Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device capable of providing trade area information with a store's trade area as an appropriate range, an information processing method, and an information processing program.SOLUTION: An information processing device comprises an acceptance unit, an analysis unit, and a provision unit. The acceptance unit accepts a store's specification. The analysis unit performs first estimation processing for estimating a trade area of the store whose specification has been accepted by the acceptance unit, and second estimation processing for estimating characteristics of the trade area estimated by first estimation processing on the basis of information of stores' users. The provision unit provides map information including both the information indicative of the trade area estimated by the analysis unit and the information indicative of the characteristics of the trade area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a business area analysis has been performed to establish a business strategy in a store. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for analyzing a business area specified from a client device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above conventional technology, since the business area to be analyzed is the business area specified from the client device, there are cases where the business area of the store is not appropriately set and the accuracy of the business area analysis is not appropriate, and there is room for improvement.

[0005] The present application has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program that can provide business area information with an appropriate range of the business area of a store.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The information processing apparatus according to the present application includes a reception unit, an analysis unit, and a provision unit. The reception unit receives a designation of a store. The analysis unit performs, based on the information of the user of the store, a first estimation process of estimating the business area of the store designated by the reception unit, and a second estimation process of estimating the characteristics of the business area estimated in the first estimation process. The provision unit provides map information including information indicating the business area estimated by the analysis unit and information indicating the characteristics of the business area.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the embodiment, there is an effect that it is possible to provide information on the business area with an appropriate range as the business area of the store.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 9

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program according to the present application (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program according to the present application are not limited by this embodiment. Also, each embodiment can be appropriately combined within a range that does not conflict with the processing content. In addition, in the following embodiments, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0010] 〔1. An Example of Information Processing〕 First, an example of information processing according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the information processing according to the embodiment.

[0011] The information processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an information processing apparatus that cooperates with the terminal device 2 of the service user O and provides various services to the service user O online, and is realized by, for example, one or more servers or a cloud system. The terminal device 2 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, or a personal computer.

[0012] The service provided to the service user O by the information processing apparatus 1 is, for example, a store business district related analysis service, and for example, transmits map information in which information related to the business district of a store designated by the service user O is arranged to the terminal device 2 of the service user O.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 1 receives a designation of a store by the service user O (step S1). For example, when the information processing apparatus 1 receives a business area information request that includes store information indicating the store designated by the service user O and is transmitted from the terminal device 2, the information processing apparatus 1 receives the designation of the store by the service user O based on the store information included in the business area information request. In the following, the store designated in step S1 may be described as the designated store.

[0014] For example, the service user O operates the terminal device 2 to cause the terminal device 2 to transmit a usage request to the information processing apparatus 1. The usage request includes, for example, information indicating the position designated by the service user O or information indicating the area designated by the service user O. In the following, the area including the position designated by the service user O or the area designated by the service user O may be described as the designated area.

[0015] When the information processing apparatus 1 receives the usage request transmitted from the terminal device 2, the information processing apparatus 1 transmits store designation information including list information indicating a list of stores existing in the designated area and map information of the designated area to the terminal device 2.

[0016] When the terminal device 2 receives the store designation information transmitted from the information processing apparatus 1, the terminal device 2 displays list information indicating a list of stores existing in the designated area and map information of the designated area based on the received store designation information. In the list information, each store existing in the designated area is arranged so as to be individually specifiable, and in the map information of the designated area, store graphics indicating the positions of the respective stores existing in the designated area are individually arranged so as to be specifiable on the map.

[0017] The service user O can designate a store to be analyzed among the plurality of stores included in the list information displayed on the terminal device 2, and can designate a store graphic corresponding to the store to be analyzed among the plurality of store graphics included in the map information displayed on the terminal device 2.

[0018] When there is a designation of a store or a store graphic by the service user O, the terminal device 2 transmits a business area information request including, as store information, information indicating the store designated by the service user O or information indicating the store corresponding to the store graphic designated by the service user O to the information processing device 1.

[0019] Subsequently, the information processing device 1 performs, based on the information of the user of the designated store, a first estimation process for estimating the business area of the designated store which is the store whose designation was received in step S1, and a second estimation process for estimating the characteristics of the business area of the designated store estimated in the first estimation process (step S2).

[0020] For example, in the first estimation process, the information processing device 1 estimates the business area of the designated store based on the information of the user of the designated store. The user of the designated store is a user having one or more histories among visits to the designated store, purchases of products at the designated store, and use of services at the designated store, but is not limited to such examples. For example, it may be a user whose average stay time at the designated store is equal to or longer than a predetermined period. Hereinafter, the user of the designated store may be described as a store user.

[0021] The information of the store user includes, for example, information indicating the stay place of the store user or information indicating the location history of the store user. The information indicating the stay place of the store user is, for example, information indicating the latitude and longitude of the stay place of the store user, but may be information indicating the address.

[0022] The stay place of the store user is, for example, a place where the store user habitually stays, such as the residence of the store user or the workplace of the store user. Note that the stay place of the store user may be a place where the store user stays temporarily, such as an accommodation facility of the store user or a game facility visited by the store user.

[0023] In addition, the information of the store user may further include one or more pieces of information among, for example, information indicating the attributes of the store user, information indicating the usage history of the designated store by the store user, information indicating the facilities used by the store user, information indicating the transportation means used by the store user, and information indicating the location history of the store user.

[0024] The information indicating the attributes of the store user includes, for example, demographic attributes and psychographic attributes of the store user. Demographic attributes are, for example, gender, age, place of residence, place of work, and occupation, etc., and psychographic attributes are objects of interest such as travel, clothing, cars, religion, lifestyle, thoughts and trends of thoughts, etc.

[0025] The usage history of the designated store by the store user is, for example, each payment amount or average payment amount of the store user, the content and genre of the purchased goods and services of the store user, each stay time or average stay time of the store user, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0026] In the first estimation process, for example, the information processing apparatus 1 estimates the business area of the designated store based on the information indicating the stay location of each store user. For example, the information processing apparatus 1 estimates the business area of the designated store using an estimation method such as kernel density estimation based on the stay location of each store user. The information processing apparatus 1 estimates, for example, one or more areas where the density is equal to or greater than a predetermined value as the business area of the designated store.

[0027] In addition, in the first estimation process, for example, the information processing apparatus 1 determines whether the number of store users is equal to or greater than a predetermined number for each predetermined unit area, and the information processing apparatus 1 can also estimate the set of unit areas where the number of store users is equal to or greater than the predetermined number as the business area of the designated store.

[0028] The information indicating the stay location of the store user is information indicating the place of residence set by the store user or information indicating the place of work set by the store user, etc., but the information processing apparatus 1 can estimate the information indicating various stay locations of the store user based on the information indicating the location history of the store user.

[0029] For example, based on the information indicating the location history of the store user, the information processing apparatus 1 can estimate the place of residence of the store user, the place of work of the store user, the place where the store user stayed temporarily, etc. from the staying patterns at each location of the store user. In the following, in some cases, the business district of the designated store estimated in the first estimation process may be described as the designated store business district.

