Information providing system, information providing method, and information providing program

Abstract

To allow a user to recognize information on bodily sensation about each place in the future, and to call the user's action such as use of the place.SOLUTION: The information providing device 10 includes a sensor data acquisition unit that acquires sensor data associated with a date and time in each of a plurality of places, a weather data acquisition unit that acquires weather data indicating a weather condition of each of the plurality of places at a current date and time and a past date and time, an index value estimation unit that estimates an index value at the estimation target time of each of the plurality of places based on sensor data associated with a similar date and time that is a date and time associated with weather data similar to the weather data at the estimation target time by a given degree or more, an experience information generation unit that generates experience information based on an estimated index value that is an index value of each place at the estimation target time, and an output unit that outputs the experience information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] BACKGROUND ART There is known a technique for encouraging users to use comfortable places and improving convenience for users by providing users with information about outdoor places that are highly comfortable (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-98581 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The technology described in Patent Document 1 provides a user with a comfort level derived based on environmental condition information such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed. However, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, the comfort level is derived based on current environmental condition information. Therefore, in an outdoor environment where environmental conditions change over time, information based on the current environmental condition may not be useful information for the user when deciding on future actions. In order to provide useful information to the user and further encourage the user to take actions such as moving to and using a comfortable place, information from a time later than the present is necessary.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to allow a user to recognize information about the bodily sensations he or she will have at each location in the future. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, an information provision system according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an information provision system that provides bodily sensation information based on a predetermined index value related to bodily sensations for at least one location among a plurality of locations at an estimated target time after the present, and includes: a sensor data acquisition unit that acquires sensor data associated with a date and time for each of the plurality of locations, the sensor data including at least one sensor value used to calculate an index value; a weather data acquisition unit that acquires weather data indicating at least the weather conditions of each of the plurality of locations at each date and time before the present; a weather forecast acquisition unit that acquires weather forecast data including at least predicted weather conditions that predict the weather conditions of each of the plurality of locations at the estimated target time; an index value estimation unit that estimates an index value for each location at the estimated target time based at least on sensor data associated with a similar date and time, which is a date and time associated with weather data that is similar to the weather forecast data for the estimated target time to a given degree or more; a bodily sensation information generation unit that generates bodily sensation information based on an estimated index value that is the estimated index value for each location; and an output unit that outputs the bodily sensation information.

[0007] An information provision method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an information provision method executed by an information provision system having at least one processor, which provides bodily sensation information based on a predetermined index value related to bodily sensations for at least one location out of a plurality of locations at a target time of estimation, the information provision method including: a sensor data acquisition step of acquiring sensor data associated with a date and time at each of the plurality of locations, the sensor data including at least one sensor value used to calculate an index value; a weather data acquisition step of acquiring weather data indicating at least the weather conditions of each of the plurality of locations at each date and time up to the present; a weather forecast acquisition step of acquiring weather forecast data including at least predicted weather conditions that predict the weather conditions of each of the plurality of locations at the target time of estimation; an index value estimation step of estimating an index value for each location at the target time of estimation at least based on sensor data associated with a similar date and time, which is a date and time associated with weather data that is similar to the weather forecast data for the target time of estimation to a given degree or more; a bodily sensation information generation step of generating bodily sensation information based on estimated index values ​​that are estimated index values ​​for each location; and an output step of outputting the bodily sensation information.

[0008] An information provision program according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an information provision program for causing a computer to function as an information provision system for providing bodily sensation information based on a predetermined index value related to bodily sensations for at least one location out of a plurality of locations at a target time of estimation, the information provision program causing the computer to execute the following steps: a sensor data acquisition step for acquiring sensor data associated with a date and time at each of the plurality of locations, the sensor data including at least one sensor value used to calculate an index value; a weather data acquisition step for acquiring weather data indicating at least the weather conditions of each of the plurality of locations at each date and time up to the present; a weather forecast acquisition step for acquiring weather forecast data including at least predicted weather conditions that predict the weather conditions of each of the plurality of locations at the target time of estimation; an index value estimation step for estimating an index value for each location at the target time of estimation based at least on sensor data associated with a similar date and time, which is a date and time associated with weather data that is similar to the weather forecast data at the target time of estimation to a given degree or more; a bodily sensation information generation step for generating bodily sensation information based on estimated index values ​​that are estimated index values ​​for each location; and an output step for outputting the bodily sensation information.

[0009] According to the above aspect, similar dates and times are extracted based on the similarity between the weather data and the weather forecast data, and index values ​​for each location at the target time are estimated based on the sensor data at the extracted similar dates and times. This allows the sensor data at similar dates and times, when the weather conditions are similar to those at the target time, to be used to estimate index values ​​at the target time, resulting in highly accurate estimated index values. Therefore, highly accurate sensory information can be provided to the user, encouraging them to use locations that are suitable for their sensory experience.

[0010] In another aspect of the information provision system, the index value estimation unit refers to the trend of sensor data associated with similar dates and times relative to the sensor data associated with the reference date and time, estimates estimated sensor data, which is sensor data at the time of estimation, based on the sensor data associated with the current date and time, and calculates an index value for each location at the time of estimation based on the estimated sensor data for each location, and the reference date and time may be a date and time at which the relationship between the reference date and time and similar dates and times is approximately the same as the relationship between the present and the time of estimation.

[0011] According to the above aspect, the estimated sensor data is estimated based on the sensor data at the current date and time by referring to the transition of the sensor data at similar dates and times relative to the sensor data at the reference date and time, so that the estimated sensor data takes into consideration the continuity of the time series. Furthermore, the index value at the estimation target time is calculated based on the estimated sensor data, thereby improving the estimation accuracy of the index value. The reference date and time is a date and time for which the relationship between the reference date and the similar date and time is approximately the same (substantially similar) as the relationship between the present and the estimation target time. The relationship being approximately the same means, for example, that the elapsed time from the reference date and time to the similar date and time is similar to the elapsed time from the present to the estimation target time within a predetermined error range.

