Information processing device

Abstract

To provide a technique for grasping a correct present position of a user.SOLUTION: An information processing device acquires present positions of a plurality of vehicles. The information processing device estimates an intensity distribution of radio waves to be respectively output by the vehicles according to the present positions of the vehicles. The information processing device acquires reception intensity of the radio waves which are received by a terminal moving together with a user and are output by the vehicles. The information processing device identifies a position where the intensity distribution associates with the reception intensity as the present position of the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a blind spot information providing device. Position information of a vehicle and position information of an object outside the vehicle are input to the providing device disclosed in Patent Document 1. Information on the blind spot range of the driver of the vehicle is also input to the providing device. The providing device detects the relative position of the vehicle and the object outside the vehicle based on the position information of the vehicle and the position information of the object outside the vehicle. The providing device also recognizes information on the blind spot range, grasps the detected relative position, and recognizes whether the object outside the vehicle has entered the blind spot range based on the grasping result. Then, when it is recognized that the object outside the vehicle has entered the blind spot range, the providing device provides the recognition information to the object outside the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP2013-156703 Public Relations Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure aims to provide a technique that can grasp the accurate current location of a user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The information processing device according to the present disclosure includes: Obtaining current locations of a plurality of vehicles; estimating a distribution of strength of radio waves outputted from each of the plurality of vehicles according to a current position of the plurality of vehicles; acquiring a reception intensity of radio waves outputted from each of the plurality of vehicles, the reception intensity being received by a terminal traveling with a user; Identifying a position where the intensity distribution and the reception intensity correspond as a current position of the user; The control unit is configured to: Effect of the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure makes it possible to grasp the user's exact current location. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a position specifying system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the intensity distribution of radio waves output from two vehicles. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the server. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a table configuration of user information held in the user information database. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the process executed by the control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Assume that a user attempts to determine the current location of the user. In this case, the current location acquired by a terminal (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as a "terminal") moving with the user may be inaccurate. There may also be cases where the terminal is unable to acquire the current location. In such cases, it is assumed that it may be difficult to determine the user's current location. The information processing device according to the present disclosure solves such problems. solve.

[0009] A control unit of an information processing device according to the present disclosure acquires current positions of a plurality of vehicles. Here, radio waves that can be received by a terminal are output from the plurality of vehicles. The control unit of the information processing device estimates the intensity distribution of the radio waves output from each of the plurality of vehicles according to the current positions of the plurality of vehicles. The control unit also acquires the reception intensity of the radio waves output from each of the plurality of vehicles received by the terminal. At this time, since the control unit is aware of the intensity distribution, it is possible to grasp the reception intensity of the radio waves received by the terminal from each vehicle at each point. Then, the control unit identifies the position where the intensity distribution and the reception intensity correspond as the user's current position.

[0010] As described above, even if the current location acquired by the terminal is inaccurate or the terminal is unable to acquire the current location, it is possible to determine the user's exact current location by using the intensity distribution and the reception strength.

[0011] Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the hardware configuration, module configuration, functional configuration, and the like described in each embodiment are not intended to limit the technical scope of the disclosure to only those.

[0012] <Embodiment> The position identification system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the position identification system 1. The position identification system 1 includes a user terminal 100, a plurality of vehicle-mounted terminals 200, and a server 300.

[0013] In the positioning system 1, a user terminal 100, a plurality of vehicle-mounted terminals 200, and a server 300 are connected to one another via a network N1. The network N1 may be, for example, a Wide Area Network (WAN), which is a global public communication network such as the Internet, or a telephone communication network such as a mobile phone. In the positioning system 1, the user terminal 100 is capable of receiving radio waves used by each vehicle-mounted terminal 200 for short-distance communication. The short-distance communication is, for example, communication such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0014] (User terminal) The user terminal 100 is a terminal that moves together with the user 10. An example of the user terminal 100 is a mobile information terminal used by the user 10. That is, the current location of the user terminal 100 usually coincides with the current location of the user 10. Here, the user 10 may be inside a building. In that case, the user terminal 100 may not be able to receive GPS radio waves, and the current location that can be acquired by the GPS system may be inaccurate. Therefore, it may be difficult for the user terminal 100 to acquire the accurate current location of the user 10 (user terminal 100). Therefore, it becomes impossible to directly use the current location of the user terminal 100 measured by the user terminal 100 to grasp the accurate current location of the user 10.

