Systems and programs, etc.

Abstract

To provide technology related to delivering content to passengers. [Solution] The display device 30 includes a display unit provided in a position visible to the passenger P of the vehicle 90, and a control unit that, while the passenger P is on board, acquires content according to the attributes of the passenger P or the position of the vehicle 90, and controls the display unit to display the acquired content.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to systems, programs, etc.

Background Art

[0002] For example, there is a technology for displaying an advertisement on a display device provided in a taxi (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a technology related to providing content to passengers, for example. Another object is to provide a technology related to providing content to a driver as a passenger.

[0005] The object of the invention of the present application is not limited to this, and the applicant also has the intention of obtaining rights by means of divisional application, amendment, etc. for a configuration aimed at obtaining an effect exerted from a part of the configuration disclosed in this specification and drawings, etc. For example, the problems obtained by reading the parts described as "can be" in this specification as "is a problem" are disclosed in this specification. The problems are described as independent ones, and the applicant also has the intention of obtaining rights by means of divisional application, amendment, etc. alone for the configuration for solving each problem. Even if the problems are implicitly grasped from the description of the specification, the applicant has the intention of making a part of the configuration described in this specification the scope of claims by amendment or divisional application. Also, a configuration for solving a problem combining these independent problems is disclosed, and the applicant has the intention of obtaining rights.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) A system is provided which includes a display unit located in a position visible to a person inside the vehicle, and a control unit that controls the display unit to display content corresponding to the person's attributes or the vehicle's location while the person is inside the vehicle.

[0007] In this way, the person inside the vehicle can view content that is appropriate to their attributes or the location of the vehicle. Content that can be encouraged to be viewed by the person inside the vehicle can be displayed, for example, to prevent the person inside the vehicle from getting bored while the vehicle is in motion, or to provide useful information.

[0008] (2) The display unit is provided in a position visible to the passenger, and the control unit is configured to acquire content corresponding to the passenger's attributes or the vehicle's location while the passenger is on board, and to display the acquired content on the display unit.

[0009] This provides a system comprising a display unit positioned to be visible to passengers of a vehicle, and a control unit that, while the passenger is on board, acquires content corresponding to the passenger's attributes or the vehicle's location and controls the display unit to show the acquired content.

[0010] (3) The display unit may be provided on the back side of the driver's seat or passenger seat of the vehicle.

[0011] This approach makes it easier to ensure that passengers in vehicles such as taxis, who are often seated in the back, have a greater opportunity to see the content.

[0012] (4) The vehicle is a vehicle for which the passengers, who are the persons, are required to pay the usage fee, and the control unit may perform control to discount the usage fee according to the actual display of the content.

[0013] In this way, discounts on ride fares can be used as an incentive to encourage people inside the vehicle to view the content.

[0014] (5) The control unit may perform control to grant benefits to the passenger, who is the person, according to the actual display history of the content.

[0015] This approach encourages passengers to view content by offering incentives.

[0016] (5-1) It is desirable to have a function to acquire the status of passengers viewing content based on video footage from cameras that film inside the vehicle. In particular, it is desirable to have a function to store in association the status of passengers viewing content based on video footage from cameras that film inside the vehicle with information to identify the display status of that content at that time. The status of passengers viewing content based on video footage from cameras that film inside the vehicle may be the video footage from the cameras that film inside the vehicle itself, or it may be information that identifies the user's gaze detected from the video footage from the cameras that film inside the vehicle, or information that indicates whether or not the user detected from the video footage from the cameras that film inside the vehicle is viewing the content. It is also desirable to store this information in association with video footage from cameras that film outside the vehicle. In this way, it becomes possible to determine whether the passenger is not viewing the content because they are not interested in it, or because they are viewing the scenery or situation outside the vehicle, and the appeal of the content, or the effectiveness of the advertisement if the content is an advertisement, can be measured more accurately.

