Information providing system, method for providing information, program, and recording medium

Abstract

To provide a user with a picture taken from a vehicle close to the current position of the user.SOLUTION: An information providing system 1 includes: a vehicle position information acquisition unit 23 for acquiring vehicle position information indicating the current positions of a plurality of vehicles; a user position information acquisition unit 13 for acquiring user position information indicating the current position of a terminal device 10 of a user; a specifying unit 140 for specifying, as a target vehicle, a vehicle located within a predetermined range from the current position of the terminal device 10 of the user; and a control unit 160 for controlling display of a picture taken by an imaging device 22 mounted in a target vehicle, on the terminal device 10 of the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information providing system, an information providing method, a program, and a recording medium. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been an information providing system that distributes images of scenery and the like captured from a moving vehicle, allowing a user to have a simulated experience of riding in the vehicle. In this type of information providing system, a user specifies a vehicle in which he or she wishes to simulate a ride and requests video distribution, and the video is distributed to the user's terminal device.

[0003] For example, one proposed technology of this type processes scenery images seen by train passengers into an appropriate state and delivers the images in real time to the user's terminal device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-97407 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 above has an issue in that, for example, even if a user wants to view video captured from a vehicle in which the user is currently riding, the user must specify the vehicle from which the user wants the video to be distributed.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems cited as examples above, and its main purpose is to provide an information provision system, information provision method, program, and recording medium that provide a user with images captured from a vehicle close to the user's current location. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 is an information provision system characterized by comprising: a vehicle position information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle position information indicating the current positions of multiple vehicles; a user position information acquisition unit that acquires user position information indicating the current position of a user's terminal device; an identification unit that identifies the vehicles located within a predetermined range from the current position of the user's terminal device as target vehicles; and a control unit that controls the display of images captured by the imaging device mounted on the target vehicles on the user's terminal device.

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 6 is an information provision method for an information provision system comprising a vehicle position information acquisition unit, a user position information acquisition unit, an identification unit, and a control unit, characterized in that the information provision method comprises: a first step in which the vehicle position information acquisition unit acquires vehicle position information indicating the current positions of multiple vehicles; a second step in which the user position information acquisition unit acquires user position information indicating the current position of a user's terminal device; a third step in which the identification unit identifies a vehicle located within a predetermined range from the current position of the user's terminal device as a target vehicle; and a fourth step in which the control unit controls the display of an image captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicle on the user's terminal device.

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 7 is a program for causing a computer to execute an information provision method of an information provision system comprising a vehicle position information acquisition unit, a user position information acquisition unit, an identification unit, and a control unit, characterized in that the program comprises: a first step in which the vehicle position information acquisition unit acquires vehicle position information indicating the current positions of a plurality of vehicles; a second step in which the user position information acquisition unit acquires user position information indicating the current position of a user's terminal device; a third step in which the identification unit identifies a vehicle located within a predetermined range from the current position of the user's terminal device as a target vehicle; and a fourth step in which the control unit controls the display of an image captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicle on the user's terminal device.

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 8 is a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to execute an information provision method for an information provision system comprising a vehicle position information acquisition unit, a user position information acquisition unit, an identification unit, and a control unit, characterized in that the information provision method for an information provision system comprises: a first step in which the vehicle position information acquisition unit acquires vehicle position information indicating the current positions of a plurality of vehicles; a second step in which the user position information acquisition unit acquires user position information indicating the current position of a user's terminal device; a third step in which the identification unit identifies a vehicle located within a predetermined range from the current position of the user's terminal device as a target vehicle; and a fourth step in which the control unit controls the display of an image captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicle on the user's terminal device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information providing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal device of the information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle in an information provision system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a server device of the information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a server device of the information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information providing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a server device of an information providing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a server device of an information providing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information providing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a server device of an information providing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a server device of an information providing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information providing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a server device of an information providing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a server device of an information providing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The information provision system of this embodiment includes a vehicle position information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle position information indicating the current positions of multiple vehicles, a user position information acquisition unit that acquires user position information indicating the current position of the user's terminal device, an identification unit that identifies vehicles located within a predetermined range from the current position of the user's terminal device as target vehicles, and a control unit that controls the display of images captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicles on the user's terminal device. In other words, the information provision system of this embodiment identifies vehicles located within a predetermined range from the current location of the terminal device carried by the user, and delivers video information captured from the identified vehicles to the user's terminal device. This allows the information providing system to provide the user with images captured from a vehicle close to the user's current location. Furthermore, the user can view, for example, a video of a landscape or the like captured from the vehicle in which the user is currently riding, without having to perform any cumbersome operations. In addition, when the vehicle the user is riding in makes an emergency stop, for example, video captured from the vehicle is delivered to the terminal device, allowing the user to estimate the reason why the vehicle made an emergency stop. For example, even if a user is walking on a road located within a predetermined range from a vehicle that has made an emergency stop, the user will be provided with footage captured from the vehicle that has made an emergency stop, allowing the user to deduce the reason why the vehicle is stopped.

[0013] The identification unit of the information provision system according to this embodiment identifies as a target vehicle a vehicle that is located within a predetermined range from the current location of the user's terminal device and that has continued to move simultaneously with the user's terminal device for a predetermined period of time. In other words, the information providing system identifies the target vehicle the user is riding in by checking whether a vehicle located within a predetermined range from the location of the terminal device 10 is moving at the same time as the terminal device 10. This allows the target vehicle in which the user is riding to be identified with high accuracy.

[0014] The control unit of the information provision system of this embodiment controls the display of images captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicle on the user's terminal device when the target vehicle is identified by the identification unit. In other words, when the control unit of the information provision system identifies the target vehicle in which the user is riding in the identification unit, it transmits the image captured by the imaging device mounted on the vehicle identified as the target vehicle to the terminal device and displays the image on the terminal device. Therefore, for example, if a user is simply sitting on a bench on a station platform, the information provision system will not identify a train stopped at the station platform or a train passing through the station platform as the target vehicle that the user is riding on. This allows the information providing system to provide the user with images captured from the vehicle in which the user is actually riding.

