Server equipment and system

Abstract

We will provide proposals that more accurately match the needs of vehicle users. [Solution] The server device includes a communication unit for communication, a storage unit for storing scenario information that defines proposed scenarios for the vehicle user, and a control unit that uses the scenario information to derive a proposal for the user based on attribute information and environmental information indicating the user's attributes, and sends the proposal information indicating the proposal to the vehicle's in-vehicle device to cause the in-vehicle device to output or execute the proposal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a server device and a system.

Background Art

[0002] When moving by vehicle, not only does the user convey requests such as the destination to the mobility service provider, but various proposals may also be made from the service provider to the user. Patent Document 1 discloses a system for assisting proposals by a mobility service provider.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When making a proposal to a user of a vehicle, there is room to more accurately match the proposal with the user's needs.

[0005] Hereinafter, a server device and the like that enable a proposal to be made more accurately matching the needs of a user of a vehicle will be disclosed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The server device in the present disclosure includes a communication unit that communicates with an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and receives environmental information acquired by a sensor or a camera mounted on the vehicle from the in-vehicle device, a storage unit that stores information indicating the attributes of the user of the vehicle and scenario information that defines a proposal scenario for the user, and a control unit that derives a proposal to the user based on the attribute information indicating the attributes and the environmental information using the scenario information, and sends proposal information indicating the proposal to the in-vehicle device of the vehicle to output or execute the proposal by the in-vehicle device.

[0007] A server device in another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a communication unit for performing communication, a storage unit for storing scenario information defining a proposed scenario for a vehicle user, and a control unit that uses the scenario information to derive a proposal to the user based on attribute information indicating the user's attributes and environmental information, and sends proposal information indicating the proposal to an in-vehicle device of the vehicle to cause the in-vehicle device to output or execute the proposal. It holds.

[0008] The system in this disclosure is a system comprising an in-vehicle device mounted in a vehicle and a server that communicates with the in-vehicle device, wherein the server derives a proposal to the user based on attribute information indicating the user's attributes and environmental information using scenario information defining a proposal scenario for the user of the vehicle, sends proposal information indicating the proposal to the in-vehicle device of the vehicle, and the in-vehicle device outputs or executes the proposal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The server equipment and other devices described in this disclosure will enable the provision of proposals that more accurately match the needs of vehicle users. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system. [Figure 2] This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operating procedure of an information processing system. [Figure 3] This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operating procedure of an information processing system. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating the proposed scenario. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of an information processing system in one embodiment. The information processing system 1 has one or more server devices 10, terminal devices 12, and in-vehicle devices 14 mounted on a vehicle 13, all of which are connected to each other via a network 11 in a manner that enables information communication. The server device 10 is, for example, a server computer belonging to a cloud computing system or other computing system, which functions as a server implementing various functions. The terminal device 12 is an information processing terminal that exchanges various information with the server device 10, and is, for example, a personal computer, a tablet terminal device, etc. The vehicle 13 is, for example, a passenger car, a commercial vehicle, etc. The in-vehicle device 14 has communication functions and information processing functions, and is, for example, a navigation system, etc. The network 11 is, for example, the internet, but includes ad hoc networks, LANs (Local Area Networks), MANs (Metropolitan Area Networks), other networks, or any combination thereof.

[0013] In this embodiment, the information processing system 1 supports various suggestions regarding travel to a user traveling in a vehicle 13. A person in charge of the business providing the suggestions uses a terminal device 12 to configure settings related to the suggestions with the server device 10, and the server device 10 sends suggestion information to the in-vehicle device 14. Specifically, the server device 10 has a communication unit 101 for communication, a storage unit 102 for storing scenario information that defines suggestion scenarios for the vehicle user, and a control unit 103. The control unit 103 uses the scenario information to derive suggestions to the user based on attribute information indicating the user's attributes and environmental information, and sends the suggestion information to the in-vehicle device 14 to output or execute the suggestions. Since the attribute information indicating the user's attributes and the environmental information indicating the vehicle's environment are highly likely to reflect the user's needs, the server device 10 derives suggestions using suggestion scenarios that take into account the user's attributes and the vehicle's environment, making it possible to provide suggestions that more accurately match the user's needs.