[0017] (6) The vehicle is a vehicle for which the passenger, who is the person, is required to pay the usage fee, and the control unit may perform control to discount the usage fee according to the passenger's actual viewing of the content.

[0018] In this way, discounts on ride fares can be used as an incentive to encourage passengers to view the content.

[0019] (7) The control unit may perform control to grant a privilege to the passenger according to the viewing record of the content by the passenger who is a person.

[0020] By doing so, it is possible to promote the viewing of the content by the passenger motivated by the granting of the privilege.

[0021] (8) The content corresponding to the position of the vehicle may be the display of information regarding a facility where a predetermined product can be purchased or a service can be received.

[0022] By doing so, the people in the vehicle can know the information regarding the facilities that sell products or provide services. The content corresponding to the position of the vehicle may be, for example, the information such as the facilities existing around the vehicle. By doing so, the people in the vehicle can know useful information such as the information regarding the facilities existing around. The information regarding the facility may be the guidance of the facility itself, the products sold at the facility, the guidance of the services provided at the facility, etc.

[0023] (9) The control unit may acquire destination information indicating the destination of the vehicle and perform control to display the content corresponding to the destination on the display unit.

[0024] By doing so, in order to display the content corresponding to the destination that the passenger is going to visit in the future, it is easy to arouse the interest of the passenger.

[0025] Also, the control unit may acquire the destination information indicating the destination of the vehicle by communicating with the navigation system arranged in the vehicle.

[0026] By doing so, using the navigation systems installed in many vehicles the destination can be specified and the corresponding content can be displayed.

[0027] (10) The control unit may acquire route guidance information used for route guidance of the vehicle and perform control to display content corresponding to the route guidance information on the display unit.

[0028] This approach displays content relevant to the points passengers will pass through on their way to their destination, making it easier to capture their interest.

[0029] Furthermore, the control unit may perform control to acquire route guidance information indicating the vehicle's destination by communicating with a navigation system installed in the vehicle.

[0030] This way, you can utilize the navigation systems installed in many vehicles. It can identify a destination and display content accordingly.

[0031] (10-1) It is desirable to have a function that generates information for users to receive content corresponding to route guidance information on their smartphones or other devices. Based on the generated information, users can receive content corresponding to the route guidance information on their smartphones or other devices. Therefore, users can receive content corresponding to the route guidance information even after they get out of the car. In particular, both the content corresponding to the route guidance information and the information for receiving that content on smartphones or other devices should be displayed on a terminal installed in front of the back seat of a taxi or the like.

[0032] In particular, content corresponding to route guidance information should include information about the vicinity of the destination. In addition, content corresponding to route guidance information should include information about surrounding facilities. In addition, content corresponding to route guidance information should include information about surrounding facilities along with the route information. Content corresponding to route guidance information should include the "guidance" described later in (11).

[0033] The information received by the user's smartphone or other device in accordance with route guidance information may be, for example, an encoded image that can be read by the user's smartphone or other device, such as a 2D code like a QR code (registered trademark) or information that can be optically read by a camera, such as a barcode. Alternatively, the information received by the device may be information that can be read via proximity communication such as NFC or contactless communication. Furthermore, the information received by the device may be information that a person can read and input into the device, such as numbers or letters. This information may include information such as an internet URL (an example of access destination information). To ensure that users receive content corresponding to route guidance information when they access the URL from their device, the system should include a function that allows the vehicle to send information to the server of the URL for generating content corresponding to the route guidance information provided in the vehicle at that time. The server should receive the URL and the information for generating content corresponding to the route guidance information provided in the vehicle at that time, store them in association, and when the URL is accessed from a device, generate content corresponding to the route guidance information based on the stored information for generating content corresponding to the route guidance information provided in the vehicle at that time, and send it to the user's device. Wherever "content corresponding to route guidance information" is written in this specification, it may be replaced with "content corresponding to the actual driving route." In this way, content corresponding to the actual driving route will be provided, making it easier for the user to understand the relationship between the content and the surrounding scenery, etc., while they were in the car.

