Information processing device, system, and system operating method

Abstract

To arouse more interest of users waiting for delivery of vehicles.SOLUTION: An information processing device is provided, comprising a communication unit, a storage unit for storing identification information of a given vehicle in association with identification information of a terminal device of a purchaser of the given vehicle, and a control unit configured to use the communication unit to acquire captured images of the given vehicle being transported from an image capturing device and send the images to the terminal device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, a system, and a method for operating the system.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a technique for presenting to a user the shipping status and the like until the product purchased by the user arrives. For example, in the purchase of a vehicle, which takes a certain amount of time until delivery, a technique for presenting the progress status until delivery to the user has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that provides information regarding the progress status of a vehicle before delivery stored in a progress management DB to a user terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is room to enhance the sense of expectation of a user waiting for vehicle delivery and to improve the user's interest.

[0005] Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus and the like that can enhance the sense of expectation of a user waiting for vehicle delivery and improve the interest are disclosed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The information processing apparatus in the present disclosure includes a communication unit, a storage unit that stores, in association with each other, identification information of a predetermined vehicle and identification information of a terminal device of a purchaser of the predetermined vehicle, and a control unit that acquires, by the communication unit, a captured image when the predetermined vehicle is being transported from an imaging device and sends the captured image to the terminal device.

[0007] The system in the present disclosure is a system having an information processing device that stores, in association with each other, identification information of a predetermined vehicle and identification information of a terminal device of a purchaser of the predetermined vehicle, and a terminal device, wherein the information processing device acquires a captured image when the predetermined vehicle is being transported from an imaging device and sends it to the terminal device, and the terminal device outputs the captured image.

[0008] The operation method of the system in the present disclosure is an operation method of a system having an information processing device that stores, in association with each other, identification information of a predetermined vehicle and identification information of a terminal device of a purchaser of the predetermined vehicle, and a terminal device, and includes the information processing device acquiring a captured image when the predetermined vehicle is being transported from an imaging device and sending it to the terminal device, and the terminal device outputting the captured image.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the information processing device and the like in the present disclosure, it is possible to enhance the sense of expectation of a user waiting for vehicle delivery and improve the interest.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information providing system according to an embodiment. The information providing system 1 includes one or more server devices 10, a plurality of terminal devices 12, and one or more imaging devices 13 that are communicably connected to each other via a network 11. The server device 10 belongs to, for example, a cloud computing system or other computing systems, and is a server computer that functions as a server for implementing various functions. The server device 10 corresponds to the "information processing device" in the present embodiment. The terminal device 12 is an information processing device having a communication function, which is used by a purchaser (hereinafter referred to as a user) of the vehicle 15 or a carrier in charge of transporting the vehicle 15, and is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like. The imaging device 13 includes a camera that images the vehicle 15 to be transported and a control device having a communication function for sending the captured image. The imaging device 13 is installed at a transport base in the transport route of the vehicle 15. The transport base includes a loading base where the vehicle 15 is loaded on a car carrier, a ship, etc., a maintenance base where the vehicle 15 is maintained during the transport process, and the like. The network 11 is, for example, the Internet, but may be an ad hoc network, a LAN, a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), or other network or any combination thereof.

[0013] In the present embodiment, the information providing system 1 supports the improvement of the user's interest until the vehicle 15 purchased by the user is brought into, for example, a dealer's store. Specifically, the server device 10 includes a communication unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a control unit 103. The storage unit 102 stores the identification information of a predetermined vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the purchased vehicle) 15 purchased by the user and the identification information of the terminal device 12 of the purchaser of the purchased vehicle 15, that is, the user, as vehicle purchase information 107 in an associated manner. The control unit 103 acquires, via the communication unit 101, a captured image when the purchased vehicle 15 is transported from the imaging device 13 and sends it to the terminal device 12. Since the user can view the captured image of the purchased vehicle 15 in the process of transporting the purchased vehicle 15, the sense of anticipation while waiting for the vehicle delivery is enhanced. Therefore, the user's interest can be improved.