[0014] Next, an example configuration of the server device 10 will be described.

[0015] The server device 10 includes a communication unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a control unit 103. The server device 10 may be a single computer, or it may consist of two or more computers that are connected and operate in coordination with each other. When the server device 10 consists of two or more computers, the configuration shown in Figure 1 is appropriately arranged across the two or more computers.

[0016] The communication unit 101 includes one or more communication interfaces. These communication interfaces are, for example, LAN interfaces. The communication unit 101 receives information used in the operation of the control unit 103 and transmits information obtained through the operation of the control unit 103. The server device 10 is connected to the network 11 via the communication unit 101 and communicates information with the terminal device 12 via the network 11.

[0017] The storage unit 102 includes, for example, one or more semiconductor memories, one or more magnetic memories, one or more optical memories, or a combination of at least two of these, which function as main memory, auxiliary memory, or cache memory. The semiconductor memory is, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory). The RAM is, for example, SRAM (Static RAM) or DRAM (Dynamic RAM). The ROM is, for example, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM). The storage unit 102 stores information used in the operation of the control unit 103 and information obtained by the operation of the control unit 103.

[0018] The control unit 103 includes one or more processors, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) specialized for specific processing. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or the like. The control unit 103 executes information processing related to the operation of the server device 10 while controlling each part of the server device 10.

[0019] The functions of the server device 10 are realized by executing a control program on the processor included in the control unit 103. The control program is a program for causing a computer to execute the processing of the steps included in the operation of the server device 10, thereby causing the computer to realize the functions corresponding to the processing of the steps. That is, the control program is a program for causing a computer to function as the server device 10. Also, some or all of the functions of the server device 10 may be realized by the dedicated circuit included in the control unit 103. Further, the control program may be stored in a non-transitory recording and storage medium readable by the server device 10, and the server device 10 may read it from the medium.

[0020] Next, a configuration example of the terminal device 12 will be described.

[0021] The terminal device 12 includes a communication unit 121, a storage unit 122, a control unit 123, a positioning unit 124, an input unit 125, and an output unit 126.

[0022] The communication unit 121 includes a communication module compatible with a wired or wireless LAN standard, a module compatible with a mobile communication standard such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), or 5G (5th Generation), etc. The terminal device 12 is connected to the network 11 via a nearby router device or a base station for mobile communication by the communication unit 121, and performs information communication with other devices via the network 11.

[0023] The storage unit 122 includes one or more semiconductor memories, one or more magnetic memories, one or more optical memories, or a combination of at least two of these. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a RAM or a ROM. The RAM is, for example, a SRAM or a DRAM. The ROM is, for example, an EEPROM. The storage unit 122 functions as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 122 stores information used for the operation of the control unit 123 and information obtained by the operation of the control unit 123.

[0024] The control unit 123 includes one or more processors, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination of these. The processor is a general-purpose processor such as a CPU or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an FPGA or an ASIC. The control unit 123 executes information processing related to the operation of the terminal device 12 while controlling each part of the terminal device 12.

[0025] The positioning unit 124 includes one or more GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receivers. The GNSS includes, for example, at least any one of GPS (Global Positioning System), QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System), BeiDou, GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), and Galileo. The positioning unit 124 sends the positioning result to the control unit 123, and the control unit 123 obtains the position information of the terminal device 12.

[0026] The input unit 125 includes one or more input interfaces. The input interfaces are, for example, a microphone that accepts voice input, physical keys, capacitive keys, a pointing device, or a touchscreen integrated with a display. The input unit 125 accepts operations to input information used for the operation of the control unit 123 and sends the input information to the control unit 123.

[0027] The output unit 126 includes one or more output interfaces. The output interfaces are, for example, a speaker or a display. The display is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The output unit 126 outputs information obtained by the operation of the control unit 123.

[0028] The functions of the control unit 123 are realized by executing a control / processing program on the processor included in the control unit 123. The control / processing program is a program that causes the computer to execute the processing steps included in the operation of the control unit 123, thereby realizing the functions corresponding to the processing of those steps. In other words, the control / processing program is a program that causes the computer to function as the control unit 123. Furthermore, some or all of the functions of the control unit 123 may be realized by dedicated circuits included in the control unit 123.