[0015] The information provision system of this embodiment includes an event occurrence determination unit that determines whether an event that affects the operation of the target vehicle has occurred, and if the event occurrence determination unit determines that an event that affects the operation has occurred, the control unit controls the display of images captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicle on the user's terminal device. In other words, if the information provision system determines that an emergency stop or slow driving has occurred in a vehicle in which a user is riding due to an accident, bad weather, etc., it will transmit video footage captured from the target vehicle to the user's terminal device. This allows the information providing system to immediately provide the user with video captured from the vehicle in which the user is riding, for example, when the vehicle in which the user is riding makes an emergency stop. In addition, the user is provided with video captured from the vehicle they are riding in, and can estimate the cause of the vehicle's emergency stop by checking the video.

[0016] The information provision system of this embodiment includes a scenic spot detection unit that detects when the target vehicle approaches a scenic spot with beautiful scenery, and when the scenic spot detection unit detects that the target vehicle has approached a scenic spot with beautiful scenery, the control unit controls the display of images captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicle on the user's terminal device. That is, when the target vehicle in which the user is riding approaches a scenic spot with beautiful scenery, the information providing system transmits an image captured from the target vehicle to the terminal device carried by the user. This allows the user to view images of beautiful scenery captured from the vehicle in which the user is riding, without having to perform any cumbersome operations.

[0017] The control unit of the information provision system of this embodiment controls the display on the user's terminal device of notification information indicating that images captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicle can be delivered to the user's terminal device. As a result, the user can recognize that they can view images from the imaging device installed in the vehicle they are riding in by seeing the notification information displayed on the terminal device, and can perform an operation on the terminal device to request distribution if necessary.

[0018] <Example> Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0019] Example 1 An information providing system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The information providing system 1 according to this embodiment is a system that provides a user with video information captured from a vehicle. Examples of vehicles include trains, buses, and ships. In the following description, a train will be used as an example of a vehicle.

[0020] <Configuration of Information Provision System 1> As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing system 1 includes terminal devices 10_1 to 10_N, trains 20_1 to 20_M, a server device 100, and a network 200. In the following description, the terminal devices 10_1 to 10_N will be collectively referred to as "terminal device 10." In the following description, the trains 20_1 to 20_M will be collectively referred to as "train 20." The terminal device 10 and the server device 100 are connected via a network 200 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The network 200 may be, for example, the Internet. The terminal device 10 is, for example, a smartphone or tablet carried by a user, and displays information received from the server device 100. Examples of the electric train 20 include a train, a passenger car, a diesel locomotive, a steam locomotive, and an electric locomotive. The train 20 and the server device 100 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other, for example, by wireless communication or the like. The configurations of the terminal device 10, the train 20, and the server device 100 will be described in detail later.

[0021] <Configuration of Terminal Device 10> As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 10 includes a communication unit 11, a display unit 12, a user position information acquisition unit 13, a terminal control unit 14, and an operation input unit 15.

[0022] The communication unit 11 is, for example, a known wireless communication module, and functions as an interface for the terminal device 10 to communicate with the server device 100 via the network 200. In this embodiment, the communication unit 11 transmits and receives information to and from the server device 100 via the network 200 under the control of, for example, a terminal control unit 14 described later.

[0023] The display unit 12 is, for example, a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel, and displays information under the control of a terminal control unit 14, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the display unit 12 displays, for example, video information received from a terminal control unit 14, which will be described later.

[0024] In this embodiment, the operation input unit 15 is a touch panel or the like that is integrated with a display unit, and receives user operations on the terminal device 10. The operation input unit 15 transmits a signal indicating the operation received from the user to the terminal control unit 14, which will be described later.

[0025] The user location information acquisition unit 13 acquires user location information indicating the current location of the terminal device 10 of the user. In this embodiment, the user location information acquisition unit 13 is, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) module, and acquires the current location information and current time information of the terminal device 10 based on radio waves received from a GPS satellite. In this embodiment, the user location information acquisition unit 13 acquires user location information that associates the current location information of the terminal device 10 with the current time and the terminal ID. In this embodiment, the user location information acquisition unit 13 acquires user location information every five seconds, for example. In this embodiment, the user location information acquisition unit 13 transmits the acquired user location information to the terminal control unit 14, which will be described later.

[0026] In this embodiment, the terminal control unit 14 controls the communication unit 11, for example, based on the user's operation, to transmit various information (various requests) corresponding to the user's operation and the user location information received from the user location information acquisition unit 13 to the server device 100. In this embodiment, when the terminal control unit 14 acquires, for example, a user operation requesting distribution of video taken from a vehicle, it controls the communication unit 11 to transmit a distribution request and the user location information received from the user location information acquisition unit 13 to the server device 100. In this embodiment, the terminal control unit 14 causes the display unit 12 to display, for example, video information received from the server device 100 via the communication unit 11 .

[0027] <Train 20 Configuration> As shown in FIG. 3, the train 20 includes a communication unit 21, an imaging device 22, and a vehicle position information acquisition unit .

[0028] The communication unit 21 is, for example, a wireless communication module, and functions as an interface for communicating with the server device 100. In this embodiment, the communication unit 21 functions as an interface for transmitting, for example, images captured by the imaging device 22 described later and vehicle position information of the train 20 acquired by the vehicle position information acquisition unit 23 described later to the server device 100.

[0029] The imaging device 22 is, for example, a camera mounted on the train 20 (vehicle), and captures an image of the surroundings of the train 20. In this embodiment, the imaging device 22 includes at least one camera and captures an image of the surroundings of the train 20. In this embodiment, the imaging device 22 captures an image in the direction in which the train 20 is traveling from a camera mounted on the leading car of the train 20, for example. The imaging device 22 captures an image in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the train 20 from a camera mounted on the last car of the train 20, for example. Furthermore, the imaging device 22 may further capture images of the left and right directions relative to the direction of travel of the train 20, images of the interior of the train 20, and the like. In this embodiment, the imaging device 22 transmits captured video information to the server device 100 via the communication unit 21 . In this embodiment, the imaging device 22 transmits to the server device 100 image information in which time information and a train identification number have been added to the captured image, for example. It should be noted that, for example, when a plurality of cameras are mounted on the train 20, the imaging device 22 transmits all of the images captured by the cameras to the server device 100.