[0034] Furthermore, it would be beneficial to include a function that sends information to a server for the user to view the video recorded by the dashcam when the user gets in the vehicle on their smartphone or other device after they get out of the vehicle. The system should acquire video from the dashcam, identify the range of the video from when the user gets in until they get out of the vehicle by acquiring the door opening / closing signal from the user's side, or by recognizing the user getting in and out of the vehicle from the video, upload the video within that range to the server, and include a function to generate information for the user to obtain the server's address on their device. The information for the user to obtain the server's address on their device should be the same as the information for receiving the content corresponding to the route guidance information on the user's smartphone or other device. For example, a QR code (registered trademark) could be generated, and when the user reads it with their smartphone or other device and accesses the URL within the QR code (registered trademark), the video could be played on the smartphone or other device. This URL and the URL for receiving the content corresponding to the route guidance information on the user's smartphone or other device could be the same URL, and the content corresponding to the route guidance information and the video of the user getting in the vehicle could be output together on the same page. It would be beneficial to have a function that stores a URL, information identifying the video data in question, and information for generating content corresponding to the route guidance information provided in the vehicle at that time, in association with each other, and when the user's terminal accesses the URL, transmits information about the content generated during the ride and the video footage from the dashcam at that time to the user's terminal based on this stored information.

[0035] (11) The control unit may perform control to display the locations of facilities where a predetermined product can be purchased or a predetermined service can be received on a map that displays the location of the vehicle or on a map that displays the route to the destination, and to display the facilities within the map area in accordance with a predetermined priority order.

[0036] This approach displays information about high-priority facilities on the map, allowing users inside vehicles to efficiently identify and locate these facilities. The designated products or services should ideally be of the same type. This allows users seeking these products or services to compare and choose the best facility by displaying facilities offering the same product or service within a designated area according to priority.

[0037] (12) The facility is a refueling station for refueling the vehicle, and the control unit may perform control to display the refueling stations located within the map area specified by the destination information or the route guidance information in accordance with a predetermined priority order.

[0038] This way, supply depots are displayed on the map according to priority. People inside vehicles can see the location of high-priority supply depots within the map area and the information they will provide.

[0039] (13) The control unit may display the information regarding the supply stations located on the route of the vehicle guided by the route guidance function.

[0040] In this way, people inside the vehicle can see signs indicating supply points along the route. Therefore, people inside the vehicle can know about the existence of supply points that can be reached by following the route guidance to their destination without having to take detours.

[0041] (14) The control unit has a function to determine the remaining fuel level of the vehicle, and it is preferable that the control unit changes the display to be shown according to the determined remaining fuel level.

[0042] This allows for appropriate guidance displays based on the remaining fuel level. For example, the display area could be changed according to the remaining fuel level, or the display could be completely hidden when the fuel level is high.

[0043] (15) The control unit may display the information about the refueling station when the remaining fuel is less than the standard.

[0044] In this way, users inside the vehicle can see a display indicating a refueling station when their fuel is low and there is a high need to refuel. Refueling stations are displayed according to a predetermined priority order. Therefore, drivers and other occupants of the vehicle can efficiently obtain useful information at that time.

[0045] (16) The control unit may display the information about the refueling station when the fuel level is low, and may not display the information about the refueling station when the fuel level is high.

[0046] This system ensures that when refueling is likely needed, refueling stations within the map area are displayed in order of priority, allowing users, such as drivers, to easily find information about high-priority refueling stations. Conversely, when there is a high fuel level and refueling is unlikely to be needed, the system avoids displaying information about refueling stations, thus preventing unnecessary information from being shown on the map. This allows users to see information that would otherwise be obscured by the display of refueling stations.

[0047] (17) The control unit may display a guide to the supply station when the destination is far away, and not display a guide to the supply station when the destination is close.