[0029] Next, an example of the configuration of the in-vehicle device 14 will be described.

[0030] The in-vehicle device 14 includes a communication unit 141, a storage unit 142, a control unit 143, a positioning unit 144, an input unit 145, an output unit 146, and a detection unit 147. These may be configured as a single control device, or as two or more control devices, or as a control device and other devices such as a communication device. The control device includes, for example, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The communication device includes, for example, a DCM (Data Communication Module). Each unit is connected to each other or to the equipment of the vehicle 13 via an in-vehicle network compliant with standards such as CAN (Controller Area Network) to enable information communication. The in-vehicle device 14 may also include some equipment equivalent to that of the terminal device 12.

[0031] The memory unit 142, control unit 143, positioning unit 144, input unit 145, and output unit 146 have configurations equivalent to those of the memory unit 122, control unit 123, positioning unit 124, input unit 125, and output unit 126 of the terminal device 12.

[0032] The communication unit 141 includes one or more communication interfaces. The communication interfaces are, for example, interfaces compatible with mobile communication standards such as LTE, 4G, or 5G. The communication unit 141 receives information used in the operation of the control unit 143 and transmits information obtained through the operation of the control unit 143. The control unit 143 is connected to the network 11 via a mobile communication base station by the communication unit 141 and communicates information with other devices via the network 11.

[0033] The detection unit 147 has an interface with one or more sensors that detect the state of various parts of the vehicle 13, or has one or more sensors. The interface includes an interface with a camera installed inside the vehicle 13 that images the interior. The sensors include a vehicle speed sensor for the vehicle 13. The detection unit 147 sends information such as the captured image and vehicle speed to the control unit 143.

[0034] The control unit 143 controls the communication unit 141, storage unit 142, positioning unit 144, input unit 145, output unit 146, and detection unit 147 while exchanging various information with these units, and also controls the operation of the vehicle 13. When the vehicle 13 is running, the control unit 143 provides navigation functions by presenting various information such as route information necessary for driving to the driver via the output unit 146, and also controls the automatic driving of the vehicle 13.

[0035] Figures 2 and 3 are sequence diagrams illustrating the operation procedure of the information processing system 1 in this embodiment. Figure 2 shows the procedure for the coordinated operation of the server device 10, terminal device 12, and in-vehicle device 14, and Figure 3 shows the procedure for the coordinated operation of the server device 10 and the in-vehicle device 14. The steps related to various information processing of the server device 10, terminal device 12, and in-vehicle device 14 in Figures 2 and 3 are executed by the respective control units 103, 123, and 143. Furthermore, the steps related to the sending and receiving of various information of the server device 10, terminal device 12, and in-vehicle device 14 are executed by the respective control units 103, 123, and 143 sending and receiving information to each other via the communication units 101, 121, and 141. In the server device 10, terminal device 12, and in-vehicle device 14, the control units 103, 123, and 143 respectively store the information to be sent and received in the storage units 102, 122, and 142 as appropriate. Furthermore, the control units 123 and 143 of the terminal device 12 and the in-vehicle device 14 receive various types of information from the user via input units 125 and 145, respectively, and output various types of information to the user via output units 126 and 146, respectively.

[0036] The procedure shown in Figure 2 is an example of the procedure when the server device 10 acquires scenario information and user attribute information.

[0037] In S200, terminal device 12 sends scenario information to server device 10. Scenario information is information that defines a suggested scenario for a user traveling in vehicle 13. The suggested scenario defines how (conditions), when (timing), and what kind of (target of activity, destination, etc.) information to suggest, using parameters such as the driver's attributes and the vehicle's environment. For example, when the administrator inputs scenario information into terminal device 12, terminal device 12 sends the scenario information to server device 10. The scenario information may include keywords, symbols, etc., to define the suggested scenario, or it may include natural language describing the suggested scenario. Examples of natural language describing a suggested scenario include, "For users with children, if no destination is set, guide them to child-friendly facilities," "For users who love pets, if the destination is a considerable distance away, guide them to pet-friendly facilities," etc.

[0038] In S201, the server device 10 obtains user identification information from the in-vehicle device 14. User identification information is ID information such as username and password used to identify the user. Identification information may also include the user's name, age, address, etc. For example, when a user starts using the proposed service, they operate the in-vehicle device 14 once, input their identification information, and send it to the server device 10.