[0012] In another aspect of the information provision system, the index value estimation unit may use a reference date and time that is a date and time close to the similar date and time when counting back the elapsed time from the present to the time to be estimated, and that is associated with weather data that is similar to the current weather data to a given degree or more, and estimate the estimated sensor data by adding the difference value of the sensor data associated with the similar date and time relative to the sensor data associated with the reference date and time to the sensor data associated with the current date and time.

[0013] According to the above aspect, a reference date and time and a similar date and time are extracted such that the elapsed time and change in weather conditions from the reference date and time to the similar date and time are substantially similar to the elapsed time and change in weather conditions from the present to the estimation target time. Then, a difference value between the sensor data at the reference date and time and the sensor data at the similar date and time is added to the current sensor data, thereby enabling accurate estimation of estimated sensor data that takes into account the continuity of the time series from the present to the estimation target time.

[0014] In another aspect of the information provision system, the index value estimation unit may set the similar date and time to a date and time belonging to a calendar that is similar to the calendar to which the target time belongs to a predetermined degree or more and / or a date and time that is similar to the time of the target time to a predetermined degree or more and is associated with weather data that is similar to the weather forecast data for the target time to a given degree or more.

[0015] According to the above aspect, dates and times similar to the time of estimation in terms of the calendar, time, and weather conditions indicated in the weather data are extracted as similar dates and times, so dates and times that are highly likely to be associated with sensor data similar to the sensor data of the time of estimation can be extracted as similar dates and times.

[0016] In another aspect of the information provision system, the index value estimation unit may estimate an index value indicating the degree of comfort or discomfort in the bodily sensation, and the bodily sensation information generation unit may generate bodily sensation information indicating a comfortable or uncomfortable location among a plurality of locations.

[0017] According to the above aspect, it is possible to encourage the user to take action such as moving to and using a comfortable place, and to provide the user with information that is useful when deciding on future actions.

[0018] In an information provision system according to another aspect, the index value estimation unit may calculate a standard new effective temperature (SET*: Standard New Effective Temperature. * is originally a star symbol, but for convenience it is represented by * (asterisk). The same applies below.) based on the estimated sensor data, and further calculate a predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) as an index value based on the SET*.

[0019] According to the above aspects, since SET* and PPD appropriately indicate comfort for a person, it is possible to calculate index values ​​suitable for generating bodily sensation information that is useful for the user.

[0020] In an information providing system according to another aspect, the bodily sensation information generator may generate the bodily sensation information based on SET* and PPD.

[0021] According to the above aspects, SET* and PPD can appropriately represent human comfort, so that effective bodily sensation information for the user can be generated.

[0022] In another aspect of the information provision system, if there is a location among the multiple locations where the PPD is equal to or less than a given threshold, the sensory information generation unit may generate, as sensory information, information indicating the location among the locations where the PPD is equal to or less than the given threshold with the smallest PPD; if there is no location among the multiple locations where the PPD is equal to or less than the threshold but there is a location where the SET* is less than the given threshold, the sensory information generation unit may generate, as sensory information, information indicating the location among the locations where the SET* is less than the given threshold with the greatest amount of solar radiation; and if there is no location among the multiple locations where the PPD is equal to or less than the threshold but there is no location where the SET* is less than the threshold, the sensory information generation unit may generate, as sensory information, information indicating that there is no comfortable location among the multiple locations.

[0023] According to the above aspect, it is possible to generate sensory information indicating a place that is comfortable for the user based on the PPD and SET* at each of a plurality of places, thereby encouraging the user to use a place that is comfortable for the user.

[0024] In another aspect of the information provision system, the index value estimation unit may use at least one of the amount of clothing and metabolic rate of the target user for which bodily sensation information is provided to calculate SET*, and the sensor data acquisition unit may acquire at least one of the amount of clothing and metabolic rate based on sensing of the target user by a specified sensor.

[0025] According to the above aspect, at least one of the amount of clothing worn by the target user and the metabolic rate obtained based on sensing of the target user is used to calculate SET*, thereby making it possible to easily improve the accuracy of the index value. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to make a user aware of information regarding future experiences at each location, and to encourage the user to take action such as using the location. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a device configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an information providing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an information providing device. [Figure 4] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of time-series sensor data for each location stored in a sensor data storage unit. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of time-series weather data for each location stored in a weather data storage unit. [Figure 6]10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of weather forecast data for the estimation target time stored in a weather forecast data storage unit. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of calculation of SET* and PPD, which are examples of index values ​​related to bodily sensation. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between a similar date and time and a reference date and time with respect to the present and the estimation target time. [Figure 9] 1 is a flowchart showing the processing content of an information providing method implemented in the information providing system. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing the process of generating bodily sensation information shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which bodily sensation information output by an information providing device is displayed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the device configuration of an information provision system according to this embodiment. The information provision system 1 is a system that provides bodily sensation information based on a predetermined index value related to bodily sensations for at least one of a predetermined plurality of locations at an estimated target time after the present. The predetermined plurality of locations may be locations identified as targets for user use and for encouraging user movement, etc. The bodily sensation information may be information related to bodily sensations (comfortable or uncomfortable) for at least one of the plurality of locations. The information provision system 1 is configured to include an information provision device 10. The information provision system 1 includes various sensors SE and a terminal T.

[0030] The various sensors SE are installed at each of a plurality of outdoor locations. The locations where the various sensors SE are installed correspond to the locations where information is provided as sensory information. The various sensors SE include, for example, a weather sensor se1 and a black globe thermometer se. The weather sensor se1 is a device that detects temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed, solar radiation, etc. The black globe thermometer se2 measures the black globe temperature. The various sensors SE are configured to be able to communicate with the information providing device 10 via the network N, and transmit the various sensor values ​​that they detect and measure to the information providing device 10 as sensor data sa.