[0030] In addition, the information processing apparatus 1 can also estimate the designated store business district based on store users who satisfy specific conditions. For example, when the business district information request received in step S1 includes information indicating specific conditions, the information processing apparatus 1 estimates the designated store business district from the staying places of store users who satisfy the specific conditions indicated in the business district information request.

[0031] The specific conditions are, for example, the attributes of the store user, the type of the staying place of the store user, the facilities used by the store user, the means of transportation used by the store user, the purchase of specific goods or the use of specific services by the store user at the designated store, the average staying time of the store user at the designated store, etc., but are not limited to such examples.

[0032] In the second estimation process, the information processing apparatus 1 estimates the characteristics of the designated store business district based on, for example, information of users of the designated store, information indicating the geographical relationship between the designated store and the designated store business district, geographical information around the designated store, traffic information around the designated store or around the designated store business district, information of related places that are other stores having a predetermined relationship with the designated store, information of related places that are other stores or facilities around the designated store or around the designated store business district, etc.

[0033] The geographical information is, for example, information indicating the terrain, information indicating the passageway, information indicating the route of public institutions, information indicating traffic regulations and signs, information of news articles, information of disasters, information of facilities and stores, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0034] The geographical relationship between a designated store and its designated store area includes, but is not limited to, the positional relationship between the designated store and its designated store area, the distance and terrain between the designated store and each location in the designated store area. The distance between the designated store and each location in the designated store area is, for example, the moving distance between the designated store and each location in the designated store area, but may also be the straight-line distance between the designated store and each location in the designated store area. Further, the terrain between the designated store and each location in the designated store area is, for example, the magnitude and number of gradients of the travel route to the designated store, the length and number of curves, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0035] The traffic information of the designated store area includes, for example, information on the road network of the designated store area, information such as the state of the road network in the designated store area (e.g., under construction or closed to traffic), and operation information of transportation means in the designated store area. Other stores having a predetermined relationship with the designated store (an example of a related location) are, for example, stores in the same chain as the designated store or stores in the same genre as the designated store, but are not limited to such examples.

[0036] The usage history of users at related locations is, for example, each payment amount and average payment amount of users, the content and genre of purchased goods and services of users, each stay time and average stay time of store users, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0037] The information of related locations is, for example, information indicating the location of related locations (e.g., latitude and longitude or address), information indicating the genre of related locations, information of users using related locations, information indicating the usage history of users at related locations, information indicating the transportation means used by users, information indicating the location history of users, etc.

[0038] The information processing device 1 can, for example, estimate the characteristics of the designated store area from a geographical perspective as characteristics of the designated store area. The characteristics of the designated store area from a geographical perspective are, for example, the ease or difficulty of store users visiting the store from a geographical perspective and the reasons therefor, for example, the ease or difficulty of store users visiting the store based on the positional relationship with other stores and the reasons therefor. Further, the characteristics of the designated store area from a geographical perspective may be the shape of the designated store area.

[0039] Also, the characteristics from the geographical perspective of the designated store area may be characteristics indicating the geographical relationship between the designated store and the designated store area. The characteristics indicating the geographical relationship between the designated store and the designated store area may be characteristics indicating the shape of the designated store area as viewed from the designated store. For example, characteristics such as the designated store area extending long in the northeast as viewed from the designated store may be acceptable.

[0040] Also, in the second estimation process, the information processing apparatus 1 can also estimate, as characteristics of the designated store area, characteristics indicating the relationship (for example, distance relationship) between facilities that the store user often visits before and after visiting the designated store and other stores.

[0041] Also, in the second estimation process, the information processing apparatus 1 can also estimate, as characteristics of the designated store area, characteristics between related locations in the designated store area, such as cannibalization by related locations and characteristics of being a hidden gem in the relationship with related locations.

[0042] Also, in the second estimation process, the information processing apparatus 1 can also estimate, as characteristics of the designated store area, characteristics indicating the relationship (for example, competitive relationship, collaborative relationship, etc.) between other stores and facilities around the designated store or around the designated store area.

[0043] Also, in the second estimation process, the information processing apparatus 1 can also estimate, as characteristics of the designated store area, characteristics indicating the relationship between the designated store and the traffic infrastructure based on the traffic information around the designated store or around the designated store area.

[0044] Also, in the second estimation process, the information processing apparatus 1 can also estimate, as characteristics of the designated store area, characteristics indicating the relationship between the designated store and the place of residence or workplace of the store user based on information such as the place of residence or workplace of the store user.

[0045] The information processing apparatus 1 performs the above-described first estimation process and second estimation process using a generative AI (Artificial Intelligence). The generative AI is, for example, a text generation AI. The text generation AI is, for example, a large language model trained to estimate and output the next token from an input token sequence, and is, for example, a Transformer-based model, an RNN (Recurrent Neural Network)-based model, etc., but may also be a hybrid model thereof. Further, the text generation AI may be a composite system combined with an identification mechanism for preventing unauthorized use, etc.

[0046] Examples of the Transformer-based model include, but are not limited to, GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) (registered trademark), PaLM2 (Pathways Language Model Version 2), or LLaMA (Large Language Model Meta AI). Examples of the RNN-based model include, but are not limited to, RWKV (Receptance Weighted Key Value).

[0047] Note that it is desirable for the generative AI to be trained so as not to include personal information, etc. in its generation results. The generative AI is arranged in an external information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus 1 uses the generative AI via an API (Application Programming Interface), but the generative AI may also be arranged within the information processing apparatus 1.

[0048] The input information input to the generative AI is called a prompt. In the following, the input information input to the generative AI may be described as a prompt. The prompt is, for example, information indicating instructions, requests, etc. given to the language model to execute a specific task for the language model.

[0049] The information processing apparatus 1 inputs, for example, a prompt including instruction information which is information for instructing the estimation of the business area of a designated store and the estimation of the characteristics of the estimated business area, and information necessary for the estimation of the designated store business area and its characteristics, into the generation AI, and causes the generation AI to output the estimation results of the designated store business area and its characteristics. The information necessary for the estimation of the designated store business area and its characteristics includes, for example, the above-described information used in the first estimation process and the second estimation process, but is not limited to such examples.

[0050] As information necessary for the estimation of the business area of a designated store using the generation AI, the information processing apparatus 1 uses, for example, instruction information for instructing the estimation of the business area of the designated store based on the information of the store users. Such instruction information includes, for example, information indicating an instruction to estimate, as the business area of the designated store, one or more areas having a density equal to or higher than a predetermined value based on the information of the store users, and information indicating an instruction to estimate, as the business area of the designated store, one or more areas having a density estimated using an estimation method such as kernel density estimation and equal to or higher than a predetermined value based on the information of the store users, but is not limited to such examples.