[0039] In S202, the server device 10 acquires user attribute information. The server device 10 acquires user attribute information from, for example, a server that provides an SNS (Social Network Service) or a server that provides user payment information. The server device 10 uses the user's identification information to identify the information posted by each user on the SNS and acquires attribute information from the identified information. From posts on the SNS, information such as the user's gender, age, and occupation, information about family structure including whether they have children, how many, their ages, and genders, information about pets including whether they have pets, their types, and the number of pets, information about their favorite sports teams, song titles, movie titles, etc., and information about their favorite outdoor locations such as the sea, mountains, and countryside are acquired. From this information, user attribute information such as the user's gender, age, and occupation, and the objects of the user's affection, namely children, pets, sports teams, song titles, movie titles, and outdoor locations, is acquired. In addition, the user's main spending targets are acquired from the user's payment information, and preferred objects are acquired based on spending trends.

[0040] In S203, the server device 10 sets up a proposed scenario. The server device 10 sets up a proposed scenario using scenario information and user-specific attribute information. For example, the server device 10 analyzes the natural language contained in the scenario information using a large-scale language model and generates the information necessary for setting up the proposed scenario. The large-scale language model may be stored in the server device 10 or in another server with which the server device 10 can communicate. The proposed scenario includes a weighted sum of elements (hereinafter referred to as the scenario value) that includes user preference features and environmental features in the user's vehicle 13. For example, as shown in Equation 1 below, the scenario value f(x,w) is the sum of preference features and environmental features for each user (x), weighted by the coefficient w. Here, i is the number of elements corresponding to preference features, and j is the number of elements corresponding to environmental features. The types and number of preference features and environmental features used as elements in the proposed scenario are determined according to the attribute information. Equation 1: f(x,w) = wi × preference features + wj × environmental features

[0041] Preference features indicate, for example, the degree of a user's preference for each preference item. Examples of preference features include the degree of preference for children, the degree of preference for pets, the degree of preference for a particular sport, music, etc. The degree of preference is represented by a multi-level numerical value where the higher the degree of preference, the greater the preference. The server device 10 also arbitrarily sets the coefficient w of the preference feature and adjusts the magnitude of the coefficient w of the preference feature based on the attribute information. For example, the coefficients of elements corresponding to children, pets, sports, etc., included in the user's attribute information are made larger than the coefficients of other elements. Furthermore, the server device 10 may also differentiate the weighting of the coefficients among preference items. For example, if a user has more posts about children than about pets, the coefficient of the element corresponding to children can be made larger than the coefficient of the element corresponding to pets.

[0042] Environmental features indicate, for example, the degree of events included in the environment of vehicle 13. Events in the environment of vehicle 13 include ACC power supply, driving speed, driving time, location information, captured images of occupants, and set destinations. The degree of an event is indicated by a multi-level numerical value depending on the event. If the event is ACC power supply, the degree is "1" if it is On and "0" if it is Off. If the event is driving speed or driving time, the degree is a multi-level numerical value that increases as the driving speed or driving time increases. Furthermore, if the event is location information, the degree is a multi-level numerical value that increases as the distance from the set destination increases. Furthermore, if the event is captured images of occupants, the degree is "1" if a child or pet is included and "0" if it is not. Furthermore, if the event is a set destination, the degree is "0" if the destination is set to match the user's preferences and "1" otherwise. The server device 10 also arbitrarily sets the coefficient w of the event features and adjusts the magnitude of the coefficient w based on the attribute information. For example, if children are included in the preferences, the coefficient for the degree to which children are included in the crew's captured images can be increased. Similarly, if pets are included in the preferences, the coefficient for the degree to which pets are included in the crew's captured images can be increased. Furthermore, if sports are included in the preferences, the coefficient for the degree to which the destination is related to sports can be increased. Similarly, if movies are included in the preferences, the coefficient for the degree to which the destination is related to movies can be increased.