[0031] Terminal T is configured to be able to access information providing device 10 via network N. Terminal T receives bodily sensation information transmitted from information providing device 10 and outputs the received bodily sensation information. The bodily sensation information may be output in the form of display on a display, audio output, or the like. The device constituting terminal T is not limited, and may be, for example, a mobile terminal such as a highly functional mobile phone (smartphone), a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA), or may be a computer terminal. The number of terminals T is not limited to the number exemplified in FIG. 1.

[0032] The weather information service WS provides weather data corresponding to a plurality of outdoor locations to the information providing device 10 via the network N. The weather data is data indicating weather conditions at each date and time up to the present. The weather information service WS also provides weather forecast data predicting future weather conditions to the information providing device 10.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an information providing device 10 according to this embodiment. An information providing system 1 according to this embodiment is configured by the information providing device 10, as an example. As shown in FIG. 2, the information providing device 10 is configured by a computer including a processor 101. Functionally, the information providing device 10 according to this embodiment includes a sensor data acquiring unit 11, a weather data acquiring unit 12, a weather forecast acquiring unit 13, an index value estimating unit 14, a bodily sensation information generating unit 15, and an output unit 16. In this example, the functional units of the information providing device 10 are configured in a single device, but may also be configured as distributed units across multiple devices (computers) that are configured to be able to communicate with each other. These functional units will be described in detail below.

[0034] Furthermore, each of the functional units 11 to 16 of the information providing device 10 is configured to be able to access storage means such as a sensor data storage unit 21, a weather data storage unit 22, and a weather forecast data storage unit 23. The sensor data storage unit 21, the weather data storage unit 22, and the weather forecast data storage unit 23 may be provided in the information providing device 10 as shown in Fig. 2, or may be configured as external storage means that are accessible from the information providing device 10.

[0035] Fig. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the information providing device 10. As shown in Fig. 3, the information providing device 10 is physically configured as a computer system including a processor 101, a main storage device 102 configured with memories such as RAM and ROM, an auxiliary storage device 103 configured with a hard disk or the like, a communication control device 104, etc. The information providing device 10 may further include an input device 105 such as a keyboard, touch panel, mouse, etc., and an output device 106 such as a display.

[0036] The processor 101 is a computing device that executes an operating system and application programs. Examples of processors include a central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing unit (GPU), but the type of processor 101 is not limited to these. For example, the processor 101 may be configured with a dedicated circuit. The dedicated circuit may be a programmable circuit such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or may be another type of circuit.

[0037] The main memory device 102 is a device that stores programs for implementing the information providing device 10, calculation results output from the processor 101, etc. The main memory device 102 is configured by at least one of a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), for example.

[0038] The auxiliary storage device 103 is generally a device capable of storing a larger amount of data than the main storage device 102. The auxiliary storage device 103 is configured with a non-volatile storage medium such as a hard disk or flash memory. The auxiliary storage device 103 stores a program P1 (information provision program) for causing a computer to function as the information providing device 10, as well as various data. Furthermore, when the sensor data storage unit 21, the weather data storage unit 22, and the weather forecast data storage unit 23 are included in the information providing device 10, the sensor data storage unit 21, the weather data storage unit 22, and the weather forecast data storage unit 23 may be configured in any of the main storage device 102, the auxiliary storage device 103, and other storage elements.

[0039] The communication control device 104 is a device that executes data communication with other computers and devices via a communication network. The communication control device 104 is configured by, for example, a network card or a wireless communication module.

[0040] Each functional unit shown in Fig. 2 is realized by loading a program P1 onto hardware such as the processor 101 and main storage device 102 shown in Fig. 3 and causing the processor 101 to execute the program P1. The program P1 includes code for realizing each functional element of the information providing device 10. The processor 101 operates the communication control device 104 and the like in accordance with the program P1, and also reads and writes data from and to the main storage device 102 and the auxiliary storage device 103. Data and databases required for processing are stored in the main storage device 102 and the auxiliary storage device 103. In this embodiment, each functional unit 11 to 16 is configured in the information providing device 10, but they may also be configured in a distributed manner across multiple computers.

[0041] The program P1 may be provided by being fixedly recorded on a tangible recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, etc. Alternatively, the program P1 may be provided via a communications network as a data signal superimposed on a carrier wave.

[0042] Referring again to Fig. 2, the functional units of the information providing device 10 will be described. The sensor data acquiring unit 11 acquires sensor data associated with dates and times from the past to the present at each of a plurality of locations. The sensor data includes at least one sensor value related to at least one of weather and bodily sensation, which is used to calculate an index value.

[0043] The sensor data acquiring unit 11 may acquire sensor data acquired and transmitted by various sensors SE. The sensor data acquiring unit 11 may also acquire sensor data stored in the sensor data storage unit 21. That is, the sensor data storage unit 21 may store sensor data transmitted from various sensors SE.

[0044] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of sensor data stored in the sensor data storage unit 21. As shown in Fig. 4, the sensor data includes various sensor values ​​in time series (dt1, dt2, dt3, ...) for each location (loc1, loc2, ...). In the example shown in Fig. 4, the sensor data includes temperature, humidity, relative temperature, absolute atmospheric pressure, solar radiation, wind speed, and black globe temperature as sensor values.

[0045] The weather data acquisition unit 12 acquires weather data for each of a plurality of locations at each date and time up to the present. The weather data includes at least information indicating meteorological conditions. The weather data acquisition unit 12 may acquire weather data provided by a weather information service WS. Alternatively, the weather data acquisition unit 12 may acquire weather data stored in the weather data storage unit 22. That is, the weather data storage unit 22 may store weather data provided by the weather information service WS.