[0051] As information necessary for the estimation of the characteristics of the business area of a designated store using the generation AI, the information processing apparatus 1 uses, for example, instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the business area of the designated store based on the information of the users of the designated store, the geographical information around the designated store, the traffic information around the designated store or around the business area of the designated store, the information of related locations which are other stores having a predetermined relationship with the designated store, or the information of related locations which are other stores or facilities around the designated store or around the business area of the designated store.

[0052] For example, as instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the business area of a designated store, the information processing apparatus 1 can use information indicating an instruction to estimate the characteristics of the business area of the designated store from a geographical perspective as the instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the business area of the designated store.

[0053] The information indicating an instruction to estimate the characteristics of the designated store's business district from a geographical perspective includes, for example, information indicating an instruction to estimate the ease or difficulty of store users visiting the store from a geographical perspective and the reasons therefor, information indicating an instruction to estimate the ease or difficulty of store users visiting the store based on the positional relationship with other stores, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0054] In addition, the information processing apparatus 1 can use, as instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the designated store's business district, instruction information for instructing the estimation of characteristics indicating the facilities that store users often visit before and after visiting the designated store and the relationship (e.g., distance relationship) with other stores.

[0055] In addition, the information processing apparatus 1 can use, as instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the designated store's business district, instruction information for instructing the estimation of characteristics between the designated store's business district and related locations, such as cannibalization by related locations or the characteristics of being a hidden gem in the relationship with related locations.

[0056] In addition, the information processing apparatus 1 can use, as instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the designated store's business district, instruction information for instructing the estimation of characteristics indicating the relationship (e.g., competitive relationship, collaborative relationship, etc.) between the designated store and other stores or facilities around the designated store or around the designated store's business district.

[0057] In addition, the information processing apparatus 1 can use, as instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the designated store's business district, instruction information for instructing the estimation of characteristics indicating the relationship between the designated store and transportation infrastructure based on the traffic information around the designated store or around the designated store's business district.

[0058] In addition, in the second estimation process, the information processing apparatus 1 can use, as instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the designated store's business district, instruction information for instructing the estimation of characteristics indicating the relationship between the designated store and the place of residence or workplace of the store user based on information such as the place of residence or workplace of the store user.

[0059] The indication information includes, for example, information instructing to summarize the second estimation result, information instructing to name a title for the summary of the second estimation result, information instructing to output the title and the summary content, and the like. Thereby, in the comparison process, the information processing apparatus 1 can cause the generation AI to output information that concisely shows the comparison result between the designated store business areas with a title.

[0060] For example, the information processing apparatus 1 can input the prompt shown in FIG. 1 to the generation AI and cause the generation AI to output the estimation results of the designated store business area and its characteristics. The indication information of the prompt shown in FIG. 1 includes information of the output format that defines how to output the estimated characteristics of the business area, and information of the character string "Summarize the content summarized by 2,3 together with the title and output it".

[0061] Although not shown, the indication information of the prompt shown in FIG. 1 may include information indicating an instruction for outputting the estimated business area. For example, the indication information of the prompt shown in FIG. 1 may include information such as the information of the character string "Please output the density value of the users in the estimated business area in a list format for each location.", but is not limited to such an example.

[0062] In addition, the information processing apparatus 1 can also perform the first estimation process and the second estimation process separately by separately inputting the prompt of the first estimation process and the prompt of the second estimation process to the generation AI. In this case, the prompt of the second estimation process includes information indicating the position of the designated store business area estimated in the first estimation process.

[0063] In addition, instead of using the generation AI, the information processing apparatus 1 can also estimate the designated store business area by statistical processing. For example, the information processing apparatus 1 aggregates the number of store users for each predetermined unit area based on the information indicating the staying places of a plurality of store users, and estimates the designated store business area based on such aggregation results.

[0064] The information processing apparatus 1 can, for example, estimate one or more regions with a density equal to or higher than a predetermined value as the business area of a designated store, or estimate one or more regions with a density equal to or higher than a predetermined value as the business area of a designated store using an estimation method such as kernel density estimation.

[0065] Further, the information processing apparatus 1 can, for example, input a prompt including processing definition information, instruction information, and information necessary for estimation for extracting a processing type and processing target information to a generative AI, and acquire, as output information, processing information including information indicating the processing type and the processing target information from the generative AI.

[0066] The information processing apparatus 1 can perform a process corresponding to the processing type indicated by the information indicating the processing type using the processing target information by, for example, specific arithmetic processing or statistical processing. The processing type is, for example, business area estimation, business area characteristic estimation, etc., but is not limited to such examples. Business area estimation is a process of estimating the business area of a designated store, and business area characteristic estimation is a process of estimating the characteristics of the business area of a designated store.

[0067] The generative AI extracts and outputs, as processing target information, information necessary for the process indicated by the processing type among various information included in the prompt. For example, when the processing type is business area estimation, the generative AI extracts and outputs, as processing target information, information necessary for estimating the business area of a designated store among various information included in the prompt. The information necessary for estimating the business area of a designated store is, for example, the information described above.

[0068] Further, when the processing type is business area characteristic estimation, the generative AI extracts and outputs, as processing target information, information necessary for estimating the characteristics of the business area of a designated store among various information included in the prompt. The information necessary for estimating the characteristics of the business area of a designated store is, for example, the information described above.

[0069] For example, when the generative AI is GPT of OpenAI, the information processing apparatus 1 can cause the generative AI to output the processing information as output information using the function of function calling for the output information of the generative AI.

[0070] The generative AI may be a multimodal generative AI or the like. The multimodal generative AI is, for example, a generative AI that generates at least one of text, images, and audio from at least one of text, images, and audio. The multimodal generative AI is, for example, GPT-4 Turbo with vision, gemini, CM3Leon (Chameleon Multimodal Model), etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0071] In this case, the information processing device 1 further inputs, as input information, instruction information including information indicating an instruction to draw an estimated designated store business area on a map and map information indicating a map of an area including the designated store into the generative AI, so that the generative AI can output map information indicating the designated store business area on the map.

[0072] Subsequently, the information processing device 1 provides map information including information indicating the designated store business area estimated in step S2 and information indicating the characteristics of the designated store business area (step S3). For example, the information processing device 1 provides map information including information indicating the designated store business area and information indicating the characteristics of the designated store business area to the service user O by transmitting the map information including information indicating the designated store business area and information indicating the characteristics of the designated store business area to the terminal device 2.

[0073] The information processing device 1 can provide, for example, map information including information indicating the designated store business area on the map and information indicating the characteristics of the designated store business area to the service user O. For example, the information processing device 1 provides, as map information, information in a state where the business area of the designated store estimated in step S2 is highlighted on the map.

[0074] In this way, the information processing apparatus 1 performs, based on the information of the user of the store, a first estimation process of receiving the designation of the store and estimating the business area of the designated store, and a second estimation process of estimating the characteristics of the business area estimated in the first estimation process, and provides map information including information indicating the estimated business area and information indicating the characteristics of the business area. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 1 can provide the information of the business area with the business area of the store being an appropriate range. Thereby, the service user O can understand the business area of the designated store and the customers in the business area, etc.