[0048] This way, users inside the vehicle can see the display when they need information about refueling stations, depending on the distance to their destination. For example, if the destination is far away, there is a possibility of running out of fuel along the way, so it would be good to display information about refueling stations in advance to encourage refueling and to indicate high-priority refueling stations. In addition, by providing information about refueling stations, it can also serve as an opportunity for the driver or other person inside the vehicle to check the remaining fuel level.

[0049] (18) The control unit may, based on the route guidance information or destination information, perform control to display a guided information about the refueling station in the area before the vehicle enters the expressway if there is a possibility of the vehicle traveling on the expressway.

[0050] This allows users inside the vehicle to know about high-priority refueling stations located in the area before the vehicle enters the highway. Furthermore, by displaying information about these refueling stations, it is possible to prompt drivers and other occupants to check their fuel levels. Thus, the occurrence of situations where a vehicle runs out of fuel on the highway and becomes unable to move can be minimized.

[0051] (19) The control unit has a function to determine the remaining fuel level of the vehicle, and the control unit may, depending on the remaining fuel level, display information about refueling stations other than those on the route of the vehicle guided by the route guidance function.

[0052] In this way, the user inside the vehicle can see guidance on refueling stations located in the map area that are not on the route, depending on the remaining fuel level. For example, if the fuel level is high, the system can display guidance only on refueling stations on the route to the destination. The driver can then select a refueling station from the displayed list according to the guidance, travel towards their destination without detours, and refuel at the selected refueling station along the route. If the fuel level is low, the system can also display guidance on refueling stations located outside the route, allowing the user to see information on nearby refueling stations. The driver can then select the appropriate refueling station from the information displayed about refueling stations on and off the route, and refuel at the selected station.

[0053] (20) The control unit may perform control to display the facilities with higher priority in accordance with the predetermined priority order, and to display the facilities with lower priority as well.

[0054] This allows users inside the vehicle to see displays guiding them to high-priority facilities, as well as lower-priority facilities. When high-priority facilities are displayed prominently, users can learn about them without missing them. It is also possible to display multiple high-priority facilities, which broadens the range of choices. Furthermore, it expands the range of options for users to choose lower-priority facilities, thus increasing the freedom of facility selection for users. Prioritization can be based on, for example, price. For a fuel station, it can be based on the price of refueling, such as the price per unit of fuel (price per liter). However, it is not limited to price; for example, facilities located on the route can be given higher priority, or facilities off the route but with a short detour distance can be given higher priority, or facilities that are currently high priority for shopping can be given higher priority.

[0055] (21) The control unit may include a function to obtain information about the amount from a web page that manages the amount to be paid as consideration for the purchase of a predetermined product or provision of a service for a plurality of facilities, and to control the display of the information provided, and to detect when the person has used any of the facilities that have been displayed, and a granting processing unit that grants a benefit to the person when it is detected that the person has used the facility.

[0056] This approach increases the incentive for passengers to use the facilities, as they will receive benefits for doing so. These benefits could include points redeemable on a website or other monetary value, or they could be non-monetary, such as access to special games or content.

[0057] (22) The granting processing unit may perform a process to grant the person a first benefit when using the web page or a second benefit that can be used in transactions with the manufacturer or distributor of the in-vehicle device equipped with the control unit.

[0058] In this way, people inside vehicles equipped with in-vehicle devices are granted a first benefit when using a webpage, or a second benefit that can be used for transactions with the manufacturer or distributor of the in-vehicle device by using a designated facility, thus increasing their motivation to use that webpage or facility. The second benefit allows people to, for example, purchase accessories or other devices for the in-vehicle device, or receive specific services.

[0059] (23) The vehicle may be equipped with a photography unit and a second in-vehicle device that has a function to post images of the facility used by the person, which have been photographed by the photography unit, to the web page.