[0030] The vehicle position information acquisition unit 23 acquires vehicle position information indicating the current position of the train 20 (vehicle). In this embodiment, the vehicle position information acquisition unit 23 is, for example, a GPS module, and acquires the current position (vehicle position information) of the train 20 and the current time based on radio waves received from GPS satellites. In this embodiment, the vehicle position information acquisition unit 23 acquires vehicle position information that links the current position of the train 20, the current time, and the train identification number. In this embodiment, the vehicle position information acquisition unit 23 acquires vehicle position information, for example, every five seconds. In this embodiment, the vehicle position information acquisition unit 23 transmits the acquired vehicle position information to the server device 100 via the communication unit 21.

[0031] <Configuration of Server Device 100> As shown in FIG. 4, the server device 100 includes a communication unit 110, a user position information storage unit 120, a vehicle position information storage unit 130, an identification unit 140, a video information storage unit 150, and a control unit 160.

[0032] The communication unit 110 is, for example, a known communication module, and functions as an interface for communicating with the terminal device 10 and the train 20. In this embodiment, the communication unit 110 functions as an interface for receiving various types of information (various requests) corresponding to user operations from the terminal device 10, and user position information. In this embodiment, the communication unit 110 also functions as an interface for receiving vehicle position information and video information captured on the train 20 from the train 20 . In this embodiment, the communication unit 110 transmits video information captured on the train 20 to the terminal device 10 under the control of the control unit 160, which will be described later, for example.

[0033] In this embodiment, the user location information storage unit 120 stores the user location information (current location information, current time, terminal ID) received from the terminal device 10 via the communication unit 110.

[0034] In this embodiment, the vehicle position information storage unit 130 stores vehicle position information (current position information, current time, train identification number) received from the train 20 (vehicle) via the communication unit 110.

[0035] The identification unit 140 identifies, as the target vehicle, a train 20 (vehicle) located within a predetermined range from the current location of the user's terminal device 10. In other words, the identification unit 140 identifies the train 20 on which the user is riding or the train 20 located near the user as the target vehicle. In this embodiment, the identification unit 140 identifies the target vehicle based on the user position information stored in the user position information storage unit 120 and the vehicle position information stored in the vehicle position information storage unit 130. In this embodiment, the identification unit 140 identifies, for example, trains 20 located within 300 m from the user's current location. In this embodiment, the specifying unit 140 transmits specifying information that links the train identification number of the specified train 20 with the terminal ID of the terminal device 10 to the control unit 160, which will be described later.

[0036] In this embodiment, the video information storage unit 150 stores the video information received from the imaging device 22 mounted on the train 20 via the communication unit 110 .

[0037] The control unit 160 controls the overall processing of the server device 100 in accordance with a control program stored in a ROM or the like (not shown). In response to a distribution request received from the terminal device 10, the control unit 160 performs control to display on the user's terminal device 10 the video captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the target vehicle. In this embodiment, when the control unit 160 receives identification information (train identification number, terminal ID of the terminal device 10) from the identification unit 140, it controls the terminal device 10 to display the image captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the target vehicle identified by the identification unit 140. In this embodiment, the control unit 160 acquires, for example, from the video information storage unit 150, video information to which the same train identification number as the train identification number of the target vehicle included in the identification information received from the identification unit 140 has been added. In this embodiment, the control unit 160 controls the communication unit 110 to transmit the video information acquired from the video information storage unit 150 to the terminal device 10 to which the terminal ID included in the identification information received from the identification unit 140 has been assigned.

[0038] <Processing flow of the server device 100> The processing flow of the server device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0039] The control unit 160 determines whether or not a distribution request has been received from the terminal device 10 (step S100). If the control unit 160 determines that a distribution request has not been received from the terminal device 10 ("NO" in step S100), the control unit 160 returns the process to the standby state. If the control unit 160 determines that a distribution request has been received from the terminal device 10 ("YES" in step S100), the control unit 160 moves the process to step S110.

[0040] The identification unit 140 identifies target vehicles located within a predetermined range (e.g., within 300 m) from the terminal device 10 carried by the user based on the information stored in the user position information storage unit 120 and the vehicle position information storage unit 130 (step S110).

[0041] The control unit 160 determines whether or not the identification information has been received from the identification unit 140 (step S120). When the control unit 160 determines that the identification information has not been received from the identification unit 140 ("NO" in step S120), the control unit 160 returns the process to the standby state. When the control unit 160 determines that the identification information has been received from the identification unit 140 ("YES" in step S120), the control unit 160 moves the process to step S130.

[0042] When the control unit 160 determines that it has received identification information from the identification unit 140 ("YES" in step S120), it starts transmitting to the terminal device 10 the video captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the train 20 identified as the target vehicle (step S130). The control unit 160 then continues video distribution to the terminal device 10 until a predetermined termination condition, such as receiving a stop request from the terminal device 10, is met, and when the predetermined termination condition is met, stops video distribution to the terminal device 10 and terminates the processing.

[0043] As explained above, the information provision system 1 according to this embodiment includes a vehicle position information acquisition unit 23 that acquires vehicle position information indicating the current positions of a plurality of trains 20 (vehicles), a user position information acquisition unit 13 that acquires user position information indicating the current position of the user's terminal device 10, an identification unit 140 that identifies a train 20 (vehicle) located within a predetermined range from the current position of the user's terminal device 10 as a target vehicle, and a control unit 160 that controls the display on the user's terminal device 10 of an image captured by an imaging device 22 mounted on the train 20 (vehicle) identified as the target vehicle. In other words, the information providing system 1 according to this embodiment identifies trains 20 (vehicles) located within a predetermined range (for example, within 300 m) from the current location of the terminal device 10 carried by the user, and delivers video information captured from the identified trains 20 (vehicles) to the user's terminal device 10. This allows the information providing system 1 to provide the user with images captured from a train 20 (vehicle) close to the user's current location or from the train 20 (vehicle) that the user is boarding. According to the information provision system 1 of this embodiment, the user can easily view images of scenery, etc. captured from a train 20 (vehicle) close to the user's current location without having to perform the cumbersome operation of searching for and specifying the desired vehicle from a huge number of vehicles. In addition, when the train 20 (vehicle) on which the user is riding makes an emergency stop, for example, video captured from the train 20 (vehicle) on which the user is riding is distributed to the terminal device 10, allowing the user to estimate the reason why the train 20 (vehicle) made an emergency stop. Furthermore, for example, even if a user is walking on a road located within a predetermined range from a train 20 (vehicle) that has made an emergency stop, the user is provided with video captured from the vehicle that has made an emergency stop, allowing the user to infer the reason why the vehicle has stopped.