[0075] Hereinafter, the configuration of the information processing system including the information processing apparatus 1 and the terminal apparatus 2 that perform such processing will be described in detail.

[0076] 〔2. Configuration of Information Processing System〕 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing system according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing system 100 according to the embodiment includes an information processing apparatus 1 and a plurality of terminal apparatuses 2.

[0077] The plurality of terminal apparatuses 2 are used by different service users O. The terminal apparatus 2 is, for example, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), a desktop PC, a smartphone, a tablet PC, a wearable device. The wearable device is, for example, smart glasses, or a smart watch, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0078] Each of the information processing apparatus 1 and the terminal apparatus 2 is connected to be communicable with each other by wire or wirelessly via the network N. Note that the information processing system 100 shown in FIG. 2 may include a plurality of information processing apparatuses 1 and the like.

[0079] The network N includes, for example, a WAN (Wide Area Network) such as the Internet, and a mobile communication network such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), 5G (5th Generation: 5G mobile communication system), etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0080] The terminal device 2 can be connected to the network N via a mobile communication network, short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), or wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and communicate with the information processing device 1 and the like.

[0081] [3. Configuration of the information processing device 1] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the information processing device 1 includes a communication unit 10, a storage unit 11, and a processing unit 12.

[0082] [3.1. Communication unit 10] The communication unit 10 is realized by, for example, a communication module or a NIC (Network Interface Card). The communication unit 10 is connected to the network N by wire or wirelessly, and transmits and receives information to and from various other devices. For example, the communication unit 10 transmits and receives information to and from the terminal device 2 via the network N.

[0083] [3.2. Storage unit 11] The storage unit 11 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 11 includes a user information storage unit 20, a store information storage unit 21, a geographical information storage unit 22, and a content storage unit 23.

[0084] [3.2.1. User information storage unit 20] The user information storage unit 20 stores user information including information about the user. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a user information table stored in the user information storage unit 20 of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the user information table stored in the user information storage unit 20 includes items such as "user ID", "attribute information", and "behavior history".

[0085] The "user ID" is identification information for identifying the user. The "attribute information" is attribute information of the user corresponding to the "user ID", and includes, for example, information on psychographic attributes and information on demographic attributes. Demographic attributes are, for example, gender, age, place of residence, place of work, and occupation, and psychographic attributes are objects of interest such as travel, clothing, cars, religion, lifestyle, thoughts and trends of thoughts, and the like.

[0086] The "behavior history" is information indicating the behavior history of the user corresponding to the "user ID", and includes, for example, information indicating the location history of the user, information indicating the store usage history of the user, information indicating the facility usage history of the user, information indicating the settlement history other than the store of the user, information indicating the transportation facility usage history of the user, and the like, but is not limited to such examples.

[0087] The information indicating the store usage history of the user includes, for example, each payment amount and average payment amount of the user in the store, the content and genre of the purchased goods and services of the user in the store, each stay time and average stay time of the user in the store, and the like, but is not limited to such examples.

[0088] [3.2.2. Store information storage unit 21] The store information storage unit 21 stores information on various stores. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a store information table stored in the store information storage unit 21 of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the store information table stored in the store information storage unit 21 includes items such as "store ID", "store location", "store name", "store type", and "product information".

[0089] The "store ID" is identification information for identifying a store. The "store location" is information indicating the location of the store corresponding to the "store ID", for example, information indicating the latitude and longitude of the store. The "store name" is information indicating the name of the store corresponding to the "store ID". When the store is a chain store, it includes information indicating the chain store name. When the store is a franchise store, it includes information indicating the franchise store name.

[0090] The "store type" is information indicating the type of the store corresponding to the "store ID", for example, information indicating the genre of the store. The "product information" is information about the products of the store corresponding to the "store ID".

[0091] Although not shown in the figure, the store information storage unit 21 may include information indicating the sales of the store, information indicating the sales floor area of the store, information indicating the number of employees in the store, and the like.

[0092] [3.2.3. Geographic Information Storage Unit 22] The geographic information storage unit 22 stores geographic information. The geographic information is, for example, information indicating terrain, information indicating passageways, information indicating routes of public institutions, information indicating traffic regulations and signs, information of news articles, information of disasters, information of facilities and stores, weather information, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0093] [3.2.4. Content Storage Unit 23] The content storage unit 23 stores various contents. The contents stored in the content storage unit 23 are, for example, information indicating news articles, posting information to SNS (Social Network Service) related to the store, posting information to communication services related to the store, traffic information of each region, advertising information of the store, weather information, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0094] [3.3. Processing Unit 12] The processing unit 12 is a controller, which is realized, for example, by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), when various programs (corresponding to an example of an information processing program) stored in the storage device inside the information processing apparatus 1 are executed using a RAM or the like as a work area.

[0095] Also, the processing unit 12 is a controller, and part or all of it may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a GPGPU (General Purpose Graphic Processing Unit).

[0096] As shown in FIG. 3, the processing unit 12 includes an acquisition unit 30, a reception unit 31, an analysis unit 32, and a provision unit 33, and realizes or executes the functions and operations of information processing described below. Note that the internal configuration of the processing unit 12 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, and may be any other configuration as long as it can perform the information processing described later.

[0097] 〔3.3.1. Acquisition Unit 30〕 The acquisition unit 30 acquires various information from an external information processing apparatus, a terminal device 2, etc. via the network N and the communication unit 10.

[0098] For example, the acquisition unit 30 acquires user information from an external information processing apparatus and stores the acquired user information in the user information storage unit 20. Also, the acquisition unit 30 acquires store information from an external information processing apparatus and stores the acquired store information in the store information storage unit 21.

[0099] In addition, the acquisition unit 30 acquires geographical information from an external information processing device and stores the acquired geographical information in the geographical information storage unit 22. Further, the acquisition unit 30 acquires various contents from an external information processing device and stores the acquired various contents in the content storage unit 23.

[0100] In addition, the acquisition unit 30 acquires various information from the storage unit 11. For example, the acquisition unit 30 acquires user information from the user information storage unit 20, acquires store information from the store information storage unit 21, acquires geographical information from the geographical information storage unit 22, and acquires contents from the content storage unit 23.

[0101] 〔3.3.2. Reception unit 31〕 The reception unit 31 receives various information. For example, the reception unit 31 receives a usage request transmitted from the terminal device 2. The usage request includes, for example, information indicating a position specified by the service user O or information indicating a specified area that is an area specified by the service user O.

[0102] In addition, the reception unit 31 receives a store designation. For example, the reception unit 31 receives a store designation by the service user O by receiving a trade area information request transmitted from the terminal device 2 and including information indicating the store designation by the service user O.

[0103] 〔3.3.3. Analysis unit 32〕 The analysis unit 32 performs a first estimation process of estimating the trade area of a designated store, which is the store designated by the reception unit 31, and a second estimation process of estimating the characteristics of the trade area of the designated store estimated in the first estimation process, based on the information of the store user who is the user of the designated store.