[0060] This approach allows the webpage to collect images of facilities that are actually used, increasing the amount of information it provides. People who receive benefits for posting are more likely to actively use the facilities. The second in-vehicle device may be different from or the same as the in-vehicle device that displays information about the facilities.

[0061] (24) The system may include a function to transmit data on the usage status of the facility to the web page after the facility has been used, and a processing unit that grants a predetermined benefit to the person after the data has been transmitted.

[0062] In this way, the webpage can collect the above data regarding proper and correct usage, and users will be more inclined to post accurate usage data because they will receive rewards for using the page.

[0063] (25) The facility is a refueling station for supplying fuel to the vehicle, and the function for transmitting data on the usage status of the facility to the web page may include a process for transmitting information about the price when a user actually uses the facility.

[0064] In this way, the webpage can collect the actual prices that users pay when using a refueling station. For example, refueling stations may display fuel prices on signs, but the prices displayed on those signs do not necessarily match the prices that users actually pay when using the service; they may differ. By collecting these actual usage prices, the webpage can publish more accurate information. Furthermore, the price information collected in this way should be reflected in the information displayed on the vehicle that guides users about the facility. Facility usage may include, for example, receiving fuel, car washes, or other services if the facility is a refueling station for vehicles. The usage data should ideally include not only the price paid for the service but also the conditions under which that price applies.

[0065] (26) It is preferable to have a function that recognizes the price displayed on the sign of the supply station and, if it differs from the price at which the user actually used the service, transmits the price at which the user actually used the service to the web page.

[0066] This method allows for the efficient collection of information regarding discrepancies between the price displayed on the sign and the actual price.

[0067] (27) The vehicle may have a function to record the history of the vehicle's visits to the facility along with images taken by the camera unit of the third onboard device, and a function to receive a search query and search for and transmit images taken and recorded at the time and facility specified in the search query.

[0068] In this way, images taken when visiting a facility can be recorded and stored, and later images matching requested conditions can be searched for and transmitted. For example, if images taken at a certain facility at a certain date and time are needed, it may be possible to collect images from various angles by simultaneously sending a search query to each in-vehicle device. For example, even if surveillance cameras are installed at the facility, if there are areas not captured by the surveillance cameras due to their blind spots, it may be possible to obtain images of these areas not captured by the surveillance cameras based on the vehicle's parking position and the angle of view of the third in-vehicle device's camera. This third in-vehicle device may be the same device as either the in-vehicle device or the second in-vehicle device, or it may be a different device.

[0069] (28) A fourth in-vehicle device equipped with a communication unit that performs communications for which a predetermined communication fee is charged, a function that detects when the person has used any of the facilities indicated by the guidance display, and a discount processing unit that performs processing to discount the communication fee of the fourth in-vehicle device when it is detected that such use has occurred.

[0070] In this way, if communication charges are discounted for using designated facilities, users will be more inclined to use the facilities, and the communication charges will be discounted as a result of actual facility use. For example, when transmitting image data captured by the fourth in-vehicle device and managing that image data externally, even users who feel a mental or financial burden from the communication charges incurred when transmitting image data will have that burden reduced because the communication charges are discounted. This fourth in-vehicle device may be composed of the same device as the in-vehicle device, the second in-vehicle device, or the third in-vehicle device, or it may be composed of a different device.

[0071] The system could also, for example, involve selling a fourth in-vehicle device to a company that manages a webpage, linking the fourth in-vehicle device to members who use the webpage, and then, when a notification of use is received from the fourth in-vehicle device, either directly or via other equipment, a discount on communication charges would be applied. The discount on communication charges does not necessarily have to be provided by the company that manages the webpage; for example, it could be provided by a company that profits from the above-mentioned use.

[0072] (29) The computer may be provided with programs to perform the functions of any of the systems described above.