[0046] 5 is a diagram showing an example of weather data stored in the weather data storage unit 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the weather data includes weather condition data wd indicating weather conditions in a time series (dt1, dt2, dt3, ...) for each location (loc1, loc2, ...). The weather condition data indicates weather conditions such as sunny, cloudy, rain, snow, and sleet, for example. In this embodiment, weather data for each location is acquired and stored, but weather data for each area to which the location belongs (the area of ​​weather data provided by the weather information provision service WS) may also be acquired and stored.

[0047] The weather forecast acquisition unit 13 acquires weather forecast data including at least predicted weather conditions that are predicted for each of a plurality of locations at the time of estimation. The weather forecast acquisition unit 13 may acquire weather forecast data for the area corresponding to each of the plurality of locations from a weather information providing service WS. The weather forecast acquisition unit 13 may also acquire weather forecast data stored in the weather forecast data storage unit 23. That is, the weather forecast data storage unit 23 may store weather forecast data provided by the weather information providing service WS.

[0048] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of weather forecast data stored in the weather forecast data storage unit 23. As shown in Fig. 6, the weather forecast data includes predicted weather condition data wf indicating the predicted weather conditions at the time of estimation for each location (loc1, loc2, ...). The predicted weather condition data indicates weather conditions such as sunny, cloudy, rain, snow, and sleet, for example. In this embodiment, weather forecast data for each location is acquired and stored, but weather forecast data for each area to which the location belongs (the area of ​​weather forecast data provided by the weather information provision service WS) may also be acquired and stored.

[0049] The index value estimation unit 14 estimates an estimated index value, which is an index value related to the bodily sensation at each location at the time of estimation. The index value estimation unit 14 estimates the estimated index value based at least on sensor data associated with a similar date and time, which is a date and time associated with weather data that is similar to the weather forecast data at the time of estimation to a given degree or more.

[0050] The index value estimation unit 14, for example, obtains predicted weather condition data wf by referring to weather forecast data for the time of estimation at a certain location loc, searches for weather condition data wd that is identical to the predicted weather condition data wf or similar to a predetermined degree or more by referring to the weather data at the location loc, and extracts the date and time dt associated with the searched weather condition data wd as a similar date and time.

[0051] Specifically, the index value estimation unit 14 may calculate, based on the sensor data, the standard new effective temperature (SET*: Standard New Effective Temperature. * is originally a star symbol, but for convenience it is represented by * (asterisk). The same applies below.) at the time of estimation for each location as the estimated index value. Furthermore, the index value estimation unit 14 may calculate the predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) as the estimated index value based on the SET*.

[0052] 7 is a diagram showing an example of calculation of SET* and PPD, which are examples of index values ​​related to thermal sensation. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the index value estimation unit 14 calculates SET* as an index value iv1 based on the sensor value included in the sensor data sa. The index value iv1(SET*) may be calculated using a known calculation formula based on, for example, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and mean radiant temperature (MRT). The mean radiant temperature (MRT) is a calculated value calculated based on, for example, temperature, wind speed, and globe temperature.

[0053] The index value estimation unit 14 may use set values ​​sp relating to human body conditions such as clothing amount and metabolic rate to calculate the index value iv1(SET*). The clothing amount may be a standard value input and set in advance that is expected at a time corresponding to the time of estimation. The metabolic rate may be a standard value input and set in advance that is expected in the behavior of the user to be prompted by providing bodily sensation information.

[0054] To use the amount of clothing and the metabolic rate in calculating the index value iv, the sensor data acquiring unit 11 may acquire the amount of clothing and the metabolic rate based on sensing of the target user by a predetermined sensor. For example, the sensor data acquiring unit 11 may acquire the clothing state of the target user by an image sensor and calculate the amount of clothing using a predetermined conversion formula or the like based on the detected clothing state. The sensor data acquiring unit 11 may detect the activity state by a wearable sensor worn by the target user and calculate the metabolic rate using a predetermined conversion formula or the like based on the detected activity state.

[0055] By using at least one of the amount of clothing and the metabolic rate of the target user acquired based on sensing of the target user to calculate SET*, it is possible to easily improve the accuracy of the index value.

[0056] The index value estimation unit 14 calculates the PPD as an index value iv2 based on the SET*. For example, the index value estimation unit 14 may calculate the PPD by referring to a preset association between the SET* and the PPD according to the environmental state. In general, the PPD can be expressed as a function with the SET* as a variable, and more specifically, it can be expressed as a quadratic function that takes a minimum value when the SET* takes a certain value. The smallness of the PPD is an example of an index value that indicates the degree of comfort felt.

[0057] The estimated index value estimated by the index value estimation unit 14 is not limited to SET* and PPD. The index value estimation unit 14 may calculate, for example, a discomfort index (WBGT) as the estimated index value. WBGT is an example of an index value that indicates the degree of discomfort. WBGT can be calculated, for example, by the following formula, but the calculation formula is not limited to the following formula.

[0058] WBGT = Wet bulb temperature x 0.7 + Black bulb temperature x 0.2 + Air temperature x 0.1 Specifically, the index value estimation unit 14 may refer to the trend of the sensor data sa associated with a similar date and time relative to the sensor data sa associated with the reference date and time, estimate estimated sensor data, which is the sensor data sa at the time of estimation, based on the sensor data associated with the current date and time, and calculate the index value at the time of estimation for each location based on the estimated sensor data for each location.

[0059] 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between similar dates and times and the reference date and time for the current time and the target time for estimation. The reference date and time t3 is a date and time for which the relationship between the reference date and time t3 and similar date and time t2 is approximately the same as the relationship between the current time t0 and the target time for estimation t1. The relationship between dates and times being approximately similar is determined when the transition of weather conditions and the elapsed time between the dates and times are similar to a predetermined degree or more.

[0060] In this way, the estimated sensor data is estimated based on the sensor data sa at the current date and time by referring to the transition of the sensor data sa at the similar date and time t2 relative to the sensor data sa at the reference date and time t3, so the estimated sensor data takes into consideration the time series continuity (transition) of the weather conditions. Furthermore, the index value at the estimation target time t1 is calculated based on the estimated sensor data, thereby improving the estimation accuracy of the index value.