[0104] For example, in the first estimation process, the analysis unit 32 estimates the business area of a designated store based on the information of the store user. The store user is a user who has at least one history among visits to the designated store, purchases of goods at the designated store, and use of services at the designated store, but is not limited to such examples. For example, a user whose average stay time at the designated store is longer than a predetermined period may also be included.

[0105] The information of the store user includes, for example, information indicating the stay location of the store user or information indicating the location history of the store user. The information indicating the stay location of the store user is, for example, information indicating the latitude and longitude of the stay location of the store user, but may also be information indicating the address.

[0106] The stay location of the store user is, for example, a place where the store user habitually stays, such as the place of residence of the store user, the place of work of the store user, etc. Note that the stay location of the store user may also be a place where the store user stays temporarily, such as the accommodation facility of the store user or the gaming facility visited by the store user.

[0107] In addition, the information of the store user may further include one or more pieces of information among, for example, information indicating the attributes of the store user, information indicating the usage history of the designated store by the store user, information indicating the facilities used by the store user, information indicating the transportation means used by the store user, and information indicating the location history of the store user.

[0108] The information indicating the attributes of the store user includes demographic attributes and psychographic attributes of the store user. Demographic attributes are, for example, gender, age, place of residence, place of work, and occupation, etc., and psychographic attributes are objects of interest such as travel, clothing, cars, religion, lifestyle, thoughts and trends of thoughts, etc.

[0109] The usage history of the designated store by the store user is, for example, each payment amount and average payment amount of the store user, the content and genre of the purchased goods and services of the store user, each stay time and average stay time of the store user, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0110] In the first estimation process, for example, the analysis unit 32 estimates the business area of the designated store based on information indicating the staying places of each store user. For example, the analysis unit 32 estimates the business area of the designated store by using an estimation method such as kernel density estimation based on the staying places of each store user. The analysis unit 32 estimates, for example, one or more areas where the density is equal to or greater than a predetermined value as the business area of the designated store.

[0111] Also, in the first estimation process, for example, the analysis unit 32 determines whether the number of store users is equal to or greater than a predetermined number for each predetermined unit area, and the analysis unit 32 can also estimate a set of unit areas where the number of store users is equal to or greater than the predetermined number as the business area of the designated store.

[0112] The information indicating the staying places of the store users is information indicating the residence set by the store users or information indicating the workplace set by the store users, etc., but the analysis unit 32 can estimate information indicating various staying places of the store users based on information indicating the location history of the store users.

[0113] For example, the analysis unit 32 can estimate the residence of the store user, the workplace of the store user, the place where the store user stayed temporarily, etc. from the staying patterns at each position of the store user based on the information indicating the location history of the store user. In the following, the business area of the designated store estimated in the first estimation process may be referred to as the designated store business area.

[0114] Also, the analysis unit 32 can estimate the designated store business area based on store users who meet specific conditions. For example, when the business area information request received by the reception unit 31 includes information indicating specific conditions, the information processing apparatus 1 estimates the designated store business area from the staying places of the store users who meet the specific conditions indicated in the business area information request.

[0115] Specific conditions include, for example, but are not limited to, the attributes of store users, the types of places where store users stay, the facilities used by store users, the transportation means used by store users, the purchase of specific products or the use of specific services by store users at a designated store, the average stay time of store users at the designated store, etc.

[0116] In the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 estimates the characteristics of the designated store's business district based on, for example, information on users of the designated store, geographical information around the designated store, traffic information around the designated store or around the business district of the designated store, information on related locations that are other stores having a predetermined relationship with the designated store, information on related locations that are other stores or facilities around the designated store or around the business district of the designated store, etc.

[0117] Geographical information includes, for example, but is not limited to, information indicating terrain, information indicating passageways, information indicating routes of public institutions, information indicating traffic regulations and signs, information in news articles, information on disasters, information on facilities and stores, etc.

[0118] The geographical relationship between the designated store and the designated store's business district includes, for example, but is not limited to, the positional relationship between the designated store and the designated store's business district, the distance and terrain between the designated store and each position of the designated store's business district, etc. The distance between the designated store and each position of the designated store's business district is, for example, the moving distance between the designated store and each position of the designated store's business district, but it may also be the straight-line distance between the designated store and each position of the designated store's business district. Also, the terrain between the designated store and each position of the designated store's business district is, for example, the magnitude and number of gradients of the moving route to the designated store, the length and number of curves, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0119] The traffic information of the designated store's business district includes, for example, information on the road network of the designated store's business district, information on the state of the road network of the designated store's business district (such as under construction or closed to traffic), information on the operation information of transportation means in the designated store's business district, etc. Other stores having a predetermined relationship with the designated store (an example of a related location) are, for example, but are not limited to, being the same chain store as the designated store or being of the same genre as the designated store.

[0120] The usage history of users at relevant locations includes, for example, each payment amount of users, average payment amount, content and genre of purchased goods and services by users, each stay time and average stay time of store users, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0121] The information of relevant locations includes, for example, information indicating the location of relevant locations (such as latitude and longitude or address), information indicating the genre of relevant locations, information of users who use relevant locations, information indicating the usage history of users at relevant locations, information indicating the transportation means used by users, information indicating the location history of users, etc.

[0122] The analysis unit 32 can estimate, for example, characteristics of the designated store business district from a geographical perspective as characteristics of the designated store business district. The characteristics of the designated store business district from a geographical perspective are, for example, the ease or difficulty of store users coming to the store from a geographical perspective and the reasons therefor, for example, the ease or difficulty of store users coming to the store and the reasons therefor based on the positional relationship with other stores.

[0123] Also, the characteristics of the designated store business district from a geographical perspective may be characteristics indicating the geographical relationship between the designated store and the designated store business district. In this case, the analysis unit 32 estimates characteristics indicating the geographical relationship between the designated store and the designated store business district. The characteristics indicating the geographical relationship between the designated store and the designated store business district may be characteristics indicating the shape of the designated store business district as seen from the designated store, for example, characteristics such as the designated store business district extending long in the northeast as seen from the designated store.

[0124] Also, in the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 can also estimate, as characteristics of the designated store business district, characteristics indicating the relationship (such as distance relationship) between facilities and other stores that store users often visit before and after coming to the designated store.

[0125] Also, in the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 can also estimate, as characteristics of the designated store business district, characteristics between relevant locations in the designated store business district, such as cannibalization by relevant locations and hidden gems in the relationship with relevant locations.

[0126] In addition, in the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 can also estimate, as characteristics of the designated store's business district, characteristics indicating the relationship (such as a competitive relationship, a collaborative relationship, etc.) with other stores or facilities around the designated store or around the business district of the designated store.

[0127] In addition, in the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 can also estimate, as characteristics of the designated store's business district, characteristics indicating the relationship between the designated store and the transportation infrastructure based on the traffic information around the designated store or around the business district of the designated store.