[0015] The user terminal 100 transmits location information indicating the current location of the user terminal 100 measured by the user terminal 100 to the server 300 via the network N1. A method in which the server 300 uses the current location of the user terminal 100 measured by the user terminal 100 will be described in detail later.

[0016] The user terminal 100 can also receive radio waves for short-distance communication output from multiple vehicle-mounted terminals 200. At this time, the user terminal 100 transmits information indicating the reception strength of radio waves for direct communication with each vehicle-mounted terminal 200 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "reception strength information") to the server 300 in real time. The details of the information will be described later.

[0017] (In-vehicle terminal) The vehicle-mounted terminal 200 is a device mounted on the vehicle 20. Here, the vehicle 20 is present in the same building as the user 10 (hereinafter, may be referred to as a "specific building"). The vehicle-mounted terminal 200 also acquires the current position of the vehicle 20. The vehicle-mounted terminal 200 acquires the current position of the vehicle 20 using a GPS system. The vehicle-mounted terminal 200 then transmits position information indicating the current position of the vehicle 20 to the server 300 via the network N1.

[0018] Here, the vehicle-mounted terminal 200 can specify the current position of the vehicle 20 by the camera of the vehicle 20. In this case, the vehicle-mounted terminal 200 specifies the current position of the vehicle 20 in the specific building by referring to characteristic points in the specific building in the image data acquired by the camera of the vehicle 20. The vehicle-mounted terminal 200 may also acquire the current position of the vehicle 20 by using a positioning system installed in the specific building. The vehicle-mounted terminal 200 may also have a GPS system more advanced than the GPS system of the user terminal 100, and may be configured to be able to acquire the current position of the vehicle 20 even in the specific building. In this way, the vehicle-mounted terminal 200 is configured to be able to acquire the current position more accurately than the user terminal 100 in the specific building.

[0019] (server) The server 300 is a server that specifies the current location of the user 10. Here, as described above, the server 300 receives location information indicating the current location of the vehicle 20 from the in-vehicle terminal 200 via the network N1. The server 300 also receives location information indicating the current location of the user terminal 100 acquired by the user terminal 100 from the user terminal 100 via the network N1. Here, it is assumed that the current location of the vehicle 20 received by the server 300 is more accurate than the current location of the user terminal 100.

[0020] Therefore, the server 300 estimates the intensity distribution of radio waves for short-distance communication output from each vehicle-mounted terminal 200 by referring to the current positions of the multiple vehicles 20 (vehicle-mounted terminals 200). Specifically, the server 300 estimates (calculates) the intensity distribution of radio waves output from the current positions of each vehicle 20 (vehicle-mounted terminals 200) by using map information within the specific building. The server 300 calculates the intensity distribution according to the amount of attenuation when radio waves are output from the current positions of each vehicle 20. In addition, the server 300 calculates the intensity distribution of radio waves output from each vehicle-mounted terminal 200 by taking into account the reflection of radio waves by structures such as walls or pillars within the specific building. In addition, it is assumed that radio waves are reflected by the vehicles 20 within the specific building. Therefore, the server 300 may calculate the intensity distribution of radio waves output from each vehicle-mounted terminal 200 by taking into account the reflection of radio waves expected due to the presence of multiple vehicles 20 at their current positions.

[0021] The server 300 also receives reception strength information from the user terminal 100. At this time, the server 300 is aware of the strength distribution of radio waves output by each vehicle-mounted terminal 200, and is therefore able to understand the reception strength of radio waves received from each vehicle-mounted terminal 200 when the user terminal 100 is present at each location. The server 300 then identifies the current location of the user 10 by referring to the reception strength indicated by the reception strength information and the strength distribution of radio waves output by each vehicle-mounted terminal 200.

[0022] Specifically, the server 300 specifies an area where the intensity distribution and the reception intensity correspond to each on-board terminal 200. That is, the server 300 specifies an area where the intensity distribution for one on-board terminal 200 corresponds to the reception intensity for that on-board terminal 200. Then, the server 300 specifies a common area between the areas where the intensity distribution and the reception intensity correspond to each on-board terminal 200 as the current location of the user 10.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the intensity distribution of radio waves output from two vehicles 20. FIG. 2 shows radio waves being output from two vehicles 20 (vehicle 20A and vehicle 20B) in a specific building. In the example shown in FIG. 2, radio waves are distributed with intensities of level 3, level 2, and level 1, centered on vehicle 20A and vehicle 20B, respectively. Here, level 3 is the strongest radio wave intensity, and level 1 is the weakest radio wave intensity. Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the closer the user terminal 100 is to vehicle 20A (vehicle 20B), the stronger the radio waves it receives.