[0044] <Example 2> An information providing system 1A according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that components with the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment have the same functions, and therefore detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0045] <Configuration of information provision system 1A> As shown in FIG. 6, the information providing system 1A includes a terminal device 10, a train 20, a server device 100A, and a network 200.

[0046] <Configuration of Server Device 100A> As shown in FIG. 7, the server device 100A includes a communication unit 110, a user position information storage unit 120, a vehicle position information storage unit 130, an identification unit 140A, a video information storage unit 150, and a control unit 160A.

[0047] The identification unit 140A identifies, as a target vehicle, a vehicle that is located within a predetermined range from the current location of the user's terminal device 10 and that has continued to move simultaneously with the user's terminal device for a predetermined period of time. In this embodiment, the identification unit 140A includes a movement determination means 170, which will be described later, and identifies a vehicle that the movement determination means 170 has determined to be boarded by the user as a target vehicle. To this end, the identification unit 140A first extracts trains 20 (vehicles) located within a predetermined range from the current location of the user's terminal device 10 (for example, within 300 m from the user's current location) based on the user location information stored in the user location information storage unit 120 and the vehicle location information stored in the vehicle location information storage unit 130. For example, if there are multiple trains 20 located within 300 meters of the user's current location, the identification unit 140A may extract the multiple trains 20. Then, the identification unit 140A determines, by the movement determination means 170, whether the user is on the extracted train 20. The identification unit 140A identifies the vehicle that the movement determination means 170 has determined the user is riding in as the target vehicle, and transmits identification information linking the train identification number of the identified target vehicle, the train 20, with the terminal ID of the terminal device 10 to the control unit 160A, which will be described later.

[0048] The movement determination means 170 of the identification unit 140A determines whether or not the state in which the current position of the user's terminal device 10 and the current position of the extracted vehicle move simultaneously has continued for a predetermined period of time. In other words, the movement determining means 170 determines whether or not the user is on the train 20 extracted by the identifying unit 140A. The movement determination means 170 refers to the location information acquired from the user location information storage unit 120 and the location information acquired from the vehicle location information storage unit 130 for each of the user's terminal device 10 and the extracted train 20, and determines whether the state in which the location of the user's terminal device 10 and the location of the extracted train 20 are moving simultaneously has continued for, for example, 60 seconds or more. The movement determination means 170 determines that the user is on the extracted train 20 when the state in which the position of the user's terminal device 10 and the position of the extracted train 20 move simultaneously continues for, for example, 60 seconds or more, and determines that the user is not on the extracted train 20 when this state does not continue for 60 seconds or more. In addition, even if the position of the user's terminal device 10 and the position of the extracted train 20 are moving simultaneously, the movement determination means 170 may determine that the user is not on the extracted train 20 if it determines that the distance from the user's position (position information acquired from the user position information storage unit 120) to the position of the extracted train 20 (position information acquired from the vehicle position information storage unit 130) is, for example, 300 m or more. Furthermore, if multiple trains 20 located within 300 m of the user's current location have been extracted, the movement determination means 170 determines whether the state of movement of each of the extracted multiple trains 20, either sequentially or simultaneously with the terminal device 10, has continued for, for example, 60 seconds or more, and if there is a train 20 determined to have continued for 60 seconds or more, it determines that the user is on that determined train 20, and if there is no train 20 determined to have continued for 60 seconds or more, it determines that the user is not on any of the extracted multiple trains 20.

[0049] The control unit 160A controls the overall processing of the server device 100A in accordance with a control program stored in a ROM or the like (not shown). In response to a distribution request received from the terminal device 10, the control unit 160A performs control to display on the terminal device 10 of the user the video captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the target vehicle. In this embodiment, the control unit 160A acquires from the video information storage unit 150 video information to which the same train identification number as the train identification number of the target vehicle included in the identification information received from the identification unit 140A has been added. In this embodiment, the control unit 160A controls the communication unit 110 to transmit the video information acquired from the video information storage unit 150 to the terminal device 10 to which the terminal ID included in the identification information received from the identification unit 140A has been assigned.

[0050] <Processing flow of the server device 100A> The processing flow of the server device 100A will be described with reference to FIG.

[0051] The control unit 160A determines whether or not a distribution request has been received from the terminal device 10 (step S200). If the control unit 160A determines that a distribution request has not been received from the terminal device 10 ("NO" in step S200), the control unit 160A returns the process to a standby state. If the control unit 160A determines that a distribution request has been received from the terminal device 10 ("YES" in step S200), the control unit 160A moves the process to step S210.

[0052] The identification unit 140A extracts vehicles located within a predetermined range (e.g., within 300 m) from the user's terminal device 10 based on the information stored in the user position information storage unit 120 and the vehicle position information storage unit 130 (step S210).

[0053] The movement determination means 170 of the identification unit 140A determines whether the state in which the position of the vehicle extracted in step S210 and the position of the terminal device 10 move simultaneously has continued for a predetermined time (step S220). If the movement determination means 170 of the identification unit 140A determines that the state in which the position of the extracted vehicle and the position of the terminal device 10 move simultaneously has not continued for a predetermined period of time ("NO" in step S220), the control unit 160A determines that the user is not on the extracted vehicle and terminates the processing. In step S210, if multiple vehicles located within a predetermined range from the terminal device 10 are extracted, the movement determination means 170 determines whether the position of all of the multiple vehicles continues to move simultaneously with the terminal device 10, either sequentially or simultaneously, for a predetermined period of time, and if it is determined that the position of none of the multiple vehicles continues to move simultaneously with the terminal device 10 for a predetermined period of time, it determines that the user is not riding on any of the extracted vehicles and terminates the processing. On the other hand, if the movement determination means 170 determines that the state in which the position of the extracted vehicle and the position of the terminal device 10 move simultaneously has continued for a predetermined time ("YES" in step S220), the control unit 160A determines that the user is riding on the extracted vehicle and transitions to step S230.