[0061] More specifically, the index value estimation unit 14 may extract, as the reference date and time t3, a date and time that is close to the similar date and time t2 when tracing back the elapsed time from the present t0 to the estimation target time t1 and that is associated with weather data that is similar to the current weather data to a given degree or more. Note that a date and time that is close to the similar date and time t2 when tracing back the elapsed time is a date and time that is the elapsed time from the similar date and time t2 and a date and time that is within a given error range of the date and time.

[0062] Then, the index value estimation unit 14 may estimate the estimated sensor data, which is the sensor data sa at the estimation target time t1, by adding the differential value of the sensor data sa associated with the similar date and time t2 relative to the sensor data sa associated with the reference date and time t3 to the sensor data sa associated with the current date and time t0.

[0063] In this way, the reference date and time t3 and the similar date and time t2 are extracted so that the elapsed time and change in weather conditions from the reference date and time t3 to the similar date and time t2 are approximately similar to the elapsed time and change in weather conditions from the present time t0 to the estimation target time t1. Then, the difference value of the sensor data sa at the similar date and time t2 relative to the sensor data sa at the reference date and time t3 is added to the sensor data sa at the present time t0, thereby making it possible to accurately estimate estimated sensor data that takes into account the continuity of the time-series weather conditions from the present time t0 to the estimation target time t1.

[0064] The index value estimation unit 14 may set as the similar date and time t2 a date and time belonging to a calendar that is similar to the calendar to which the target time t1 belongs to a predetermined degree or more and / or a date and time that is similar to the time of the target time t1 to a predetermined degree or more and is associated with weather data that is similar to the weather forecast data of the target time t1 to a given degree or more.

[0065] Specifically, when searching for a similar date and time by referring to past weather data, the index value estimation unit 14 may use search conditions such as being within a predetermined number of years from the target time of estimation, being the same date (calendar) as the target time of estimation, and being the same time as the target time of estimation. If the index value estimation unit 14 is unable to find a similar date and time using the above search conditions, it may expand the time range and / or date range and search again.

[0066] In this way, dates and times that are similar to the time of estimation in terms of the calendar, time, and weather conditions indicated in the weather data are extracted as similar dates and times, so dates and times that are highly likely to be associated with sensor data similar to the sensor data of the time of estimation can be extracted as similar dates and times.

[0067] The bodily sensation information generator 15 generates bodily sensation information based on estimated index values, which are index values ​​of each location at the time of estimation target, estimated by the index value estimator 14. Specifically, the bodily sensation information generator 15 may generate bodily sensation information indicating a comfortable or uncomfortable location among a plurality of locations. In this embodiment, the bodily sensation information generator 15 generates bodily sensation information indicating a comfortable location at the time of estimation target, based on the SET* and PPD of each location at the time of estimation target.

[0068] If there is a location among multiple locations where the PPD is below a given threshold, the sensory information generation unit 15 may generate, as sensory information, information indicating the location with the smallest PPD among the locations where the PPD is below the given threshold.

[0069] In addition, if there is no location among multiple locations where PPD is below a threshold, but there is a location where SET* is below a given threshold, the sensory information generating unit 15 may generate, as sensory information, information indicating the location with the greatest amount of solar radiation among the locations where SET* is below the given threshold.

[0070] In addition, if there is no place among the multiple locations where PPD is below the threshold and there is no place where SET* is below the threshold, the bodily sensation information generating unit 15 may generate information as bodily sensation information indicating that there is no comfortable place among the multiple locations.

[0071] The output unit 16 outputs the bodily sensation information generated by the bodily sensation information generation unit 15. The bodily sensation information may be information relating to a bodily sensation (comfortable or uncomfortable) related to at least one of the multiple locations. Specifically, the output unit 16 may, for example, display the bodily sensation information on a screen of the terminal T. The output unit 16 may also, for example, output the bodily sensation information by audio from the terminal T. The generation of the bodily sensation information by the bodily sensation information generation unit 15 and the output of the bodily sensation information by the output unit will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 .

[0072] 9 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the information providing method carried out in the information providing system 1. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the bodily sensation information generation processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0073] In step S1, the information providing system 1 sets the estimated target time. Specifically, the information providing device 10 may acquire a date and time input by a user as the estimated target time. The user may be an administrator of the information providing system 1, a user who receives sensory information, or the like. The information providing device 10 may also acquire a time when a predetermined time has elapsed from the present as the estimated target time.

[0074] In step S2, the weather forecast acquisition unit 13 acquires weather forecast data for the time of estimation, and the weather data acquisition unit 12 acquires current weather data.

[0075] In step S3, the index value estimation unit 14 searches for similar dates and times by referring to the weather forecast data and weather data for past dates and times. Specifically, the index value estimation unit 14 uses date and time search conditions (initial search conditions) that, for example, the date and time must be within a predetermined number of years (e.g., three years) from the target estimation time, the same date (calendar) as the target estimation time, and the same time as the target estimation time, and extracts, as similar dates and times, dates and times associated with weather data that indicate weather conditions that are identical to or similar to the predicted weather conditions indicated in the weather forecast data to a predetermined extent or more (which may include a temperature difference within a predetermined range). Note that the date and time search conditions may further include that sensor data sa for all of the multiple locations at the target date and time are stored in the sensor data storage unit 21 (that is, no sensor data sa is missing).

[0076] If a similar date and time cannot be found using the initial search criteria, the index value estimation unit 14 expands the search criteria and searches again for a similar date and time. For example, the index value estimation unit 14 may expand the search criteria related to time by ±1 hour and search again. If a similar date and time cannot be found by the re-search, the index value estimation unit 14 may further expand the search criteria related to calendar dates by ±1 day (after returning the expanded time range to its original value) and search again.