[0128] In addition, in the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 can also estimate, as characteristics of the designated store's business district, characteristics indicating the relationship between the designated store and the place of residence or workplace of the store users based on information such as the place of residence or workplace of the store users.

[0129] The analysis unit 32 performs the above-described first estimation process and second estimation process using a generative AI. The generative AI is, for example, a text generation AI. The text generation AI is, for example, a large language model trained to estimate and output the next token from the input token sequence, and is, for example, a transformer-based model, an RNN-based model, etc., but may also be a hybrid model of these. Also, the text generation AI may be a composite system combined with an identification mechanism for preventing unauthorized use.

[0130] The transformer-based model is, for example, GPT, PaLM2, or LLaMA, etc., but is not limited to such examples. The RNN-based model is, for example, RWKV, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0131] Note that it is desirable that the generative AI be trained so as not to include personal information, etc. in its generation result. The generative AI is arranged in an external information processing device, and the analysis unit 32 uses the generative AI via an API, but the generative AI may also be arranged within the information processing device 1.

[0132] The analysis unit 32 inputs, for example, a prompt including instruction information which is information for instructing the estimation of the business area of a designated store and the estimation of the characteristics of the estimated business area, and information necessary for the estimation of the business area of the designated store and its characteristics, into the generation AI, and causes the generation AI to output the estimation result of the business area of the designated store and its characteristics. The information necessary for the estimation of the business area of the designated store and its characteristics includes, for example, the above-described information used in the first estimation process and the second estimation process, but is not limited to such examples.

[0133] As information necessary for the estimation of the business area of a designated store using the generation AI, the analysis unit 32 uses, for example, instruction information for instructing the estimation of the business area of the designated store based on the information of the store users. Such instruction information includes, for example, information indicating an instruction to estimate, as the business area of the designated store, one or more areas where the density is equal to or greater than a predetermined value based on the information of the store users, and information indicating an instruction to estimate, as the business area of the designated store, one or more areas where the density estimated using an estimation method such as kernel density estimation based on the information of the store users is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, but is not limited to such examples.

[0134] As information necessary for the estimation of the characteristics of the business area of a designated store using the generation AI, the analysis unit 32 uses, for example, instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the business area of the designated store based on the information of the users of the designated store, the geographical information around the designated store, the traffic information around the designated store or around the business area of the designated store, the information of related places which are other stores having a predetermined relationship with the designated store, the information of related places which are other stores or facilities around the designated store or around the business area of the designated store, etc.

[0135] For example, as instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the business area of the designated store, the analysis unit 32 can use information indicating an instruction to estimate the characteristics of the business area of the designated store from a geographical perspective as the instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the business area of the designated store.

[0136] The information indicating an instruction to estimate the characteristics from the geographical perspective of the designated store's business district is, for example, information indicating an instruction to estimate the ease or difficulty of store users visiting the store from the geographical perspective and the reasons therefor, information indicating an instruction to estimate the ease or difficulty of store users visiting the store based on the positional relationship with other stores, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0137] In addition, the analysis unit 32 can use, as the instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the designated store's business district, instruction information for instructing the estimation of characteristics indicating the relationship (for example, distance relationship) between the facilities that store users often visit before and after visiting the designated store and other stores.

[0138] In addition, the analysis unit 32 can use, as the instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the designated store's business district, instruction information for instructing the estimation of characteristics between related locations in the designated store's business district, such as cannibalization by related locations or being a hidden gem in the relationship with related locations.

[0139] In addition, the analysis unit 32 can use, as the instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the designated store's business district, instruction information for instructing the estimation of characteristics indicating the relationship (for example, competitive relationship, collaborative relationship, etc.) between the designated store and other stores or facilities around the designated store or around the designated store's business district.

[0140] In addition, the analysis unit 32 can use, as the instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the designated store's business district, instruction information for instructing the estimation of characteristics indicating the relationship between the designated store and transportation infrastructure based on the traffic information around the designated store or around the designated store's business district.

[0141] In addition, in the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 can use, as the instruction information for instructing the estimation of the characteristics of the designated store's business district, instruction information for instructing the estimation of characteristics indicating the relationship between the designated store and the place of residence or workplace of the store user based on information such as the place of residence or workplace of the store user.

[0142] The indication information includes, for example, information instructing to summarize the second estimation result, information instructing to name a title for the summary of the second estimation result, information instructing to output the title and the summary content, and the like. As a result, in the comparison process, the generation AI can be made to output information that concisely shows the comparison result between designated store business areas with a title.

[0143] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a prompt used by the analysis unit 32 of the processing unit 12 in the information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. The analysis unit 32 inputs, for example, the prompt shown in FIG. 6 to the generation AI, and causes the generation AI to output the estimation results of the designated store business area and its characteristics. The indication information of the prompt shown in FIG. 6 includes information of a string "Summarize the content summarized by 2 and 3 together with the title and output it" as information of an output format that defines how to output the estimated characteristics of the designated store business area.

[0144] Although not shown, the indication information of the prompt shown in FIG. 6 may include information indicating an instruction for outputting the estimated business area. For example, the indication information of the prompt shown in FIG. 6 may include information such as the string "Output the density value of users in the estimated business area in a list format for each location.", but is not limited to such an example. In the prompt shown in FIG. 6, a part of the information other than the indication information is omitted.

[0145] In addition, the analysis unit 32 can also perform the first estimation process and the second estimation process separately by inputting the prompt of the first estimation process and the prompt of the second estimation process to the generation AI separately. In this case, the prompt of the second estimation process includes information indicating the position of the designated store business area estimated in the first estimation process.

[0146] In addition, instead of using the generation AI, the analysis unit 32 can also estimate the designated store business area by statistical processing. For example, the analysis unit 32 totals the number of store users for each predetermined unit area based on information indicating the stay locations of a plurality of store users, and estimates the designated store business area based on such a total result.

[0147] For example, the analysis unit 32 can estimate one or more areas with a density equal to or higher than a predetermined value as the business area of the designated store, or estimate one or more areas with a density equal to or higher than a predetermined value, which is estimated using an estimation method such as kernel density estimation, as the business area of the designated store.

[0148] In addition, for example, the analysis unit 32 can input a prompt including process definition information, instruction information, and information necessary for estimation for extracting the process type and process target information to the generation AI, and acquire, as output information, process information including information indicating the process type and process target information from the generation AI.

[0149] The analysis unit 32 can perform a process corresponding to the process type indicated by the information indicating the process type using the process target information. The process type is, for example, but not limited to examples such as business area estimation and business area characteristic estimation. Business area estimation is a process of estimating the business area of the designated store, and business area characteristic estimation is a process of estimating the characteristics of the business area of the designated store.

[0150] The generation AI extracts and outputs, as process target information, information necessary for the process indicated by the process type among various types of information included in the prompt. For example, when the process type is business area estimation, the generation AI extracts and outputs, as process target information, information necessary for estimating the business area of the designated store among various types of information included in the prompt. The information necessary for estimating the business area of the designated store is, for example, the information described above.