[0024] Here, it is assumed that the reception strength information indicates that the user terminal 100 receives radio waves from the in-vehicle terminal 200 of the vehicle 20A at a reception strength of level 1, and that the user terminal 100 receives radio waves from the in-vehicle terminal 200 of the vehicle 20B at a reception strength of level 1. In this case, it is assumed that the user 10 is present in the first area or the second area shown in FIG.

[0025] The server 300 also receives location information indicating the current location of the user terminal 100 from the user terminal 100. Here, the current location of the user terminal 100 in the location information received from the user terminal 100 may be inaccurate. However, the location information received from the user terminal 100 is considered to indicate the approximate current location of the user terminal 100, although it is not the complete current location of the user terminal 100. Therefore, when the location information received from the user terminal 100 indicates the location of the star shown in the example shown in FIG. 2, it can be assumed that the user 10 is highly likely to be present within the first area. Therefore, the server 300 specifies that the current location of the user 10 is within the first area.

[0026] 2, there are two vehicles 20, but two or more vehicles 20 may be present in the specific building. In this case, the server 300 refers to the intensity distribution of the radio waves output by the vehicle-mounted terminals 200 in the two or more vehicles 20 and the reception intensity of the radio waves output by the vehicle-mounted terminals 200 in the two or more vehicles 20 to identify the current location of the user 10.

[0027] Furthermore, the server 300 refers to the current position of the user 10 and the current position of the vehicle 20, and determines whether the user 10 and the vehicle 20 are within a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance is set to a distance at which it is assumed that there is a possibility of danger occurring between the user 10 and the vehicle 20. When the user 10 and the vehicle 20 are within the predetermined distance, the server 300 transmits notification information to the user terminal 100 and the in-vehicle terminal 200. Here, the notification information transmitted to the user terminal 100 is information notifying the user that caution is required because the vehicle 20 is present around the user 10. Furthermore, the notification information transmitted to the in-vehicle terminal 200 is information notifying the user that caution is required because the user 10 is present around the vehicle 20.

[0028] The server 300 includes a computer having a processor 310, a main memory unit 320, an auxiliary memory unit 330, and a communication interface (communication I / F) 340. The processor 310 is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) or a digital signal processor (DSP). The main memory unit 320 is, for example, a random access memory (RAM). The auxiliary memory unit 330 is, for example, a read only memory (ROM). The auxiliary memory unit 330 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), or a disk recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, or a Blu-ray disk. The auxiliary memory unit 330 may also be a removable medium (portable storage medium). Examples of the removable medium include a USB memory or an SD card. The communication I / F 340 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface. An interface board or a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication.

[0029] In the server 300, the auxiliary storage unit 330 stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various information tables, and the like. In the server 300, the processor 310 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 330 into the main storage unit 320 and executes them to realize various functions as described below. However, some or all of the functions of the server 300 may be realized by a hardware circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA. Note that the server 300 does not necessarily have to be realized by a single physical configuration, and may be configured by a plurality of computers that cooperate with each other.

[0030] (Functional configuration) Next, the functional configuration of the server 300 constituting the position identification system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server 300. The server 300 includes a control unit 301, a communication unit 302, a map information database 303 (facility information DB303), and a user information database 304 (user information DB304).

[0031] The control unit 301 has a function of performing arithmetic processing for controlling the server 300. The control unit 301 can be realized by a processor 310 in the server 300. The communication unit 302 has a function of connecting the server 300 to the network N1. The communication unit 302 can be realized by a communication I / F 340 in the server 300.

[0032] The facility information DB 303 has a function of storing map information. The facility information DB 303 can be realized by the auxiliary storage unit 330 in the server 300. The map information is map information about the interiors of a plurality of buildings including a specific building. The map information includes information about the positions of internal structures such as walls or pillars in the building.

[0033] The control unit 301 receives location information indicating the current location of the vehicle 20 from each on-board terminal 200 via the communication unit 302. Then, the control unit 301 refers to the location information received from each on-board terminal 200 and map information held in the facility information DB 303, and calculates the intensity distribution of radio waves output by each on-board terminal 200 within the specific building.