[0014] [Configuration Example of Server Device 10] The server device 10 includes a communication unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a control unit 103. The server device 10 may be a single server computer, or may be composed of two or more computers that are connected for information communication and operate in cooperation. In that case, the configuration shown here is appropriately arranged in two or more server computers.

[0015] The communication unit 101 includes one or more communication interfaces. The communication interface is, for example, a LAN interface. The communication unit 101 receives information used for the operation of the server device 10 and transmits information obtained by the operation of the server device 10. The server device 10 is connected to the network 11 by the communication unit 101 and performs information communication with other devices via the network 11.

[0016] The storage unit 102 includes, for example, one or more semiconductor memories that function as a main memory device, an auxiliary memory device, or a cache memory, one or more magnetic memories, one or more optical memories, or a combination of at least two of these. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The RAM is, for example, an SRAM (Static RAM) or a DRAM (Dynamic RAM). The ROM is, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM). The storage unit 102 stores information used for the operation of the server device 10 and information obtained by the operation of the server device 10. The storage unit 102 stores vehicle purchase information 107. The vehicle purchase information 107 includes identification information of the purchased vehicle 15 and identification information of the terminal device 12 that are associated with each other.

[0017] The control unit 103 includes one or more processors, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) specialized for specific processing. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc. The control unit 103 executes information processing related to the operation of the server device 10 while controlling each part of the server device 10.

[0018] The functions of the server device 10 are realized by executing a control program on the processor included in the control unit 103. The control program is a program for causing the server computer to execute the processing of the steps included in the operation of the server device 10, thereby realizing the functions corresponding to the processing of those steps on the server computer. That is, the control program is a program for causing the computer to function as the server device 10. Also, some or all of the functions of the server device 10 may be realized by the dedicated circuit included in the control unit 103. Further, the control program may be stored in a non-transitory recording and storage medium readable by the server device 10, and the server device 10 may read it from the medium.

[0019] [Configuration example of the terminal device 12] The terminal device 12 has a communication unit 121, a storage unit 122, a control unit 123, an input unit 125, and an output unit 126. Also, the terminal device 12 may have a positioning unit 124.

[0020] The communication unit 121 includes one or more communication interfaces compatible with wired or wireless LAN standards. The communication interfaces include, for example, interfaces compatible with mobile communication standards such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), or 5G (5th Generation). Further, the communication interfaces include interfaces compatible with short-range wireless communication standards such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or infrared communication. The terminal device 12 is connected to the network 11 via the communication unit 121 through a nearby router device or a base station for mobile communication, and performs information communication with other devices via the network 11.

[0021] The storage unit 122 includes one or more semiconductor memories, one or more magnetic memories, one or more optical memories, or a combination of at least two of these. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a RAM or a ROM. The RAM is, for example, an SRAM or a DRAM. The ROM is, for example, an EEPROM. The storage unit 122 functions as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 122 stores information used for the operation of the control unit 123 and information obtained by the operation of the control unit 123.

[0022] The control unit 123 has, for example, one or more general-purpose processors such as a CPU or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or one or more dedicated processors specialized for specific processing. Alternatively, the control unit 123 may have one or more dedicated circuits such as an FPGA or an ASIC. The control unit 123 comprehensively controls the operation of the terminal device 12 by operating according to a control / processing program or operating according to an operation procedure implemented as a circuit. Then, the control unit 123 transmits and receives various information to and from the server device 10 etc. via the communication unit 121, and executes the operation according to the present embodiment.

[0023] The positioning unit 124 includes one or more GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receivers. GNSS includes, for example, at least any one of GPS (Global Positioning System), QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System), BeiDou, GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), and Galileo. The positioning unit 124 acquires the position information of the terminal device 12 and sends it to the control unit 123.

[0024] The input unit 125 includes one or more input interfaces. The input interface is, for example, a physical key, a capacitive key, a pointing device, a touch screen provided integrally with the display, or a microphone that accepts voice input. The input interface may further include a camera that captures an image or an image code, or an IC card reader. The input unit 125 accepts an operation of inputting information used for the operation of the control unit 123 and sends the input information to the control unit 123.

[0025] The output unit 126 includes one or more output interfaces. The output interface is, for example, a display or a speaker. The display is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The output unit 126 outputs the information obtained by the operation of the control unit 123.