[0073] The inventions described in (1) to (29) above can be combined in any way. For example, one could combine all or part of the configuration of the invention described in (1) with at least part of the configuration of at least one of the inventions described in (2) and onward. In particular, one could combine the invention described in (1) with at least part of the configuration of at least one of the inventions described in (2) and onward. Alternatively, one could extract any configuration from the inventions described in (1) to (29) and combine the extracted configurations. The applicant of this application intends to acquire rights to inventions that include these configurations. Furthermore, even if there are descriptions such as "in the case of..." or "when...", these are not meant to indicate that the configuration is limited to that case or time. These are merely examples of better configurations, and the applicant intends to acquire rights to configurations that do not fall under these cases or times. Also, even if there is a sequence of descriptions, the order is not limited to that sequence. Configurations with some parts deleted or the order rearranged are also disclosed, and the applicant intends to acquire rights to them as well. [Effects of the Invention]

[0074] The present invention provides at least one of the following effects: For example, it can provide technology for providing content to people inside a vehicle, such as passengers or drivers. It can provide technology for imposing monetary value on people inside a vehicle, such as fares for transportation or facility usage fees. It can provide technology for providing monetary value, etc., to people as a reward for a certain action. Rewards for certain actions include, for example, rewards for viewing displayed commercials or content, or rewards for using a facility.

[0075] The effects of the present invention are not limited thereto, and the effects produced by the components of the structure disclosed in this specification and the drawings are also disclosed. The present invention intends to obtain rights to the components that produce such effects through divisional applications, amendments, etc. For example, the phrases "can do..." in this specification are descriptions that specify the effects produced, and there are components that produce effects even without such descriptions. Furthermore, there are effects that can be grasped by the component even without such descriptions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0076] [Figure 1] This figure illustrates an overview of the display device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the driver's seat according to the first embodiment as viewed from the rear side of the vehicle. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the display device and server device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This sequence chart shows the processing flow of Example 1-1. [Figure 5] This is a sequence chart showing the processing flow for Example 1-2. [Figure 6] This figure shows the external appearance of the navigation device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a block diagram of a navigation device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a sequence chart showing the processing flow of Example 2-1. [Figure 9] This is a sequence chart showing the processing flow of Example 2-2. [Figure 10] This is a block diagram of a navigation device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of how the navigation system displays the results of its route search to the destination. [Figure 12] This is a sequence chart showing the processing flow of Example 3-1. [Figure 13] This diagram illustrates an example of the display of the results of implementing Example 3-1. [Figure 14] This figure illustrates an example of how the results of implementing Example 3-7 will be displayed. [Figure 15] This is a block diagram showing the system according to the fourth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0077] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are examples of embodiments of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. In the drawings referenced in these embodiments, the same parts or parts having similar functions are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals (simply a number followed by A, B, etc.), and repeated explanations may be omitted. In addition, in the drawings referenced in the following description, the scale may be different from that of the actual parts in order to make each component, area, etc. recognizable.

[0078] Each of the embodiments described below is an example of a system having, for example, a display unit provided in a position visible to a person inside a vehicle, and a control unit that controls the display unit to display content corresponding to the person's attributes or the vehicle's location while the person is riding in the vehicle. First, the present invention will be described in the case where the vehicle is a taxi, vehicle 90. The vehicle may be a rental car, a hired car, or any other vehicle that may carry passengers. The vehicle may be a mode of transportation such as a bus, a maglev train, or a monorail. The vehicle may also be a vehicle other than a vehicle, such as a ship or an airplane. Furthermore, in the case where the vehicle is a taxi, vehicle 90, the people inside the vehicle may be considered passengers.

[0079] [First Embodiment] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the overview of the system of the first embodiment. The display device 30, which is an example of the system of this embodiment, is mounted on a vehicle 90. The vehicle 90 is a vehicle that carries passengers, and in this embodiment, it is a taxi. The vehicle 90 has a driver's seat 91, a passenger seat 92, and a rear seat 93. The driver's seat 91 is the seat where the driver D who drives the vehicle 90 sits. The passenger seat 92 and the rear seat 93 are seats where passengers (taxi users) sit. In the example in Figure 1, passengers P1, P2, and P3 are sitting in the rear seat 93, and passenger P4 is sitting in the passenger seat 92. The display device 30 is installed in the driver's seat 91.