[0043] Figure 4 illustrates examples of preference and environmental features included in the proposed scenario. The table in Figure 4 shows examples of three users, A, B, and C. Here, features for preferred items such as children, pets, sports, movies, and music are shown, and features for events included in the environment such as ACC ON / OFF, vehicle speed, current location, and destination setting are shown. For example, user A has relatively high preference features for pets ("0.9") and sports ("0.8"), indicating a preference for pets and sports. The current location feature is also relatively high at "0.8," suggesting an environment where the user is relatively far from the set destination and there is relatively large room for proposals. User B, on the other hand, has an exceptionally high preference feature for children ("0.8"), indicating a preference for children. The current location feature is moderate at "0.5," suggesting an environment where the user is at a moderate distance from the set destination and there is less room for proposals. Furthermore, while user C has low preference features for pets or children, the feature value for movies is exceptionally high at "0.8," indicating a preference for movies. Since the destination setting is not represented by a feature value of "0," the feature value for the current location is "1," suggesting there is ample room for destination suggestions.

[0044] In addition to the scenario value f(x,w), the proposed scenario may include factors that influence the user's preferences, such as age and gender, obtained from attribute information (hereinafter referred to as preference factors). Furthermore, the proposed scenario may include information that specifies the recipient of the proposed information.

[0045] The proposed scenario is set up using the procedure shown in Figure 2. Here, the administrator sends scenario information from the terminal device 12, which takes into account trends, user preferences, etc., to set up a proposed scenario that better matches the user's preferences. Furthermore, by using attribute information to weight the elements of the proposed scenario, it becomes possible to execute suggestions that better match the user's preferences.

[0046] The procedure shown in Figure 3 is an example of the procedure when the server device 10 sends proposal information to the in-vehicle device 14 to provide a proposal to the user.

[0047] In S300, the server device 10 acquires environmental information from the in-vehicle device 14. In the in-vehicle device 14, the control unit 143 acquires various environmental information and sends it to the server device 10 via the communication unit 141. The environmental information is information that indicates the environment in the vehicle 13, and the events included in the environment are ACC power supply, driving speed, driving time, location information, captured images of occupants, and set destinations. For example, the in-vehicle device 14 acquires the On / Off status of the ACC power supply, driving time, etc. from the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) of the vehicle 13. The in-vehicle device 14 also acquires the driving speed from the vehicle speed sensor. Furthermore, the in-vehicle device 14 acquires location information via the positioning unit 144. Furthermore, the in-vehicle device 14 acquires captured images of occupants via the in-vehicle camera. Finally, the in-vehicle device 14 acquires the destination entered by the user when the navigation function is activated. The acquisition of environmental information by the in-vehicle device 14 and its transmission to the server device 10 are performed at any arbitrary timing. For example, the operation may be performed at any interval (e.g., every few seconds) after the ACC power is turned on, or it may be performed at any interval using the internal battery of the on-board device 14 even when the ACC power is off.

[0048] In S301, the server device 10 derives a scenario value f(x,w). The scenario value is a weighted sum of elements that include the user's preference features and the environmental features in the user's vehicle 13, as expressed in Equation 1 above.

[0049] In S302, the server device 10 determines whether the scenario value is greater than or equal to an arbitrary threshold value. If it is greater than or equal to the threshold value (Yes), it proceeds to S303. If it is not greater than or equal to the threshold value (No), it returns to S300 and executes S300 and S301 again.

[0050] In S303, the server device 10 generates a suggestion. The suggestion is generated based on a suggestion scenario. The suggestion is, for example, an action related to the user's preferences. For example, the suggestion is to travel to a destination that matches the preferences. If no destination is set, a new destination is suggested, and if a destination is already set, an alternative destination is suggested. The suggested destination is identified based on information provided by, for example, map information or other servers. For example, if the user's preference is children, children's play facilities, facilities that allow children, and children's goods stores are suggested as destinations. If the user's preference is pets, facilities that allow pets and pet goods stores are suggested as destinations. If the user's preference is sports, sports viewing facilities and sports goods stores are suggested as destinations. If the user's preference is the outdoors, outdoor locations such as the sea, mountains, and countryside are suggested as destinations. Alternatively, the suggestion is to enjoy the preferences. If the preference is any song, the output of that song is suggested. If the destination is difficult to visit with children or pets, the server device 10 may generate a proposal on the condition that there are no passengers included in the captured image.