[0026] The functions of the control unit 123 are realized by a processor included in the control unit 123 executing a control program. The control program is a program for causing the processor to function as the control unit 123. Also, some or all of the functions of the control unit 123 may be realized by a dedicated circuit included in the control unit 123.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation procedure of the information providing system 1 in the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows the procedure related to the cooperative operation of the server device 10, the terminal devices 12 (hereinafter, the terminal devices 12 used by the user and the transport person in charge are referred to as terminal devices 12a and 12b, respectively), and the imaging device 13 when the user checks the current state of the vehicle 15 purchased while waiting for vehicle storage. The steps related to various information processes of the server device 10 and the terminal devices 12a and 12b are executed by the respective control units 103 and 123. Further, the steps related to the transmission and reception of various information of the server device 10 and the terminal devices 12a and 12b are executed by the respective control units 103 and 123 transmitting and receiving information via the communication units 101 and 121, respectively. In the server device 10 and the terminal devices 12a and 12b, the control units 103 and 123 appropriately store the information to be transmitted, received, or processed in the storage units 102 and 32, respectively. Further, in the terminal devices 12a and 12b, the control unit 1023 receives the input of various information by the input unit 125 and outputs various information by the output unit 126.

[0028] In step S200, the server device 10 receives the vehicle storage status information from the terminal device 12b. The vehicle storage status is information regarding the vehicle storage status of the purchased vehicle 15. The vehicle storage status is, for example, information indicating at which stage of the process from the factory to the dealer's store the purchased vehicle 15 is in, and includes the identification information of the purchased vehicle 15 and the identification information of the transport base where the purchased vehicle 15 is located. The vehicle storage status information may include information about the packaging mode of the purchased vehicle 15. The packaging mode indicates, for example, the type of loading posture in which the purchased vehicle 15 is packaged. The terminal device 12b sends the vehicle storage status information input by the operation of the transport person in charge of the purchased vehicle 15 to the server device 10 via the network 11, and the server device 10 receives the information sent from the terminal device 12b.

[0029] In step S201, the server device 10 updates the vehicle storage status. When the server device 10 acquires the information on the new vehicle storage status, it updates the information on the existing vehicle storage information with the newly acquired information.

[0030] In step S202, the server device 10 determines whether to execute imaging. The server device 10 determines whether the vehicle storage situation is a situation where imaging should be performed. The situation where imaging should be performed is a situation where the purchased vehicle 15 is located at the transfer base where the imaging device 13 is installed in the transfer route of the purchased vehicle 15. The server device 10 stores in advance information indicating the presence or absence of the imaging device 13 for each transfer base, and determines whether to perform imaging based on this information. When the server device 10 determines that it is a situation where imaging should be performed, it executes the steps after step S202. When the server device 10 does not determine that it is a situation where imaging should be performed, the steps after step S202 are omitted.

[0031] In step S203, the server device 10 sends an imaging instruction to the imaging device 13. The imaging device 13 to which the imaging instruction is sent is the imaging device 13 installed at the transfer base where the purchased vehicle 15 is located. The server device 10 stores in advance the association between the identification information of the imaging device 13 of each transfer base and the identification information of each transfer base, and based on the information on the vehicle storage situation, identifies the imaging device 13 of the transfer base where the purchased vehicle 15 is located and sends an imaging instruction.

[0032] In step S204, the imaging device 13 that has received the imaging instruction performs imaging. The imaging device 13 is installed at a position where it can image the purchased vehicle 15 being transported at each transfer base. Alternatively, the imaging device 13 may be movable and operated by an operator. The imaging device 13 may perform imaging in response to the imaging instruction under the control of its control device, or may output a notification corresponding to the imaging instruction and perform imaging by the operation of the scanning person who has responded to the notification. The imaging device 13 performs imaging at an arbitrary frame rate and generates an imaging image. A moving image may be generated from a plurality of consecutive imaging images. Hereinafter, when referring to an imaging image, a moving image is also included.

[0033] In step S205, the server device 10 receives the imaging image sent by the imaging device 13. The imaging image is attached with, for example, a time stamp.