[0077] In step S4, the index value estimation unit 14 determines whether a similar date and time was found in step S3. If it is determined that a similar date and time was found, the process proceeds to step S5. On the other hand, if it is determined that a similar date and time was not found, the process proceeds to step S14.

[0078] In step S5, the index value estimation unit 14 calculates the elapsed time from the present to the target time. In step S6, the index value estimation unit 14 searches for a reference date and time. The index value estimation unit 14 may extract, as the reference date and time, a date and time close to the similar date and time when counting back the elapsed time from the present to the target time. The index value estimation unit 14 may further extract the reference date and time using a search condition that the reference date and time is associated with weather data that is similar to the current weather data to a given degree or more. More specifically, the search condition for the reference date and time may include a date and time associated with weather data that indicates weather conditions that are identical to or similar to the weather conditions indicated in the current weather data to a given degree or more (which may include a temperature difference within a given range). Note that the search condition for the reference date and time may further include a condition that the sensor data sa for all of the multiple locations at that date and time is stored in the sensor data storage unit 21 (that there is no missing sensor data sa).

[0079] In step S7, the index value estimation unit 14 determines whether or not the reference date and time was found in step S6. If it is determined that the reference date and time was found, the process proceeds to step S9. On the other hand, if it is determined that the reference date and time was not found, the process proceeds to step S8. If the process proceeds to step S8, the index value estimation unit 14 expands the search conditions for similar dates and times and then searches for similar dates and times again in step S3.

[0080] In step S9, the sensor data acquisition unit 11 acquires the sensor data sa at the reference date and time and the similar date and time for each of the multiple locations. Then, the index value estimation unit 14 calculates the difference value of the sensor data sa at the similar date and time relative to the sensor data sa at the reference date and time for each location.

[0081] In step S10, the index value estimation unit 14 estimates (calculates) estimated sensor data, which is an estimated value of the sensor value at the time of estimation for each location, by adding the difference value of the sensor data sa calculated in step S9 to the current sensor data sa.

[0082] In step S11, the index value estimation unit 14 calculates the SET* of each location based on the estimated sensor data of each location, and further calculates the PPD of each location as an estimated index value based on the SET*.

[0083] In step S12, the bodily sensation information generator 15 performs a bodily sensation information generation process based on the estimated index value of each location. The bodily sensation information generation process will be described with reference to FIG.

[0084] In step S21, the bodily sensation information generator 15 determines whether the predicted weather condition indicated by the weather forecast data for the time of estimation corresponds to a predetermined weather condition (uncomfortable weather condition). If it is determined that the predicted weather condition corresponds to the predetermined weather condition, the process proceeds to step S26. On the other hand, if it is determined that the predicted weather condition does not correspond to the predetermined weather condition, the process proceeds to step S22.

[0085] In step S22, the bodily sensation information generator 15 determines whether or not there is a location among the plurality of locations where the PPD, which is an index value indicating the degree of discomfort, is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (e.g., 20). If it is determined that there is a location where the PPD is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, the process proceeds to step S23. On the other hand, if it is not determined that there is a location where the PPD is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, the process proceeds to step S24.

[0086] In step S23, the bodily sensation information generator 15 generates, as bodily sensation information, information indicating the location where the index value (PPD) is the smallest among the locations where the index value is equal to or less than the threshold value.

[0087] In step S24, the body sensation information generator 15 determines whether or not there is a location among the plurality of locations where SET*, an index value related to body sensation temperature calculated prior to calculating PPD, is less than a predetermined threshold value (e.g., 23.5). If it is determined that there is a location where SET* is less than the predetermined threshold value, the process proceeds to step S25. On the other hand, if it is not determined that there is a location where SET* is less than the predetermined threshold value, the process proceeds to step S26.

[0088] In step S25, the bodily sensation information generator 15 generates, as bodily sensation information, information indicating the location with the greatest amount of solar radiation among the locations where SET* is less than the threshold value.

[0089] In step S26, the bodily sensation information generator 15 generates, as bodily sensation information, information to the effect that there is no comfortable place among the plurality of places.

[0090] 9 again, in step S13, the output unit 16 outputs the bodily sensation information. As an example, the output unit 16 may cause the terminal T to display the bodily sensation information. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which the bodily sensation information is displayed. As shown in FIG. 11, the output unit 16 transmits the bodily sensation information EI to the terminal T and causes the display D of the terminal T to display the bodily sensation information EI. In the example shown in FIG. 11, bodily sensation information indicating that the location loc2 is a comfortable location is provided to the user.

[0091] In step S14, the output unit 16 outputs information (error) indicating that the information cannot be provided based on the fact that similar dates and times could not be found.

[0092] According to the information provision system 1, information provision device 10, information provision method, and information provision program P1 of the present embodiment described above, similar dates and times are extracted based on the similarity between weather data and weather forecast data, and index values ​​for each location at the target time are estimated based on sensor data at the extracted similar dates and times. This allows sensor data at similar dates and times with weather conditions similar to those at the target time to be used to estimate index values ​​at the target time, resulting in highly accurate estimated index values. Therefore, highly accurate sensory information can be provided to the user, encouraging them to use locations that are suitable for their sensory experience.

[0093] The present invention has been described in detail above based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0094] In the above embodiment, information indicating the most comfortable place for the user is provided, but information regarding a plurality of places ranked according to the degree of comfort may also be provided as bodily sensation information.

[0095] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, sensory information indicating a place that is comfortable for the user is provided based on index values ​​such as PPD and SET*. However, sensory information indicating a place that is not suitable for the user may also be provided based on index values ​​such as WBGT (discomfort index).

[0096] The gist of this disclosure is as follows [1] to

[11] .