[0054] The identification unit 140A identifies the vehicle that has been determined to be boarded by the user in step S220 as a target vehicle, and transmits identification information to the control unit 160A (step S230).

[0055] The control unit 160A determines whether or not the identification information has been received from the identification unit 140A (step S240). When control unit 160A determines that identification information has not been received from identification unit 140A ("NO" in step S240), control unit 160A returns the process to the standby state. When control unit 160A determines that identification information has been received from identification unit 140A ("YES" in step S240), control unit 160A moves the process to step S250.

[0056] When the control unit 160A determines that it has received identification information from the identification unit 140A ("YES" in step S240), it starts transmitting to the terminal device 10 the video captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the train 20 identified as the target vehicle (step S250). The control unit 160A then continues video distribution to the terminal device 10 until a predetermined termination condition, such as receiving a stop request from the terminal device 10, is met, and when the predetermined termination condition is met, stops video distribution to the terminal device 10 and terminates the processing.

[0057] As explained above, the identification unit 140A of the information provision system 1A according to this embodiment uses the movement determination means 170 to determine whether the current position of the user's terminal device 10 and the current position of the target vehicle have continued to move simultaneously for a predetermined period of time. In other words, the information providing system 1A identifies the target vehicle the user is riding on by checking whether a train 20 (vehicle) located within a predetermined range (for example, within 300 m) from the current location of the terminal device 10 carried by the user is traveling at the same time as the terminal device 10. This allows the target vehicle in which the user is riding to be determined with high accuracy. The control unit 160A of the information provision system 1A of this embodiment controls the display unit 12 of the user's terminal device 10 to display the image captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the target vehicle when the current position of the user's terminal device 10 and the current position of the target vehicle continue to move simultaneously for a predetermined period of time. Then, the control unit 160A of the information provision system 1A transmits the image captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the target vehicle identified by the identification unit 140A to the terminal device 10, and displays the image on the display unit 12 of the terminal device 10. Therefore, for example, if a user is simply sitting on a bench on a station platform, the information provision system 1A will not identify a train stopped at the station platform or a train passing through the station platform as the target vehicle that the user is riding on. This allows the information providing system 1A to provide the user with a video image captured from the train 20 (vehicle) that the user is actually riding on. According to the information provision system 1A of this embodiment, the user can easily view images of scenery, etc. captured from the train 20 (vehicle) that the user is currently riding on, without having to perform the cumbersome operation of searching for and specifying the vehicle that the user is currently riding on from a huge number of vehicles.

[0058] Example 3 An information providing system 1B according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that components with the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment have the same functions, and therefore detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0059] <Configuration of Information Provision System 1B> As shown in FIG. 9, the information providing system 1B includes a terminal device 10, a train 20, a server device 100B, and a network 200.

[0060] <Configuration of Server Device 100B> As shown in FIG. 10, the server device 100B is configured to include a communication unit 110, a user position information storage unit 120, a vehicle position information storage unit 130, an identification unit 140B, a video information storage unit 150, a control unit 160B, and an event occurrence determination unit 180.

[0061] The identification unit 140B identifies the train 20 (vehicle) located within a predetermined range from the current location of the terminal device 10 of the user as the target vehicle. In other words, the identification unit 140B identifies the train 20 (vehicle) on which the user is riding or a train 20 located near the user as the target vehicle. In this embodiment, the identification unit 140B identifies the target vehicle based on the user location information stored in the user location information storage unit 120 and the vehicle location information stored in the vehicle location information storage unit 130 in response to a distribution request received from the terminal device 10. In this embodiment, the identification unit 140B identifies, for example, trains 20 located within 300 m from the user's current location. In this embodiment, the identification unit 140B transmits identification information linking the train identification number of the identified train 20 with the terminal ID of the terminal device 10 to the control unit 160B and the event occurrence determination unit 180, which will be described later.

[0062] The control unit 160B controls the overall processing of the server device 100B in accordance with a control program stored in a ROM or the like (not shown). When the event occurrence determination unit 180 described below determines that an event affecting operation has occurred, the control unit 160B controls the display of the image captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the target vehicle on the user's terminal device 10 in response to a distribution request received from the terminal device 10. In this embodiment, when the control unit 160B receives a determination result from the event occurrence determination unit 180 described later that an event has occurred, the control unit 160B acquires from the video information storage unit 150 video information to which a train identification number identical to the train identification number of the target vehicle included in the identification information received from the identification unit 140B has been added. In this embodiment, the control unit 160B controls the communication unit 110 to transmit the video information acquired from the video information storage unit 150 to the terminal device 10 to which the terminal ID included in the identification information received from the identification unit 140B is assigned.

[0063] The event occurrence determination unit 180 determines whether or not an event that affects the operation of the train 20 (vehicle) has occurred. The event occurrence determination unit 180 may determine whether an event affecting the operation of the train 20 (vehicle) has occurred, for example, based on images captured by an imaging device 22 mounted on the train 20 (vehicle), or may determine the occurrence based on information obtained from the management server of the operator that manages the operation of the train 20 (vehicle). If the event occurrence determination unit 180 determines that an event affecting the operation of the train 20 (vehicle) has occurred, it may store event information in a memory unit (not shown) that associates the train identification number of the train 20 in which the event affecting operation is occurring with the content of the event. In this embodiment, in response to a distribution request received from the terminal device 10, the event occurrence determination unit 180 obtains from the video information storage unit 150 video information assigned the same train identification number as the train identification number of the target vehicle included in the identification information received from the identification unit 140B, performs image analysis of the obtained video, and determines whether an event that will affect operation has occurred. Alternatively, in this embodiment, the event occurrence determination unit 180 may determine whether an event affecting the operation of the target vehicle has occurred by searching a memory unit (not shown) for event information associated with the same train identification number as the train identification number of the target vehicle included in the identification information received from the identification unit 140B in response to a distribution request received from the terminal device 10. Here, examples of events that affect operation include an emergency stop or slow operation of the train 20 due to an accident, a fallen tree on the tracks, poor visibility, bad weather, etc. When it is determined that an event that affects the operation of the target vehicle has occurred, the event occurrence determination unit 180 transmits the determination result that an event has occurred to the control unit 160B. On the other hand, when the event occurrence determination unit 180 determines that no event that will affect the operation of the target vehicle has occurred, it transmits the determination result that no event has occurred to the control unit 160B.