[0034] Here, the control unit 301 calculates the radio wave intensity distribution for each vehicle-mounted terminal 200 in real time. That is, the control unit 301 receives location information from each vehicle-mounted terminal 200 in real time, and calculates the real-time radio wave intensity distribution in the specific building. In this way, by calculating the radio wave intensity distribution in the specific building in real time, it is possible to calculate the intensity distribution in the specific building that changes depending on the arrangement of multiple vehicles 20. That is, it is possible to constantly grasp the radio wave intensity distribution that changes as the vehicles 20 move. As a result, it is possible to calculate the radio wave intensity distribution in the specific building even if the vehicles 20 are moving.

[0035] In addition to the current position of the vehicle 20, the control unit 301 may acquire the position of an antenna for outputting radio waves for short-distance communication in the vehicle 20 (the in-vehicle terminal 200) from the in-vehicle terminal 200. In this case, the control unit 301 calculates the intensity distribution of the radio waves output by the in-vehicle terminal 200, taking into consideration the position of the antenna in the vehicle 20. Specifically, for example, when the antenna in the vehicle 20 is located in front of the vehicle 20, the control unit 301 shifts the output source of the radio waves to the front of the vehicle 20 and calculates the intensity distribution.

[0036] In addition, the control unit 301 acquires information indicating the type of vehicle 20, etc., and determines whether the vehicle 20 is in a normal driving state. In this case, the control unit 301 may calculate the intensity distribution of the radio waves output by the in-vehicle terminal 200, taking into consideration, for example, the output amount of radio waves for each vehicle model that is recorded in advance.

[0037] The control unit 301 also receives reception strength information from the user terminal 100 via the communication unit 302. Then, the control unit 301 refers to the calculated intensity distribution of the radio waves output by each in-vehicle terminal 200 and the reception strength information, and identifies the area in which the user 10 is located. Specifically, the control unit 301 identifies an area in which the intensity distribution of the radio waves output by each in-vehicle terminal 200 corresponds to the reception strength of the radio waves output by each in-vehicle terminal 200 received by the user terminal 100. Then, the control unit 301 identifies the identified area as the current location of the user 10.

[0038] At this time, multiple areas may be identified as the areas where the user 10 is present. In this case, the control unit 301 further identifies the area where the user 10 is present, using location information indicating the current location measured by the user terminal 100 received from the user terminal 100. Specifically, the control unit 301 identifies the area closest to the current location of the user terminal 100 indicated by the location information received from the user terminal 100, as the current location of the user 10.

[0039] When the control unit 301 identifies the current location of the user 10, it updates the user information held in the user information DB 304. The user information is information about the identified current location of the user 10. The user information DB 304 can be realized by the auxiliary storage unit 330 in the server 300. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a table configuration of the user information held in the user information DB 304. As shown in FIG. 4, the user information has a user ID field, a date and time field, and a location field.

[0040] The user ID field stores an identifier (user ID) for identifying the user 10. When the server 300 manages the current locations of multiple users 10, multiple user IDs are stored. The date and time field stores information indicating the date and time when the control unit 301 identified the current location of the user 10. The location field stores the current location of the user 10 identified by the control unit 301 at the date and time when the current location of the user 10 was identified. The location field stores information indicating the identified area. Here, the information indicating the identified area is, for example, information indicating the latitude and longitude range of the area. The information indicating the identified area may also be, for example, information indicating the latitude and longitude of a point (e.g., a center of gravity) that represents the area.

[0041] By acquiring the user information held in the user information DB 304, the control unit 301 can ascertain the current location of the user 10 that was previously identified.

[0042] The control unit 301 also determines whether the user 10 and the vehicle 20 are within a predetermined distance. Specifically, the control unit 301 refers to the specified current position of the user 10 and the current position of the vehicle 20 indicated by the position information received from the in-vehicle terminal 200, and determines whether these current positions are within a predetermined distance. Then, when the control unit 301 determines that the specified current position of the user 10 and the acquired current position of the vehicle 20 are within a predetermined distance, it generates notification information. Then, the control unit 301 transmits (outputs) the notification information to the user terminal 100 and the in-vehicle terminal 200 by the communication unit 302. This makes it possible to prompt the user 10 to pay attention to the vehicle 20 existing in the vicinity. Also, it is possible to prompt the vehicle 20 to pay attention to the user 10 existing in the vicinity.

