message from the server 20. In addition, the presentation unit 150 extracts the name of the target user U1 and information indicating the action to be taken by the user U1 from the intervention request message, based on the communication unit 140 receiving the intervention request message from the server 20, and presents the name of the target user U1 and the information indicating the action to be taken by the user U1.

[0103] After viewing the information indicating the action to be taken by the user U1, the intervener U2 can input the fact that the intervention request message has been read to the input unit 110. For example, the fact that the intervention request message has been read can be input by inputting an operation of pressing a read button corresponding to the fact that the intervention request message has been read. When the fact that the intervention request message has been read is input, the control unit 120 controls the communication unit 140 so that intervention request read information indicating that the intervention request message has been read is transmitted to the server 20 as a response to the intervention request message.

[0104] The intervention request read information may include the time when the intervention person U2 inputs the operation of pressing the read button as the read time.

[0105] The server 20 receives the intervention request read information via the communication unit 240 (S54). The acquisition unit 221 acquires the intervention request read information received by the communication unit 240. The processing unit 222 registers the intervention request read information acquired by the acquisition unit 221 in the storage unit 230 (S55).

[0106] The intervener U2 prompts the target user U1 to perform the action.

[0107] The intervention person U2 inputs information on the implementation of the action by the target user U1 to the input unit 110 (S56). For example, the implementation information on the action may be input by inputting an operation of selecting an intervention request message that prompted the target user U1 to take an action, and an operation of selecting whether or not the target user U1 has taken the action. When these operations are input, the control unit 120 controls the communication unit 140 so that an intervention request ID for uniquely identifying the intervention request message and information on whether or not the target user U1 has taken the action are transmitted to the server 20.

[0108] In the server 20, the acquisition unit 221 acquires the intervention request ID transmitted from the terminal device 10-2 and information on whether the target user U1 has performed the action via the communication unit 240. The processing unit 222 associates the intervention request ID that matches the intervention request ID acquired by the acquisition unit 221 with information on whether the target user U1 has performed the action (i.e., whether the target user U1 has performed the action in response to the indirect intervention) and records the information in the storage unit 230 (S57).

[0109] As explained above, indirect intervention via the interventionist U2 strongly encourages target user U1, who does not sufficiently take action with only direct intervention by the system 1. This increases the likelihood that target user U1 will take action, so that the behavior of target user U1 changes more effectively, increasing the likelihood that target user U1 will improve his or her behavior voluntarily.

[0110] An example of the operation of the system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

[0111] (1-5. Effects) As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a server 20 is provided which includes a transmission control unit 223 that controls the transmission of prompt information to the terminal device 10-1 used by the target user U1 to encourage the target user U1 to take action, and an acquisition unit 221 that acquires the implementation status of the action by the target user U1 who has been notified based on the reception of the prompt information by the terminal device 10-1.

[0112] Here, the transmission control unit 223 controls the transmission of an intervention request message to a terminal device 10-2 used by an intervener U2 associated with the target user U1, requesting the intervener U2 to encourage the target user U1 to take action, based on the status of the implementation of the action by the target user U1 satisfying a specified condition.

[0113] As a result, for target user U1, whose behavior cannot be sufficiently performed by direct intervention by System 1 alone, indirect intervention is performed via an intervener U2 related to target user U1. Because intervener U2 is a user related to target user U1, it is expected that indirect intervention via intervener U2 will increase the likelihood that target user U1 will perform the behavior more than direct intervention by System 1.

[0114] Furthermore, the interventionist U2 may be a user who has a greater than predetermined degree of proficiency in encouraging users to take action. This is expected to further increase the likelihood that the target user U1 will take action.

[0115] In addition, the intervention person U2 may be a user who has a degree of intimacy with the target user U1 higher than a predetermined value. This is expected to further increase the possibility that the target user U1 will take the action.

[0116] The effects achieved by the system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above.

[0117] (2. Hardware configuration example) Next, a hardware configuration example of the server 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The server 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention is an example of an information processing device.

[0118] In the following, an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device 900 will be described as an example of the hardware configuration of the server 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Note that the hardware configuration example of the information processing device 900 described below is merely one example of the hardware configuration of the server 20. Therefore, the hardware configuration of the server 20 may be such that unnecessary components are deleted from the hardware configuration of the information processing device 900 described below, or new components are added. In addition, the hardware configuration of the terminal device 10 may be configured similarly to the hardware configuration of the information processing device 900.

[0119] 8 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information processing device 900 as an example of the server 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing device 900 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 901, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 902, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 903, a host bus 904, a bridge 905, an external bus 906, an interface 907, an input device 908, an output device 909, a storage device 910, and a communication device 911.