[0064] <Processing flow of the server device 100B> The processing flow of the server device 100B will be described with reference to FIG.

[0065] The control unit 160B determines whether or not a distribution request has been received from the terminal device 10 (step S300). When the control unit 160B determines that a distribution request has not been received from the terminal device 10 ("NO" in step S300), the control unit 160B returns the process to the standby state. If the control unit 160B determines that a distribution request has been received from the terminal device 10 ("YES" in step S300), the control unit 160B moves the process to step S310.

[0066] The identification unit 140B identifies target vehicles located within a predetermined range (e.g., within 300 m) from the terminal device 10 carried by the user based on the information stored in the user position information storage unit 120 and the vehicle position information storage unit 130 (step S310).

[0067] The control unit 160B determines whether or not identification information has been received from the identification unit 140B (step S320). When control unit 160B determines that it has not received the identification information from identification unit 140B ("NO" in step S320), control unit 160B returns the process and transitions to a standby state. When control unit 160B determines that identification information has been received from identification unit 140B ("YES" in step S320), control unit 160B moves the process to step S330.

[0068] The control unit 160B determines whether an event that affects the operation of the target vehicle has occurred (step S330). When the control unit 160B receives a determination result from the event occurrence determination unit 180 indicating that no event has occurred ("NO" in step S330), the control unit 160B returns the process to the standby state. When control unit 160B receives a determination result from event occurrence determination unit 180 indicating that an event has occurred ("YES" in step S330), control unit 160B moves the process to step S340.

[0069] If the control unit 160B determines that an event affecting operation has occurred ("YES" in step S330), it controls the communication unit 110 to start transmitting, to the terminal device 10, images captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the train 20 identified as the target vehicle (step S340). The control unit 160 then continues video distribution to the terminal device 10 until a predetermined termination condition, such as receiving a stop request from the terminal device 10, is met, and when the predetermined termination condition is met, stops video distribution to the terminal device 10 and terminates the processing.

[0070] As explained above, the information provision system 1B according to this embodiment includes an event occurrence determination unit 180 that determines whether or not an event that affects the operation of the target vehicle has occurred, and if the event occurrence determination unit 180 determines that an event that affects the operation has occurred, the control unit 160B controls the display of the image captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the target vehicle on the user's terminal device 10. In other words, when the information providing system 1B determines that an emergency stop or slow driving has occurred in the target vehicle in which the user is riding, for example, due to an accident or bad weather, it transmits video captured from the target vehicle to the terminal device 10 carried by the user. As a result, for example, when the train 20 on which the user is riding makes an emergency stop, the information providing system 1B can immediately provide the user with a video image captured from the train 20 on which the user is riding. Furthermore, the user can view the video captured from the train 20 (vehicle) that he or she is currently riding on without having to perform any cumbersome operations. This allows the user to estimate the cause of the emergency stop of the train 20 by checking the video. Furthermore, even if a user is walking on a road located within a predetermined range from a train 20 that has made an emergency stop, the user is provided with video captured from the vehicle that has made an emergency stop, allowing the user to infer the reason why the vehicle has stopped.

[0071] Example 4 An information providing system 1C according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that components with the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment have the same functions, and therefore detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0072] <Configuration of Information Provision System 1C> As shown in FIG. 12, the information providing system 1C includes a terminal device 10, a train 20, a server device 100C, and a network 200.

[0073] <Configuration of Server Device 100C> As shown in FIG. 13, the server device 100C is configured to include a communication unit 110, a user position information storage unit 120, a vehicle position information storage unit 130, an identification unit 140C, a video information storage unit 150, a control unit 160C, and a scenic spot detection unit 190.

[0074] The identification unit 140C identifies the train 20 (vehicle) located within a predetermined range from the current location of the terminal device 10 of the user as the target vehicle. In other words, the identification unit 140C identifies the train 20 (vehicle) on which the user is riding or a train 20 located near the user as the target vehicle. In this embodiment, the identification unit 140C identifies the target vehicle based on the user position information stored in the user position information storage unit 120 and the vehicle position information stored in the vehicle position information storage unit 130 in response to a distribution request received from the terminal device 10. In this embodiment, the identification unit 140C identifies, for example, trains 20 located within 300 meters from the user's current location. In this embodiment, the specifying unit 140C transmits specifying information linking the train identification number of the specified train 20 with the terminal ID of the terminal device 10 to the control unit 160C and the scenic spot detection unit 190, which will be described later.

[0075] The control unit 160C controls the overall processing of the server device 100C in accordance with a control program stored in a ROM or the like (not shown). When the scenic spot detection unit 190 described later detects that the target vehicle has approached a scenic spot with beautiful scenery, the control unit 160C performs control to display, on the user's terminal device 10, the video captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the target vehicle in response to a distribution request received from the terminal device 10. In this embodiment, when the control unit 160C receives a detection result from the scenic spot detection unit 190 (described later) indicating that the vehicle has approached a scenic spot, the control unit 160C acquires from the video information storage unit 150 video information to which the same train identification number as the train identification number of the target vehicle included in the identification information received from the identification unit 140C has been added. In this embodiment, the control unit 160C controls the communication unit 110 to transmit the video information acquired from the video information storage unit 150 to the terminal device 10 to which the terminal ID included in the identification information received from the identification unit 140C is assigned.