[0051] Here, by including location information, captured images of the occupants, and a set destination as elements of the scenario value corresponding to the environmental information, for example, when the current location is relatively far from the destination, or when the preferred object is the same, or when a destination matching the preferred object is set, the scenario value will increase, making it easier to reach the threshold value in step S302. Therefore, by making the reaching of the threshold value of the scenario value a condition for making a proposal, it becomes possible to make a proposal at a timing that is more appropriate to the user's needs, without bothering the user with uniform, mechanical proposals. Furthermore, in the proposal scenario, the condition for making a proposal may be defined as the elapsed time since the transmission of the previous proposal information reaching an arbitrary threshold value.

[0052] In S305, the server device 10 sends proposal information indicating the proposal to the in-vehicle device 14.

[0053] In S306, the in-vehicle device 14 outputs or executes a proposal corresponding to the proposed information. For example, the in-vehicle device 14 outputs information suggesting a destination to the user via voice output. Alternatively, the in-vehicle device 14 may propose to the user the output of a song via voice output and output the song in response to a voice input indicating the user's acceptance. Alternatively, the in-vehicle device 14 may, subject to the user's acceptance, perform autonomous driving to the proposed destination based on the proposed information.

[0054] In S307, the in-vehicle device 14 sends response information indicating the user's response to the server device 10. The user's response is either a positive or negative response to the proposal. A positive response is sent to the server device 10 when the user sets the proposed destination or agrees to music output. On the other hand, a negative response is sent to the server device 10 when the destination is not set within a specified time, or when an expression of disagreement with music output or stopping of the outputted music is detected within a specified time. The user's intention to the proposal is determined, for example, based on their speech. The in-vehicle device 14 performs speech recognition on the user's speech and can determine whether the response is positive or negative if the speech contains keywords indicating acceptance or rejection, respectively.

[0055] In S308, the server device 10 adjusts the proposed scenario using the user's response. For example, if the server device 10 receives a positive response to a proposed destination, it increases the coefficient w for the user's preference feature, and if it receives a negative response, it decreases the coefficient w. For example, if the server device 10 receives a positive or negative response to a proposed destination such as a facility for children, it adjusts the coefficient of the feature that targets children as a preference, and if the server device 10 receives a positive or negative response to a proposed destination such as a facility for pets, it adjusts the coefficient of the feature that targets pets as a preference. Also, if the server device 10 receives a positive or negative response to a proposed output of music, it adjusts the coefficient of the feature that targets music as a preference. In this way, it becomes possible to adjust the proposed scenario to better suit the user's needs.

[0056] The user receives suggestions following the procedure shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, by adjusting the suggestion scenario using response information, it becomes possible to provide suggestions that better match the user's preferences.

[0057] In the modified example, before step S306, the server device 10 determines the recipient of the proposal information. If the ACC power is On, the recipient is the in-vehicle device 14. Alternatively, if the ACC power is Off, the recipient is a terminal device such as a smartphone used by the user. Information about such a terminal device is stored in advance in the storage unit 102 of the server device 10. The recipient information according to the state of the ACC power is defined, for example, in the proposal scenario. In this way, a proposal can be sent to a smartphone or other device carried by the user even before the user boards the vehicle 13.

[0058] In further variations, the proposed scenario may take into account user preference factors such as age and gender. For example, when the server device 10 selects a destination from multiple candidate destinations, it can select a popular destination based on the user's age and gender, using ranking information obtained from other servers, etc. This would allow for a more precise adaptation to the user's needs.

[0059] The events included in the environment of vehicle 13 may include external temperature measured by sensors and weather information obtained from the information distribution server. Furthermore, the events included in the environment may include not only events at the present time but also events at multiple points in time, including past events. For example, the external temperature feature is a score that decreases as the external temperature deviates from a favorable temperature (e.g., 20°C to 25°C). The weather feature is a score that is highest for good weather (sunny) and decreases arbitrarily in stages towards bad weather (heavy rain, strong winds, etc.). In addition, a larger weight may be assigned to the difference between multiple points in time. By doing so, the longer the favorable external temperature or the longer the good weather continues, the easier it is for the scenario value to reach the standard, thus increasing the frequency of suggestions presented to the user from the server device 10.