[0120] The CPU 901 functions as an arithmetic processing device and control device, and controls the overall operation of the information processing device 900 in accordance with various programs. The CPU 901 may also be a microprocessor. The ROM 902 stores programs and arithmetic parameters used by the CPU 901. The RAM 903 temporarily stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 901 and parameters that change appropriately during the execution. These are connected to each other by a host bus 904 consisting of a CPU bus etc.

[0121] The host bus 904 is connected to an external bus 906, such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect / Interface) bus, via a bridge 905. It is not necessary to configure the host bus 904, bridge 905, and external bus 906 separately, and these functions may be implemented in a single bus.

[0122] The input device 908 is composed of input means for a user to input information, such as a mouse, keyboard, touch panel, button, microphone, switch, and lever, and an input control circuit that generates an input signal based on the user's input and outputs it to the CPU 901. A user who operates the information processing device 900 can input various data to the information processing device 900 and instruct the information processing device 900 to perform processing operations by operating this input device 908.

[0123] The output device 909 includes, for example, a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display device, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device, an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) device, or a lamp, and an audio output device such as a speaker.

[0124] The storage device 910 is a device for storing data. The storage device 910 may include a storage medium, a recording device for recording data in the storage medium, a reading device for reading data from the storage medium, and a deleting device for deleting data recorded in the storage medium. The storage device 910 is configured, for example, with an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). This storage device 910 drives a hard disk and stores programs executed by the CPU 901 and various data.

[0125] The communication unit 911 is, for example, a communication interface configured with a communication device for connecting to a network, etc. Also, the communication unit 911 may be compatible with either wireless communication or wired communication.

[0126] An example of the hardware configuration of the server 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

[0127] (3. Summary) Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such an example. It is clear that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can conceive of various modified or altered examples within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0128] For example, the above mainly describes an example in which the target user U1 inputs the implementation information of the behavior to the terminal device 10-1. However, instead of inputting the implementation information of the behavior to the terminal device 10-1, the target user U1 may input data for determining the implementation information of the behavior to the terminal device 10-1. For example, the target user U1 may input sensor data for determining the implementation information of the behavior to the input unit 110.

[0129] At this time, the control unit 120 included in the terminal device 10-1 may determine the action implementation information based on the sensor data, or the processing unit 222 included in the server 20 may determine the action implementation information based on the sensor data. Furthermore, data for determining the action implementation information may be detected by the sensor unit 114 included in the terminal device 10-1 without being input to the input unit 110 by the target user U1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0130] 1 System 10 Terminal Equipment 110 Input section 112 Position detection unit 114 Sensor section 120 Control section 130 Storage section 140 Communications Department 150 Presentation section 160 Presentation section 20 Servers 220 Control section 221 Acquisition Department 222 Processing section 223 Transmission control section 230 Storage section 240 Communications Department 30 Network

Claims

1. a transmission control unit that controls transmission of a first signal to a first terminal device used by a first user, the first signal being used to prompt the first user to take an action; an acquisition unit that acquires a status of the action being taken by the first user that has been notified based on the reception of the first signal by the first terminal device; Equipped with The transmission control unit and controlling, based on the implementation status satisfying a predetermined condition, the transmission of a second signal to a second terminal device used by a second user associated with the first user, for requesting the second user to prompt the first user to take an action. Information processing device.

2. The implementation status includes an implementation success rate, which is a ratio of the number of actions implemented by the first user to the number of actions prompted by the first signal; The predetermined condition includes a first condition that the implementation success rate is less than a predetermined percentage. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The predetermined condition includes the first condition and a second condition that the number of actions prompted by the first signal is greater than a threshold. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. The second user includes a user having a degree of intimacy with the first user higher than a predetermined value. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The second user includes a user whose positional relationship with the first user satisfies a predetermined relationship. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. The second user includes a user having a proficiency level in encouraging users to take action that is greater than a predetermined level. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. Controlling transmission of a first signal to a first terminal device used by a first user to prompt the first user to take an action; acquiring a status of implementation of the action by the first user who has received a notification based on the reception of the first signal by the first terminal device; Controlling the transmission of a second signal to a second terminal device used by a second user associated with the first user, the second signal being for requesting the second user to prompt the first user to take an action, based on the implementation status satisfying a predetermined condition; 2. An information processing method implemented by a computer, comprising:

8. Computer, a transmission control unit that controls transmission of a first signal to a first terminal device used by a first user, the first signal being used to prompt the first user to take an action; an acquisition unit that acquires a status of the action being taken by the first user that has been notified based on the reception of the first signal by the first terminal device; Functioning as a The transmission control unit and controlling, based on the implementation status satisfying a predetermined condition, the transmission of a second signal to a second terminal device used by a second user associated with the first user, for requesting the second user to prompt the first user to take an action. program.

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