[0151] In addition, when the process type is business area characteristic estimation, the generation AI extracts and outputs, as process target information, information necessary for estimating the characteristics of the business area of the designated store among various types of information included in the prompt. The information necessary for estimating the characteristics of the business area of the designated store is, for example, the information described above.

[0152] For example, when the generation AI is GPT of OpenAI, the analysis unit 32 can cause the generation AI to output the process information as output information using the function of function calling for the output information of the generation AI.

[0153] The generative AI may be a multimodal generative AI or the like. The multimodal generative AI is, for example, a generative AI that generates at least one of text, images, and audio from at least one of text, images, and audio. The multimodal generative AI is, for example, GPT-4 Turbo with vision, gemini, CM3Leon, etc., but is not limited to such examples.

[0154] In this case, the analysis unit 32 further inputs, as input information, information indicating an instruction to cause the generative AI to draw the estimated designated store business area on the map and map information indicating the area map including the designated store into the generative AI, so that the generative AI can output map information showing the designated store business area on the map.

[0155] 〔3.3.4. Provision Unit 33〕 The provision unit 33 provides various information to the service user O. For example, the provision unit 33 provides various information to the service user O by transmitting various information to the terminal device 2 via the communication unit 10 and the network N.

[0156] For example, when a usage request is received by the reception unit 31, the provision unit 33 provides the service user O with store designation information by transmitting the store designation information including list information indicating a list of stores existing in the designated area and map information of the designated area to the terminal device 2.

[0157] When the terminal device 2 receives the store designation information transmitted from the information processing device 1, it displays list information indicating a list of stores existing in the designated area and map information of the designated area based on the received store designation information. In the list information, each store existing in the designated area is arranged in a list format so that it can be individually designated, and in the map information of the designated area, store graphics indicating the positions of each store existing in the designated area are arranged on the map so that they can be individually designated.

[0158] Service user O can specify a store to be analyzed from among a plurality of stores included in the list information displayed on the terminal device 2, and can specify a store graphic corresponding to the store to be analyzed from among a plurality of store graphics included in the map information displayed on the terminal device 2. When there is a specification of a store or a store graphic by service user O, the terminal device 2 transmits a business area information request including information indicating the store specified by service user O or information indicating the store corresponding to the store graphic specified by service user O as store information to the information processing device 1.

[0159] Also, when a business area information request is received by the reception unit 31, the providing unit 33 provides map information including information indicating the designated store business area, which is the business area of the designated store estimated by the analysis unit 32, and information indicating the characteristics of the designated store business area.

[0160] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of map information provided by the providing unit 33 of the processing unit 12 in the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment and displayed on the terminal device 2. In the example shown in FIG. 7, as information indicating the characteristics of the designated store business area, the information of the character string "Analysis of the business area characteristics based on the customer base and place of residence of store A\n\n· The customers of store A are concentrated from place of residence 1 and 2, and according to the high average settlement amount in both areas, it is suggested that there are many users with a high willingness to spend on high-class Japanese cuisine such as sushi and tempura.\n· There are many users of the sports gym in place of residence 1, and it is analyzed that positioning 'healthy-oriented Japanese cuisine' is effective for the health-conscious customer base.\n· From place of residence 2, the visitors to the concert hall are remarkable, and a service design targeting 'dining after a cultural event' is required.\n· Overall, it tends to be preferred by young professionals and active seniors, and there is a high possibility of achieving differentiation within the region by highlighting the concept of 'Japanese hospitality away from the hustle and bustle of the city'." is included in the map information.

[0161] The providing unit 33 can provide the service user O with map information including, for example, information indicating the designated store's business district on a map and information indicating the characteristics of the designated store's business district. For example, the providing unit 33 provides, as map information, information in a state where the business district of the designated store estimated by the analysis unit 32 is highlighted on the map.

[0162] [4. Processing Procedure] Next, the procedure of information processing by the processing unit 12 of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of information processing by the processing unit 12 of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment.

[0163] As shown in FIG. 8, the processing unit 12 of the information processing apparatus 1 determines whether it has received a usage request from the service user O (step S10). When the processing unit 12 determines that it has received a usage request from the service user O (step S10: Yes), it provides the service user O with store designation information (step S11).

[0164] When the processing in step S11 is completed, or when the processing unit 12 determines that it has not received a usage request from the service user O (step S10: No), the processing unit 12 determines whether it has received a business district information request from the service user O (step S12).

[0165] When the processing unit 12 determines that it has received a business district information request from the service user O (step S12: Yes), it estimates the designated store's business district and the characteristics of the designated store's business district (step S13). Then, the processing unit 12 provides the service user O with map information including information indicating the designated store's business district and information indicating the characteristics of the designated store's business district (step S14).

[0166] When the processing of step S14 is completed or when it is determined that a commercial area information request has not been received from the service user O (step S12: No), the processing unit 12 determines whether or not it is time to end the operation (step S15). The processing unit 12 determines that it is time to end the operation when, for example, the power of the information processing device 1 is turned off.

[0167] If the processing unit 12 determines that the operation end time has not yet arrived (step S15: No), it proceeds to step S10, and if it determines that the operation end time has arrived (step S15: Yes), it terminates the processing shown in Figure 8.

[0168] [5. Modifications] For example, in the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 can also estimate the movement speed of store users at each location in the commercial area of the designated store based on information indicating the location history of store users as a characteristic of the commercial area of the designated store estimated in the first estimation process.

[0169] Furthermore, in the first estimation process, the analysis unit 32 can also estimate the commercial area of the designated store for each predetermined period based on information on store users for each predetermined period, etc. In this case, the provision unit 33 can also provide map information that shows on a map the commercial area of the designated store for each predetermined period estimated in the first estimation process while automatically switching over in chronological order.

[0170] Furthermore, in the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 can estimate the characteristics of the designated store trade area for each predetermined period based on information on store users for each predetermined period, etc. In this case, the provision unit 33 can provide map information that shows on a map the characteristics of the designated store trade area for each predetermined period estimated in the second estimation process while automatically switching them over time.

[0171] In addition, in the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 can estimate the characteristics of the designated store area using the posting information on the SNS related to the designated store or the posting information on the communication service related to the designated store as the information of the designated store. For example, the analysis unit 32 can estimate, as the characteristics of the designated store area, the high posting frequency of the store users in the designated store area regarding the designated store on the SNS, the high posting frequency of the store users in the designated store area regarding the designated store on the communication service, and the like.

[0172] In this case, the analysis unit 32 inputs a prompt including information instructing the estimation of the high posting frequency of the store users in the designated store area regarding the designated store on the SNS, the high posting frequency of the store users in the designated store area regarding the designated store on the communication service, and the like as the instruction information to the generation AI.