[0060] According to the above-described embodiment, it becomes possible to provide the user with suggestions that more accurately match the user's preferences for the vehicle 13.

[0061] As described above, embodiments have been explained based on various drawings and examples, but it should be noted that those skilled in the art will find it easy to make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions, etc., included in each means, each step, etc., can be rearranged in a logically consistent manner, and multiple means, steps, etc., can be combined into one or divided. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0062] 1. Information and communication systems 10 Server devices 11 Network 12 Terminal devices 13 vehicles 14 Onboard equipment 101, 121, 141 Communications Department 102, 122, 142 storage section 103, 123, 143 Control Unit 125, 145 Input section 126, 146 Output section 124, 144 Positioning Unit 147 Detection unit

Claims

1. A communication unit that communicates with an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle and receives environmental information acquired from the in-vehicle device by a sensor or camera mounted on the vehicle, A storage unit that stores information indicating the user attributes of the vehicle and scenario information defining a proposed scenario for the user, A control unit that uses the aforementioned scenario information to derive a proposal to the user based on attribute information indicating the aforementioned attributes and the aforementioned environmental information, and sends proposal information indicating the proposal to the vehicle's in-vehicle device to cause the in-vehicle device to output or execute the proposal, A server device having the following features.

2. The communications department that handles communications, A memory unit that stores scenario information defining proposed scenarios for vehicle users, A control unit that uses the aforementioned scenario information to derive a proposal to the user based on attribute information indicating the user's attributes and environmental information, sends proposal information indicating the proposal to the vehicle's in-vehicle device, and causes the in-vehicle device to output or execute the proposal, A server device having the following features.

3. In claim 2, The proposed scenario includes a weighted sum of elements, which includes user preference features and environmental features in the user's vehicle. Server device.

4. In claim 3, The control unit generates an equation for deriving the weighted sum from the scenario information using a large-scale language model. Server device.

5. In claim 3, The characteristic quantity of each user's preferences includes the degree of the user's preference for the preferred object, which is derived from the user's attribute information. Server device.

6. In claim 5, The characteristic features of the environment in each user's vehicle include a value indicating whether or not the user's preferred object is in the vehicle, a value indicating the distance to the destination corresponding to the user's preferred object, and a value indicating the elapsed time since the previous suggestion information was sent. Server device.

7. In claim 3, The control unit sends out the proposed information on the condition that the sum of the loads reaches a reference value. Server device.

8. In claim 2, The control unit sends out the suggested information taking into account the user's attributes. Server device.

9. In claim 3, The proposed scenario includes information indicating the conditions for sending the proposed information to a terminal device instead of the in-vehicle device. Server device.

10. In claim 2, The control unit receives information from the in-vehicle device indicating a response to the proposal. Server device.

11. In claim 10, The control unit modifies the proposed scenario using the information indicating the reaction. Server device.

12. A system comprising an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and a server device that communicates with the in-vehicle device, The server uses scenario information defining suggested scenarios for the vehicle's user to derive suggestions for the user based on attribute information indicating the user's attributes and environmental information, and sends the suggestion information indicating the suggestions to the vehicle's in-vehicle device. The in-vehicle device outputs or executes the proposal. system.

13. In claim 12, The proposed scenario includes a weighted sum of elements, which includes user preference features and environmental features in the user's vehicle. system.

14. In claim 13, The server device generates an equation for deriving the weighted sum from the scenario information using a large-scale language model. system.

15. In claim 13, The characteristic quantity of each user's preferences includes the degree of the user's preference for the preferred object, which is derived from the user's attribute information. system.

16. In claim 15, The characteristic features of the environment in each user's vehicle include a value indicating whether or not the user's preferred object is in the vehicle, a value indicating the distance to the destination corresponding to the user's preferred object, and a value indicating the elapsed time since the previous suggestion information was sent. system.

17. In claim 13, The server device transmits the proposed information on the condition that the sum of the loads reaches a reference value. system.

18. In claim 12, The server device sends out the suggested information taking into account the user's attributes. system.

19. In claim 13, The proposed scenario includes information indicating the conditions for sending the proposed information to a terminal device instead of the in-vehicle device. system.

20. In claim 12, The server device receives information from the in-vehicle device indicating a response to the proposal. system.

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