[0043] The control unit 301 may determine whether the user 10 and the vehicle 20 will be within a predetermined distance in the future, further taking into consideration the traveling speed and traveling direction of the vehicle 20. The control unit 301 receives the vehicle 20 and the vehicle position and driving direction from the in-vehicle terminal 200. When the control unit 301 determines that the user 10 and the vehicle 20 will be within a predetermined distance within a predetermined time, the control unit 301 may generate and transmit notification information. Here, the predetermined time is a time that is set in advance as a time during which movement by the vehicle 20 can be predicted. The predetermined time may be determined according to the driving speed of the vehicle 20, for example. In this way, when it is predicted that the user 10 and the vehicle 20 will be within a predetermined distance in the future, it is possible to urge both of them to be careful.

[0044] The predetermined time may be a time required from the start of execution of the process for identifying the current location of user 10 (the process shown in FIG. 5) until the notification information is output. This makes it possible to transmit the notification information to user 10 and vehicle 20, taking into consideration the position of vehicle 20 that changes during the execution of the process for identifying the current location of user 10.

[0045] Furthermore, the control unit 301 may determine whether the user 10 and the vehicle 20 will be within a predetermined distance in the future, further considering the moving speed and moving direction of the user 10. In this case, the control unit 301 acquires, for example, a transition of the current position of the user 10 in the user information held in the user information DB 304. This allows the control unit 301 to estimate the moving speed and moving direction of the user 10. As a result, the control unit 301 can determine whether the user 10 and the vehicle 20 will be within a predetermined distance in the future, further considering the moving speed and moving direction of the user 10.

[0046] (flowchart) Next, the process executed by the control unit 301 in the server 300 in the position identification system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart of the process executed by the control unit 301. This process is for identifying the current position of the user 10. This process is also for transmitting notification information when the user 10 and the vehicle 20 are within a predetermined distance. This process is repeatedly executed at predetermined intervals so that the current position of the user 10 can be grasped in real time.

[0047] In the process shown in Fig. 5, first, in S101, location information transmitted from a plurality of vehicle-mounted terminals 200 is acquired. Next, in S102, the location information received from the plurality of vehicle-mounted terminals 200 and the map information held in the facility information DB 303 are referenced, and the radio wave intensity distribution within a specific building is calculated. Next, in S103, reception intensity information transmitted from the user terminal 100 is acquired. Next, in S104, location information transmitted from the user terminal 100 is acquired. Next, in S105, the current location of the user 10 is identified.

[0048] In this way, in the process shown in Figure 5, by calculating the radio wave intensity distribution within a specific building each time and identifying the current location of user 10, it is possible to identify the current location of user 10 while taking into account changes in the radio wave intensity distribution associated with the movement of vehicle 20.

[0049] Next, in S106, the user information held in the user information DB 304 is updated. Next, in S107, it is determined whether or not the current position of the user 10 and the current position of the vehicle 20 are within a predetermined distance. Specifically, the control unit 301 determines whether or not any of the current positions of the vehicles 20 existing in the specific building is within a predetermined distance from the current position of the user 10.

[0050] If a positive determination is made in S107, there is a risk of danger occurring due to the user 10 and the vehicle 20 being within a predetermined distance. Therefore, in S108, notification information is transmitted to the user terminal 100 and the in-vehicle terminal 200. Then, the process shown in FIG. 5 is temporarily terminated.

[0051] As a result, the user terminal 100 outputs the notification information to the user 10. Also, the in-vehicle terminal 200 outputs the notification information to the driver of the vehicle 20, etc. This allows the user 10 and the vehicle 20 to warn each other. Also, the in-vehicle terminal 200 may transfer the notification information to an electronic control unit that controls the driving of the vehicle 20, so that the electronic control unit of the vehicle 20 may control the driving conditions of the vehicle 20. In this case, the notification information may include the current location of the user 10, so that the driving control unit of the vehicle 20 may grasp the current location of the user 10 and then control the driving to ensure safe driving.

[0052] If a negative determination is made in S107, there is no risk of danger arising from the user 10 being within the predetermined distance from the vehicle 20. Therefore, the process shown in FIG.

[0053] As described above, in the positioning system 1, even if the current location that the user terminal 100 can obtain using the GPS system is inaccurate, it is possible to determine the accurate current location of the user 10 by using the intensity distribution and the reception intensity.

[0054] (Variation 1) In this embodiment, when multiple areas are identified as areas in which user 10 is present, the control unit 301 further identifies the area in which user 10 is present using location information indicating the current location of user 10 received from the user terminal 100.