[0097] [1] An information providing system that provides bodily sensation information based on a predetermined index value related to bodily sensations for at least one location among a plurality of locations at an estimation target time after the present, a sensor data acquisition unit that acquires sensor data associated with a date and time at each of a plurality of locations, the sensor data including at least one sensor value used to calculate the index value; a weather data acquisition unit that acquires weather data indicating at least weather conditions at each of the plurality of locations at each date and time before the present; a weather forecast acquisition unit that acquires weather forecast data including at least predicted weather conditions that predict the weather conditions of each of the plurality of locations at the time of the estimation target; an index value estimation unit that estimates the index value of each location at the time of estimation based at least on sensor data associated with a similar date and time, which is a date and time associated with weather data that is similar to the weather forecast data at the time of estimation to a given degree or more; a bodily sensation information generating unit that generates the bodily sensation information based on estimated index values ​​that are estimated index values ​​for each location; an output unit that outputs the bodily sensation information; An information provision system comprising:

[0098] [2] The index value estimation unit estimating estimated sensor data, which is sensor data at the time of estimation, based on the sensor data associated with a current date and time, with reference to a transition of the sensor data associated with the similar date and time relative to the sensor data associated with a reference date and time; Calculating the index value at the estimation target time for each location based on the estimated sensor data for each location; The reference date and time is a date and time in which the relationship between the reference date and time and the similar date and time is approximately the same as the relationship between the present and the estimation target time. [1] The information provision system described in [1].

[0099] [3] The index value estimation unit The reference date and time is a date and time that is close to the similar date and time when tracing back the elapsed time from the present to the estimation target date and time, and that is associated with weather data that is similar to the current weather data to a given degree or more. estimating the estimated sensor data by adding a difference value of the sensor data associated with the similar date and time with respect to the sensor data associated with the reference date and time to the sensor data associated with a current date and time; [2] The information provision system described in [2].

[0100] [4] The index value estimation unit a date and time belonging to a calendar similar to the calendar to which the target time belongs to at least a predetermined degree and / or a date and time similar to the target time to at least a predetermined degree, and associated with weather data similar to the weather forecast data for the target time to at least a predetermined degree, is set as the similar date and time; The information providing system according to any one of [1] to [3].

[0101] [5] the index value estimation unit estimates the index value indicating a degree of comfort or discomfort in a bodily sensation; the bodily sensation information generation unit generates the bodily sensation information indicating a comfortable or uncomfortable place among the plurality of places; The information providing system according to any one of [1] to [4]. [6] The index value estimation unit Calculating a Standard New Effective Temperature (SET*) based on the sensor data at the time of estimation, and further calculating a Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD) as the index value based on the SET*. [5] The information provision system described in [5].

[0102] [7] The bodily sensation information generation unit generating the sensory information based on the SET* and the PPD; [6] The information provision system described in [6].

[0103] [8] The bodily sensation information generation unit If there is a location among the plurality of locations where the PPD is equal to or less than a given threshold, information indicating the location where the PPD is smallest among the locations where the PPD is equal to or less than the given threshold is generated as the bodily sensation information; If there is no location among the plurality of locations where the PPD is equal to or less than the threshold, and there is a location where the SET* is less than a given threshold, information indicating a location with the greatest amount of solar radiation among the locations where the SET* is less than the given threshold is generated as the bodily sensation information. If there is no place among the plurality of places where the PPD is equal to or less than the threshold and there is no place where the SET* is less than the threshold, information indicating that there is no comfortable place among the plurality of places is generated as the bodily sensation information. [7] The information provision system described in [7].

[0104] [9] the index value estimation unit uses at least one of an amount of clothing and a metabolic rate of the target user to whom the body sensation information is provided in order to calculate the SET*; The sensor data acquisition unit acquires at least one of the amount of clothing worn and the metabolic rate based on sensing of the target user by a predetermined sensor. The information providing system according to any one of [6] to [8].

[0105]

[10] An information provision method executed by an information provision system including at least one processor, the information provision system providing bodily sensation information based on a predetermined index value related to bodily sensations for at least one location among a plurality of locations at a time to be estimated, the information provision method comprising: a sensor data acquisition step of acquiring sensor data associated with a date and time at each of a plurality of locations, the sensor data including at least one sensor value used to calculate the index value; a weather data acquisition step of acquiring weather data indicating at least weather conditions at each of the plurality of locations at each date and time before the present; a weather forecast acquisition step of acquiring weather forecast data including at least predicted weather conditions that predict the weather conditions of each of the plurality of locations at the time of the estimation target; an index value estimation step of estimating the index value at each location at the time of estimation based at least on sensor data associated with a similar date and time, which is a date and time associated with weather data that is similar to the weather forecast data at the time of estimation to a given degree or more; a sensory information generating step of generating the sensory information based on estimated index values, which are estimated index values ​​for each location; an output step of outputting the bodily sensation information; An information provision method having the above.

[0106]

[11] An information provision program for causing a computer to function as an information provision system that provides bodily sensation information based on a predetermined index value related to bodily sensations for at least one location among a plurality of locations at a time to be estimated, a sensor data acquisition step of acquiring sensor data associated with a date and time at each of a plurality of locations, the sensor data including at least one sensor value used to calculate the index value; a weather data acquisition step of acquiring weather data indicating at least weather conditions at each of the plurality of locations at each date and time before the present; a weather forecast acquisition step of acquiring weather forecast data including at least predicted weather conditions that predict the weather conditions of each of the plurality of locations at the time of the estimation target; an index value estimation step of estimating the index value at each location at the time of estimation based at least on sensor data associated with a similar date and time, which is a date and time associated with weather data that is similar to the weather forecast data at the time of estimation to a given degree or more; a sensory information generating step of generating the sensory information based on estimated index values, which are estimated index values ​​for each location; an output step of outputting the bodily sensation information; An information providing program that causes the computer to execute the above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 1...information provision system, 10...information provision device, 11...sensor data acquisition unit, 12...weather data acquisition unit, 13...weather forecast acquisition unit, 14...index value estimation unit, 15...sensory information generation unit, 16...output unit, 21...sensor data storage unit, 22...weather data storage unit, 23...weather forecast data storage unit, P1...information provision program, sa...sensor data, SE...sensor, T...terminal, t0...present, t1...time to be estimated, t2...similar date and time, t3...reference date and time, WS...weather information provision service.