[0034] In step S206, the server device 10 stores the captured image.

[0035] In step S207, the server device 10 sends information indicating the vehicle storage status to the terminal device 12a. The server device 10 identifies the terminal device 12 associated with the purchased vehicle 15 based on the vehicle purchase information 107, and sends information indicating the vehicle storage status to that terminal device 12. The terminal device 12a receives the information sent from the server device 10.

[0036] In step S208, the terminal device 12a presents the vehicle storage status. The terminal device 12a displays, for example, character information indicating the vehicle storage status, charts, etc. to the user. For example, a screen 30 as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. The screen 30 includes, for example, a diagram 31 indicating the vehicle storage status. The diagram 31 indicates, by a change in the display mode such as color, the transfer points through which the purchased vehicle 15 has been transferred among transfer points such as "factory", "port A", "port B", "base C", and "dealer store". Here, the diagram 31 shows that the purchased vehicle 15 is located at "port B".

[0037] In step S209 of FIG. 2, the terminal device 12a sends a confirmation request to the server device 10. The confirmation request is information for requesting a captured image of the purchased vehicle 15, and is generated by the terminal device 12a, for example, in response to a user operation. For example, on the screen 30 of FIG. 3, when the user 33 taps the "Vehicle Storage Status Confirmation" button icon 32, the confirmation request operation is performed. In this case, the confirmation request is information for requesting a captured image of the purchased vehicle 15 located at "port B".

[0038] In step S210, the server device 10 sends the captured image to the terminal device 12a in response to the confirmation request. The terminal device 12a receives the information sent from the server device 10.

[0039] In step S211, the terminal device 12a displays the captured image. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the screen 34 transitioned from the screen 30 is displayed. The screen 34 includes the captured image of the purchased vehicle 15. Here, an example of the captured image of the state where the purchased vehicle 15 is loaded and unloaded onto the car carrier 35 is shown. The captured image may be a moving image. The captured image may be, for example, the captured image of the state where the purchased vehicle 15 is loaded and unloaded onto a ship. Also, the captured image may be the captured image of the state where the purchased vehicle 15 is being maintained or the like at a factory. Further, the captured image may be the captured image of the loaded state 36 such as a container in which the purchased vehicle 15 is packed. In that case, by attaching the identification information 37 of the purchased vehicle 15 to the outer surface of the loaded state 36, the user can recognize it as the captured image of the purchased vehicle 15 being transported. Such identification information and information on the packaging state are extracted from the delivery status information stored in the server device 10 and sent to the terminal device 12a. The user operates the terminal device 12a to display and recognize the identification information of the purchased vehicle 15 and the like, and by comparing it with the identification information 37 attached to the loaded state 36 such as a container in the captured image, the user recognizes that it is the captured image of the purchased vehicle 15.

[0040] In this way, the user can confirm the current state of the purchased vehicle 15 as a specific item purchased by the user in the transportation process while waiting for the delivery of the purchased vehicle 15. Therefore, the user's sense of anticipation while waiting for the delivery is enhanced. Therefore, it is possible to improve the user's interest.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation procedure of the information providing system 1 in a modified example. The procedure in FIG. 4 is different from the procedure in FIG. 2 in that steps S207, S208, and S209 in FIG. 2 are moved as steps S207´, S208´, and S209´ between steps S202 and S203, and the rest is the same as in FIG. 2.

[0042] In this modification example, when the server device 10 determines to execute imaging in step S202, it sends the information on the vehicle parking status to the terminal device 12a in step S207'. The terminal device 12a presents the vehicle parking status to the user in step S208' and sends a confirmation request to the server device 10 in step S209'. The server device 10 sends an imaging instruction to the imaging device 13 in step S203 on the condition that it receives the confirmation request.

[0043] According to such a modification example, by starting imaging in response to the request of the terminal device 12a, it becomes possible to provide the user with a more timely imaging image, and it becomes possible to improve the user's interest.

[0044] In the above-described embodiment, the processing and control program that defines the operation of the terminal device 12 may be stored in the storage unit 102 of the server device 10 or the storage unit of another server device, and may be downloaded to each device via the network 11, or may be stored in a non-transitory recording and storage medium that can be read by each device, and each device may read it from the medium.