[0055] 5 is repeatedly executed at a predetermined interval so as to enable grasping of the real-time current location of user 10. Therefore, it is assumed that the current location of user 10 has not moved significantly compared to the last time the process shown in Fig. 5 was executed. Therefore, control unit 301 refers to the latest current location of user 10 in the user information held in user information DB 304, and further specifies the area in which user 10 is present.

[0056] 5, the control unit 301 executes a process of acquiring user information from the facility information DB 303. At this time, the control unit 301 uses the latest current location of the user 10 in the user information instead of the current location of the user 10 indicated by the location information received from the user terminal 100. Even in this manner, it is possible to grasp the accurate current location of the user 10.

[0057] 5 for the first time, multiple areas may be identified as areas in which user 10 is present. Also, in subsequent processes, multiple areas may be identified as areas in which user 10 is present. In this case, control unit 301 may identify all of these multiple areas as the provisional current location of user 10 and repeat the process shown in FIG.

[0058] 5 without identifying the current location of the user 10 until the area in which the user 10 exists is identified. Also, the control unit 301 may receive location information from the user terminal 100 only the first time to identify the location of the user 10.

[0059] (Variation 2) In this embodiment, the server 300 identifies the current location of the user 10 by referring to the reception strength of the user terminal 100 in a specific building and the distribution of radio wave strength from multiple vehicle-mounted terminals 200. This embodiment can be applied even to a place that is not a specific building and cannot receive GPS radio waves and cannot acquire the current location of the user terminal 100. Furthermore, this embodiment can be applied even if the user terminal 100 does not have a GPS system.

[0060] (Variation 3) In this embodiment, the user terminal 100 is a mobile information terminal used by the user 10. However, this embodiment can also be applied to a case where the user terminal 100 is, for example, an in-vehicle terminal mounted in a vehicle used by the user 10. In this case, the vehicle used by the user 10 is, for example, a vehicle in which a GPS system cannot be used.

[0061] (Variation 4) In this embodiment, the server 300 executes the process shown in Fig. 5. However, the server 300 does not necessarily execute the process shown in Fig. 5. For example, the user terminal 100 or the in-vehicle terminal 200 may execute a part or all of the process shown in Fig. 5.

[0062] <Other embodiments> The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and the present disclosure may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the processes and means described in the present disclosure may be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

[0063] Furthermore, a process described as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by multiple devices. Alternatively, a process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by one device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) by which each function is realized can be flexibly changed.

[0064] The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program implementing the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer, and having one or more processors of the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer by a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium connectable to the system bus of the computer, or may be provided to the computer via a network. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includes any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions, such as, for example, a magnetic disk (such as a floppy disk or a hard disk drive (HDD)), an optical disk (such as a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, or a Blu-ray disk), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic card, a flash memory, or an optical card. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1. Location system 10 Users 100 User terminals 20. Vehicle 200 ··In-vehicle terminal 300·Server 301 Control section 302 Communications Department 303··Facility Information DB 304 User information DB

Claims

1. Obtaining current locations of a plurality of vehicles; estimating a distribution of strength of radio waves outputted from each of the plurality of vehicles according to a current position of the plurality of vehicles; acquiring a reception intensity of radio waves outputted from each of the plurality of vehicles, the reception intensity being received by a terminal traveling with a user; Identifying a position where the intensity distribution and the reception intensity correspond as a current position of the user; A control unit configured to execute Information processing device.

2. The control unit is obtaining a current location of the terminal measured by the terminal; Further execute Specifying a position where the intensity distribution and the reception intensity correspond as the current position of the user means, when there are a plurality of positions where the intensity distribution and the reception intensity correspond, specifying a position that is closest to the current position of the terminal measured by the terminal as the current position of the user; Including, The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit is storing information indicating the identified current location of the user; Further execute Specifying a position where the intensity distribution and the reception intensity correspond as the current position of the user means, when there are a plurality of positions where the intensity distribution and the reception intensity correspond, specifying a position that is closest to the specified latest current position of the user as the current position of the user; Including, The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. The control unit is When the user and at least one of the plurality of vehicles are present within a predetermined distance, outputting, to the terminal, information notifying the user that the vehicle is present around the user; Further execute The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The control unit is When the user and at least one vehicle among the plurality of vehicles are present within a predetermined distance, outputting information to the vehicle notifying the vehicle that the user is present around the vehicle; Further execute The information processing device according to claim 1 .

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