[0173] 〔6. Hardware Configuration〕 The information processing apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment is realized by a computer 80 having a configuration as shown in FIG. 9, for example. FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of the computer 80 that realizes the functions of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. The computer 80 includes a CPU 81, a RAM 82, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 83, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 84, a communication interface (I / F) 85, an input / output interface (I / F) 86, and a media interface (I / F) 87.

[0174] The CPU 81 operates based on the programs stored in the ROM 83 or the HDD 84 and controls each part. The ROM 83 stores a boot program executed by the CPU 81 when the computer 80 is started up, programs dependent on the hardware of the computer 80, and the like.

[0175] The HDD 84 stores programs executed by the CPU 81, data used by such programs, and the like. The communication interface 85 receives data from other devices via the network N (see FIG. 2), sends it to the CPU 81, and transmits the data generated by the CPU 81 to other devices via the network N.

[0176] The CPU 81 controls output devices such as displays and printers, and input devices such as keyboards or mice, via the input / output interface 86. The CPU 81 acquires data from the input device via the input / output interface 86. Also, the CPU 81 outputs the data generated via the input / output interface 86 to the output device.

[0177] The media interface 87 reads a program or data stored in the recording medium 88 and provides it to the CPU 81 via the RAM 82. The CPU 81 loads such a program from the recording medium 88 onto the RAM 82 via the media interface 87 and executes the loaded program. The recording medium 88 is, for example, an optical recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or PD (Phase change rewritable Disk), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory.

[0178] For example, when the computer 80 functions as the information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the CPU 81 of the computer 80 realizes the functions of the processing unit 12 by executing the program loaded onto the RAM 82. Also, the data in the storage unit 11 is stored in the HDD 84. The CPU 81 of the computer 80 reads and executes these programs from the recording medium 88, but as another example, these programs may be acquired from other devices via the network N.

[0179] [7. Others] In addition, among the processes described in the above embodiments, all or part of the processes described as being automatically performed can be manually performed, or all or part of the processes described as being manually performed can be automatically performed by a known method. In addition, the processing procedures, specific names, and information including various data and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified. For example, the various information shown in each figure is not limited to the illustrated information.

[0180] In addition, each component of each device shown in the drawings is a functional concept, and it is not necessarily physically configured as shown in the drawings. That is, the specific form of the distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the drawings, and all or part of it can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various loads, usage situations, etc.

[0181] For example, the information processing apparatus 1 described above may be realized by a terminal device and a server computer, or may be realized by a plurality of server computers. Also, depending on the function, the configuration can be flexibly changed, such as by calling an external platform or the like using an API or network computing.

[0182] In addition, the above-described embodiments and modified examples can be appropriately combined as long as the processing contents do not conflict.

[0183] 〔8. Effects〕 As described above, the information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes a reception unit 31, an analysis unit 32, and a provision unit 33. The reception unit 31 receives a store designation. The analysis unit 32 performs a first estimation process of estimating the business area of the store designated by the reception unit 31 and a second estimation process of estimating the characteristics of the business area estimated in the first estimation process based on the information of the store user. The provision unit 33 provides map information including information indicating the business area estimated by the analysis unit 32 and information indicating the characteristics of the business area. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 1 can provide business area information with an appropriate range of the business area of the store.

[0184] In addition, in the first estimation process, the analysis unit 32 estimates the business area based on the information indicating the stay location of the users of the store designated by the reception unit 31. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 1 can provide the business area information with the appropriate range of the business area of the store.

[0185] In addition, in the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 estimates the characteristics of the business area based on the geographical relationship between the store designated by the reception unit and the business area. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 1 can provide the business area information with the appropriate range of the business area of the store.

[0186] In addition, in the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 estimates the characteristics of the business area based on the information of the users of the store designated by the reception unit. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 1 can provide the business area information with the appropriate range of the business area of the store.

[0187] In addition, in the second estimation process, the analysis unit 32 estimates the characteristics of the business area based on the information of other stores or facilities around the store designated by the reception unit and other stores or facilities having a predetermined relationship with the store designated by the reception unit 31. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 1 can provide the business area information with the appropriate range of the business area of the store.

[0188] In addition, the analysis unit 32 performs the second estimation process using the generative AI. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 1 can provide the business area information with the appropriate range of the business area of the store.

[0189] In addition, the analysis unit 32 performs the first estimation process using the generative AI. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 1 can provide the business area information with the appropriate range of the business area of the store.

[0190] In addition, the providing unit 33 provides, as map information, information in a state where the business area estimated by the analyzing unit 32 is highlighted on a map. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 1 can provide information on the business area with an appropriate range as the business area of the store.

[0191] As described above, the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, this is an example, and the present invention can be implemented in other forms in which various modifications and improvements are made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the aspects described in the column of the disclosure of the invention.

[0192] Also, the “section (section, module, unit)” described above can be read as “means” or “circuit”. For example, the acquisition unit can be read as an acquisition means or an acquisition circuit.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0193] 1 Information processing apparatus 2 Terminal device 10 Communication unit 11 Storage unit 12 Processing unit 20 User information storage unit 21 Store information storage unit 22 Geographic information storage unit 23 Content storage unit 30 Acquisition unit 31 Reception unit 32 Analysis unit 33 Providing unit 100 Information processing system N Network

Claims

1. A reception unit that receives a store designation, An analysis unit that performs, based on the information of the user of the store, a first estimation process for estimating the business area of the store designated by the reception unit, and a second estimation process for estimating the characteristics of the business area estimated in the first estimation process, A provision unit that provides map information including information indicating the business area estimated by the analysis unit and information indicating the characteristics of the business area, An information processing apparatus characterized by the above.

2. The analysis unit, In the first estimation process, estimates the business area based on information indicating the stay location of the user of the store designated by the reception unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The analysis unit, In the second estimation process, estimates the characteristics of the business area based on the geographical relationship between the store designated by the reception unit and the business area. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

4. The analysis unit, In the second estimation process, estimates the characteristics of the business area based on information of other stores or facilities around the store designated by the reception unit and having a predetermined relationship with the store designated by the reception unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

5. The analysis unit, Performs the second estimation process using a generation AI. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

6. The analysis unit, Performs the first estimation process using the generation AI. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by the above.

7. The provision unit, Provides, as the map information, information in a state where the business area estimated by the analysis unit is highlighted on the map. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

8. An information processing method executed by a computer, comprising: A reception step of receiving a store designation, An analysis step of performing, based on the information of the user of the store, a first estimation process for estimating the business area of the store designated in the reception step, and a second estimation process for estimating the characteristics of the business area estimated in the first estimation process, A provision step of providing map information including information indicating the business area estimated in the analysis step and information indicating the characteristics of the business area. An information processing method characterized by the above.

9. A reception procedure for receiving a store designation, A first estimation process for estimating the business area of the store designated by the reception procedure, a second estimation process for estimating the characteristics of the business area estimated in the first estimation process, and an analysis procedure for performing based on the information of the store user, A provision procedure for providing map information including information indicating the business area estimated by the analysis procedure and information indicating the characteristics of the business area, which is executed by a computer An information processing program characterized by the above.

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