[0045] In the above, the embodiments have been described based on the various drawings and examples, but it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and corrections based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and corrections are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each means, each step, etc. can be rearranged so as not to be logically contradictory, and a plurality of means, steps, etc. can be combined into one or divided.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0046] 1 Information providing system 10 Server device 11 Network 12 Terminal device 13 Imaging device 15 Vehicle 101, 121 Communication unit 102, 122 Storage unit 103, 123 Control unit 124 Positioning unit 125 Input unit 126 Output unit

Claims

1. A communication unit, a storage unit that stores by associating identification information of a predetermined vehicle and identification information of a terminal device of a purchaser of the predetermined vehicle, a control unit that acquires a captured image when the predetermined vehicle is being transported from an imaging device by the communication unit and sends it to the terminal device, An information processing apparatus having the above.

2. In Claim 1, the control unit causes the imaging device to image the predetermined vehicle on the condition that the vehicle is located at a predetermined transportation base point, An information processing apparatus.

3. In Claim 1, the control unit causes the imaging device to image the predetermined vehicle on the condition that a request from the terminal device is received, An information processing apparatus.

4. In Claim 3, the control unit sends information indicating a process in which the predetermined vehicle is being transported to the terminal device, An information processing apparatus.

5. In Claim 1, the captured image includes an appearance of the predetermined vehicle imaged at a transportation base point of the predetermined vehicle, An information processing apparatus.

6. In Claim 1, the captured image includes an appearance of a packaging mode of the predetermined vehicle imaged at a transportation base point of the predetermined vehicle, An information processing apparatus.

7. In Claim 6, the appearance of the packaging mode includes identification information of the predetermined vehicle, An information processing apparatus.

8. A system having an information processing apparatus that stores by associating identification information of a predetermined vehicle and identification information of a terminal device of a purchaser of the predetermined vehicle, and a terminal device, the information processing apparatus acquires a captured image when the predetermined vehicle is being transported from an imaging device and sends it to the terminal device, the terminal device outputs the captured image, A system.

9. In Claim 8, the information processing apparatus causes the imaging device to image the predetermined vehicle on the condition that the vehicle is located at a predetermined transportation base point, A system.

10. In Claim 8, the information processing apparatus causes the imaging device to image the predetermined vehicle on the condition that a request from the terminal device is received, A system.

11. In Claim 10, the information processing apparatus sends information indicating a process in which the predetermined vehicle is being transported to the terminal device, the terminal device outputs the information indicating the process, A system.

12. In Claim 8, the captured image includes an appearance of the predetermined vehicle imaged at a transportation base point of the predetermined vehicle, A system.

13. In Claim 8, The captured image includes the appearance of the packaging mode of the predetermined vehicle captured at the transportation base of the predetermined vehicle. System.

14. In claim 13, The appearance of the packaging mode includes the identification information of the predetermined vehicle. System.

15. An operation method of a system having an information processing device that stores the identification information of a predetermined vehicle in association with the identification information of the terminal device of the purchaser of the predetermined vehicle, and a terminal device, The information processing device acquires a captured image when the predetermined vehicle is transported from an imaging device and sends it to the terminal device, The terminal device outputs the captured image. An operation method of a system including the above.

16. In claim 15, The information processing device causes the imaging device to image the predetermined vehicle on the condition that the vehicle is located at a predetermined transportation base. An operation method of a system.

17. In claim 15, The information processing device causes the imaging device to image the predetermined vehicle on the condition that a request from the terminal device is received. An operation method of a system.

18. In claim 17, The information processing device sends information for indicating the process of transporting the predetermined vehicle to the terminal device, The terminal device outputs the information indicating the process. An operation method of a system further including the above.

19. In claim 15, The captured image includes the appearance of the predetermined vehicle captured at the transportation base of the predetermined vehicle. An operation method of a system.

20. In claim 15, The captured image includes the appearance of the packaging mode of the predetermined vehicle captured at the transportation base of the predetermined vehicle. An operation method of a system.

Images