[0076] The scenic spot detection unit 190 detects that the target vehicle has approached a scenic spot with beautiful scenery. In this embodiment, the scenic spot detection unit 190 detects that the target vehicle has approached a scenic spot with beautiful scenery based on images captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the train 20 identified as the target vehicle by the identification unit 140C. In this embodiment, the scenic spot detection unit 190 acquires from the video information storage unit 150 video information assigned the same train identification number as the train identification number of the target vehicle included in the identification information received from the identification unit 140C, performs image analysis of the acquired video, and detects that the train 20 has approached a scenic spot with beautiful scenery. Alternatively, in this embodiment, the scenic spot detection unit 190 may detect that the target vehicle has approached a scenic spot with beautiful scenery based on a comparison between the current position of the train 20 identified as the target vehicle by the identification unit 140C and scenic spot position information that is stored in advance in the server device 100 and that is registered with position information of points where beautiful scenery can be seen. In this embodiment, when the scenic spot detection unit 190 detects that the train 20 on which the user is boarding is approaching a scenic spot with beautiful scenery, it transmits the detection result indicating that the train 20 has approached the scenic spot to the control unit 160C.

[0077] <Processing flow of the server device 100C> The processing flow of the server device 100C will be described with reference to FIG.

[0078] The control unit 160C determines whether or not a distribution request has been received from the terminal device 10 (step S400). If the control unit 160C determines that a distribution request has not been received from the terminal device 10 ("NO" in step S400), the control unit 160C returns the process to the standby state. If the control unit 160C determines that a distribution request has been received from the terminal device 10 ("YES" in step S400), the control unit 160C moves the process to step S410.

[0079] The identification unit 140C identifies target vehicles located within a predetermined range (e.g., within 300 m) from the terminal device 10 carried by the user based on the information stored in the user position information storage unit 120 and the vehicle position information storage unit 130 (step S410).

[0080] The control unit 160C determines whether or not the identification information has been received from the identification unit 140C (step S420). When control unit 160C determines that identification information has not been received from identification unit 140C ("NO" in step S420), control unit 160C returns the process and transitions to a standby state. When control unit 160C determines that identification information has been received from identification unit 140C ("YES" in step S420), control unit 160C moves the process to step S430.

[0081] The control unit 160C determines whether the target vehicle has approached a scenic spot (step S430). If the control unit 160C has not received a detection result from the scenic spot detection unit 190 indicating that the target vehicle has approached a scenic spot ("NO" in step S430), the control unit 160C returns the process and transitions to a standby state. When the control unit 160C receives a detection result from the scenic spot detection unit 190 indicating that the target vehicle has approached a scenic spot ("YES" in step S430), the control unit 160C shifts the processing to step S440.

[0082] When the control unit 160C receives a detection result from the scenic spot detection unit 190 indicating that the target vehicle has approached a scenic spot ("YES" in step S430), the control unit 160C controls the communication unit 110 to start transmitting, to the terminal device 10, the video captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the train 20 identified as the target vehicle (step S440). The control unit 160 then continues video distribution to the terminal device 10 until a predetermined termination condition, such as receiving a stop request from the terminal device 10, is met, and when the predetermined termination condition is met, stops video distribution to the terminal device 10 and terminates the processing.

[0083] As explained above, the information provision system 1C according to this embodiment includes a scenic spot detection unit 190 that detects that the target vehicle has approached a scenic spot with beautiful scenery, and when the scenic spot detection unit 190 detects that the target vehicle has approached a scenic spot with beautiful scenery, the control unit 160C controls the display of images captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the target vehicle on the user's terminal device 10. That is, when the target vehicle on which the user is riding approaches a scenic spot with beautiful scenery, the information providing system 1C transmits an image captured from the target vehicle to the terminal device 10 carried by the user. This allows the user to view a beautiful scenic image captured from the train 20 on which the user is riding, without having to perform any cumbersome operations.

[0084] <Variation 1> In Examples 1 to 4, when multiple cameras are mounted on the train 20 (vehicle), the information providing system 1, 1A, 1B, or 1C may be configured to switch the image displayed on the terminal device 10 in accordance with the user's selection operation on the terminal device 10. For example, server device 100, 100A, 100B, or 100C may display images captured by each of multiple cameras on terminal device 10 in a multi-screen display format, and, based on a user operation to select one or more images in the multi-screen, may display images from the camera corresponding to the selected images on terminal device 10. Alternatively, for example, server device 100, 100A, 100B, or 100C may display on terminal device 10 a schematic diagram of the target vehicle showing the installation position and shooting direction of each of the multiple cameras mounted on the target vehicle, and based on a user operation to select one or more cameras on the schematic diagram screen, display the image of the selected camera on terminal device 10. This allows the user to select a video that matches their preferences.

[0085] <Variation 2> In the first to fourth embodiments, if a distribution request is not received from the user's terminal device 10, the terminal device 10 may be notified that video captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the train 20 (vehicle) on which the user is riding can be distributed. In this case, the user's terminal device 10 transmits the user location information to the server device 100, 100A, 100B, or 100C even when it is not transmitting a distribution request. The server device 100, 100A, 100B, or 100C receives, from a plurality of trains 20, vehicle position information to which information indicating whether or not camera footage is available for distribution is further added, for example. When the control unit 160, 160A, 160B or 160C of the server device 100, 100A, 100B or 100C determines that it is possible to distribute camera footage of the train 20 that the user is boarding based on the vehicle location information corresponding to the train 20 identified as the target vehicle that the user is boarding, it causes the terminal device 10 to display notification information that it is possible to distribute camera footage of the train 20 that the user is boarding. When the notification information is displayed on the terminal device 10, the user can recognize that he or she can view the video from the camera mounted on the train 20 he or she is riding on, and can perform an operation on the terminal device 10 to request distribution if necessary.