Claims

1. An information providing system that provides bodily sensation information based on a predetermined index value related to bodily sensations for at least one location among a plurality of locations at an estimation target time after the present, a sensor data acquisition unit that acquires sensor data associated with a date and time at each of a plurality of locations, the sensor data including at least one sensor value used to calculate the index value; a weather data acquisition unit that acquires weather data indicating at least weather conditions at each of the plurality of locations at each date and time before the present; a weather forecast acquisition unit that acquires weather forecast data including at least predicted weather conditions that predict the weather conditions of each of the plurality of locations at the time of the estimation target; an index value estimation unit that estimates the index value of each location at the time of estimation based at least on sensor data associated with a similar date and time, which is a date and time associated with weather data that is similar to the weather forecast data at the time of estimation to a given degree or more; a bodily sensation information generating unit that generates the bodily sensation information based on estimated index values ​​that are estimated index values ​​for each location; an output unit that outputs the bodily sensation information; An information provision system comprising:

2. The index value estimation unit estimating estimated sensor data, which is sensor data at the time of estimation, based on the sensor data associated with a current date and time, with reference to a transition of the sensor data associated with the similar date and time relative to the sensor data associated with a reference date and time; Calculating the index value at the estimation target time for each location based on the estimated sensor data for each location; The reference date and time is a date and time in which the relationship between the reference date and time and the similar date and time is approximately the same as the relationship between the present and the estimation target time. The information providing system according to claim 1 .

3. The index value estimation unit The reference date and time is a date and time that is close to the similar date and time when tracing back the elapsed time from the present to the estimation target date and time, and that is associated with weather data that is similar to the current weather data to a given degree or more. estimating the estimated sensor data by adding a difference value of the sensor data associated with the similar date and time with respect to the sensor data associated with the reference date and time to the sensor data associated with a current date and time; The information providing system according to claim 2 .

4. The index value estimation unit a date and time belonging to a calendar similar to the calendar to which the target time belongs to at least a predetermined degree and / or a date and time similar to the target time to at least a predetermined degree and associated with weather data similar to the weather forecast data for the target time to at least a predetermined degree is set as the similar date and time; 4. The information providing system according to claim 1.

5. the index value estimation unit estimates the index value indicating a degree of comfort or discomfort in a bodily sensation; the bodily sensation information generation unit generates the bodily sensation information indicating a comfortable or uncomfortable place among the plurality of places; The information providing system according to claim 1 .

6. The index value estimation unit A standard new effective temperature (SET*) is calculated based on the sensor data at the time of estimation, and a predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) is calculated as the index value based on the SET*. The information providing system according to claim 5 .

7. The bodily sensation information generation unit generating the sensory information based on the SET* and the PPD; The information providing system according to claim 6.

8. The bodily sensation information generation unit If there is a location where the PPD is equal to or less than a given threshold among the plurality of locations, information indicating a location where the PPD is smallest among the locations where the PPD is equal to or less than the given threshold is generated as the bodily sensation information; If there is no location among the plurality of locations where the PPD is equal to or less than the threshold value, and there is a location where the SET* is less than a given threshold value, information indicating a location where the amount of solar radiation is the greatest among the locations where the SET* is less than the given threshold value is generated as the bodily sensation information; If there is no place among the plurality of places where the PPD is equal to or less than the threshold value and there is no place where the SET* is less than the threshold value, information indicating that there is no comfortable place among the plurality of places is generated as the bodily sensation information. The information providing system according to claim 7.

9. the index value estimation unit uses at least one of an amount of clothing and a metabolic rate of the target user to whom the body sensation information is provided in order to calculate the SET*; The sensor data acquisition unit acquires at least one of the amount of clothing worn and the metabolic rate based on sensing of the target user by a predetermined sensor. The information providing system according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

10. An information provision method executed by an information provision system including at least one processor, the information provision system providing bodily sensation information based on a predetermined index value related to bodily sensations for at least one location among a plurality of locations at a time to be estimated, the information provision method comprising: a sensor data acquisition step of acquiring sensor data associated with a date and time at each of a plurality of locations, the sensor data including at least one sensor value used to calculate the index value; a weather data acquisition step of acquiring weather data indicating at least weather conditions at each of the plurality of locations at each date and time before the present; a weather forecast acquisition step of acquiring weather forecast data including at least predicted weather conditions that predict the weather conditions of each of the plurality of locations at the time of the estimation target; an index value estimation step of estimating the index value at each location at the time of estimation based at least on sensor data associated with a similar date and time, which is a date and time associated with weather data that is similar to the weather forecast data at the time of estimation to a given degree or more; a sensory information generating step of generating the sensory information based on estimated index values, which are estimated index values ​​for each location; an output step of outputting the bodily sensation information; An information provision method having the above.

11. An information provision program for causing a computer to function as an information provision system that provides bodily sensation information based on a predetermined index value related to bodily sensations for at least one location among a plurality of locations at a time to be estimated, a sensor data acquisition step of acquiring sensor data associated with a date and time at each of a plurality of locations, the sensor data including at least one sensor value used to calculate the index value; a weather data acquisition step of acquiring weather data indicating at least weather conditions at each of the plurality of locations at each date and time before the present; a weather forecast acquisition step of acquiring weather forecast data including at least predicted weather conditions that predict the weather conditions of each of the plurality of locations at the time of the estimation target; an index value estimation step of estimating the index value at each location at the time of estimation based at least on sensor data associated with a similar date and time, which is a date and time associated with weather data that is similar to the weather forecast data at the time of estimation to a given degree or more; a sensory information generating step of generating the sensory information based on estimated index values, which are estimated index values ​​for each location; an output step of outputting the bodily sensation information; An information providing program that causes the computer to execute the above.

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