[0086] <Variation 3> In Example 3, even if a distribution request is not received from the user's terminal device 10, when an event occurs that affects the operation of the train 20 (vehicle) on which the user is riding, the terminal device 10 may be notified that video captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the train 20 (vehicle) on which the user is riding can be distributed. In this case, the user's terminal device 10 transmits the user location information to the server device 100B even when it has not transmitted a distribution request. When the server device 100B determines that an event has occurred that will affect the operation of the train 20 identified as the target vehicle on which the user is boarding, it notifies the terminal device 10 of notification information that includes the fact that an event has occurred that will affect the operation of the train 20 on which the user is boarding and that camera footage of the train 20 on which the user is boarding is available for distribution. When the notification information is sent to the terminal device 10, the user can recognize that he or she can view images from a camera mounted on the train 20 that the user is riding on, and for example, if the user wants to know what is happening outside the train 20, the user can perform an operation on the terminal device 10 to request distribution.

[0087] <Variation 4> In Example 4, even if a distribution request is not received from the user's terminal device 10, if it is detected that the train 20 (vehicle) on which the user is riding is approaching a scenic spot with beautiful scenery, the terminal device 10 may be notified that video captured by the imaging device 22 mounted on the train 20 (vehicle) on which the user is riding can be distributed. In this case, the user's terminal device 10 transmits the user location information to the server device 100B even when it has not transmitted a distribution request. When the server device 100B detects that the train 20 identified as the target vehicle that the user is boarding is approaching a scenic spot with beautiful scenery, it notifies the terminal device 10 of notification information that includes the fact that the train 20 that the user is boarding is approaching the scenic spot and that camera footage of the train 20 that the user is boarding is available for distribution. When the notification information is sent to the terminal device 10, the user can recognize that he or she can view images from a camera mounted on the train 20 that he or she is riding on, and can perform an operation on the terminal device 10 to request distribution, for example, if the user wants to see the scenery ahead of the train 20.

[0088] The above describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. However, all information provision systems that can be implemented by a person skilled in the art by appropriately modifying the design based on the information provision system described above as an embodiment of the present invention also fall within the scope of the present invention as long as they include the gist of the present invention. Within the scope of the concept of the present invention, a person skilled in the art may conceive of various modifications and alterations, and it is understood that these modifications and alterations also fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, any embodiment in which a person skilled in the art has appropriately added or deleted components or modified the design, or added or omitted steps or modified conditions, is included within the scope of the present invention as long as it contains the essence of the present invention.

[0089] Furthermore, other effects and advantages brought about by the aspects described in this embodiment that are clear from the description in this specification or that can be appropriately thought of by a person skilled in the art are naturally understood to be brought about by the present invention. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining the multiple components disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be omitted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, components from different embodiments may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 1. Information provision system 10. Terminal equipment 11;Communications Department 12;Display section 13: User location information acquisition unit 14; Terminal control unit 15: Operation input section 20. Train 21;Communications Department 22. Imaging device 23: Vehicle location information acquisition unit 100;Server device 110;Communications Department 120: User location information storage unit 130: Vehicle location information storage unit 140;Specific part 150: Video information storage section 160;Control section 170; Movement determination means 180: Event occurrence determination unit 190: Landscape point detection unit 200;Network

Claims

1. a vehicle position information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle position information indicating the current positions of a plurality of vehicles; a user location information acquisition unit that acquires user location information indicating a current location of a user's terminal device; an identification unit that identifies the vehicle located within a predetermined range from the current location of the user's terminal device as a target vehicle; a control unit that controls the display of an image captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicle on the terminal device of the user; An information providing system comprising:

2. The information provision system described in claim 1, characterized in that the identification unit identifies as the target vehicle a vehicle that is located within a predetermined range from the current location of the user's terminal device and has continued to move simultaneously with the user's terminal device for a predetermined period of time.

3. an event occurrence determination unit that determines whether an event that affects the operation of the target vehicle has occurred; The information provision system described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the event occurrence determination unit determines that an event affecting operation has occurred, the control unit controls the display of images captured by the imaging device installed on the target vehicle on the user's terminal device.

4. a scenic spot detection unit that detects when the target vehicle approaches a scenic spot with beautiful scenery; The information provision system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the scenic spot detection unit detects that the target vehicle has approached a scenic spot with beautiful scenery, the control unit controls the display of images captured by the imaging device mounted on the target vehicle on the user's terminal device.

5. The information provision system described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit controls the display on the user's terminal device of notification information indicating that images captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicle can be distributed to the user's terminal device.

6. An information providing method for an information providing system including a vehicle position information acquiring unit, a user position information acquiring unit, an identifying unit, and a control unit, a first step in which the vehicle position information acquisition unit acquires vehicle position information indicating current positions of a plurality of vehicles; a second step in which the user location information acquisition unit acquires user location information indicating a current location of the user's terminal device; a third step in which the identification unit identifies the vehicle located within a predetermined range from the current location of the user's terminal device as a target vehicle; a fourth step in which the control unit controls the display of an image captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicle on the terminal device of the user; An information providing method for an information providing system, comprising:

7. A program for causing a computer to execute an information providing method for an information providing system including a vehicle position information acquisition unit, a user position information acquisition unit, an identification unit, and a control unit, a first step in which the vehicle position information acquisition unit acquires vehicle position information indicating current positions of a plurality of vehicles; a second step in which the user location information acquisition unit acquires user location information indicating a current location of the user's terminal device; a third step in which the identification unit identifies the vehicle located within a predetermined range from the current location of the user's terminal device as a target vehicle; a fourth step in which the control unit controls the display of an image captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicle on the terminal device of the user; 2. A program for causing a computer to execute an information providing method for an information providing system, comprising:

8. A computer-readable non-transitory recording medium having a program recorded thereon for causing a computer to execute an information provision method of an information provision system including a vehicle position information acquisition unit, a user position information acquisition unit, an identification unit, and a control unit, a first step in which the vehicle position information acquisition unit acquires vehicle position information indicating current positions of a plurality of vehicles; a second step in which the user location information acquisition unit acquires user location information indicating a current location of the user's terminal device; a third step in which the identification unit identifies the vehicle located within a predetermined range from the current location of the user's terminal device as a target vehicle; a fourth step in which the control unit controls the display of an image captured by an imaging device mounted on the target vehicle on the terminal device of the user; A computer-readable non-transitory recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to execute an information providing method for an information providing system comprising:

Images