[0080] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the driver's seat 91 as viewed from the rear side (passenger P1 side) of the vehicle 90. The display device 30 is installed in the driver's seat 91 such that the display unit 32 is exposed from the rear side of the driver's seat 91. Passengers P1, P2, and P3 can visually view the image displayed on the display unit 32. The display device 30 has a camera 35 capable of photographing at least one of the passengers P1, P2, or P3. The camera 35 is used to photograph the user and determine the user's attributes from the captured image. It is desirable that the camera 35 photograph at least the user's face so that the user's attributes can be determined from the captured image. However, if the user's attributes can be determined by other means, the camera 35 may not be provided. The control unit 31 may acquire images of any of the passengers P1 to P4 from, for example, a drive recorder or other in-vehicle camera (not shown) installed in the vehicle 90. In addition, a device may be provided for the driver D to look at the passengers and input their attributes. This device may be a terminal dedicated to driver D, or it may be an in-vehicle device such as a navigation system. The control unit 31 may acquire user attribute data entered by driver D. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between passengers P1 to P4, they will be collectively referred to as "passenger P". In this embodiment, the case in which the display device 30 is installed in the driver's seat 91 is described, but it may be installed in the passenger seat 92 instead or in addition. In this case, the display unit 32 of the display device 30 is exposed from the rear side of the passenger seat 92. This makes it easier to ensure that passengers have more opportunities to view the content, as passengers in a vehicle 90 such as a taxi often sit in the back seat. The display device 30 may be installed in a location other than the seats of the vehicle 90, such as the ceiling of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 90, as long as the display unit 32 is visible to any passenger.

[0081] The display device 30 communicates with the server device 40 (shown in Figure 3) and has a content display function that displays content acquired through communication with the server device 40. The server device 40 manages and operates the content, which in this embodiment is image content that can be visually understood. In this embodiment, the content is advertising content, such as a commercial message (CM). The content may include items with monetary value, such as image coupons. The monetary value may be converted into various benefits, which will be described later.

[0082] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the display device 30 and the server device 40. The input receiving unit 38 is not relevant to this embodiment. The control unit 31 is, for example, a computer including an arithmetic processing circuit and memory. The arithmetic processing circuit includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or other arithmetic processing circuits. The memory includes, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory) or other volatile memory. The arithmetic processing circuit performs various controls by temporarily reading programs and other data into the memory and performing arithmetic processing.

[0083] The display unit 32 displays images. The display unit 32 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, but it may also be a display device employing an organic EL or other display method. The storage unit 33 stores data. The storage unit 33 is a hard disk or other auxiliary storage device. The communication unit 34 performs wireless communication with an external device via a communication line NW. The communication unit 34 is equipped with a communication circuit and antenna, etc., for performing such wireless communication. The external device is, for example, a server device 40. The communication line NW is, for example, a network compliant with the 5G standard, enabling high-speed communication. However, the communication line NW may also be a line compliant with LTE, 4G, or other standards.

[0084] The imaging unit 35 takes images and generates the captured images. The imaging unit 35 has a CMOS, CCD or other image sensor and a lens. The speaker 36 outputs sound. The speaker 36 is positioned so that passengers P1, P2, P3, and P4 can hear the sound. The positioning unit 37 measures the position of the display device 30 and generates position information. The position of the display device 30 is substantially the position of the vehicle 90. The positioning unit 37 generates and acquires the vehicle's position information (latitude and longitude) based on signals from GPS (Global Positioning System), which is one of the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems). The positioning unit 37 may also use Michibiki as a QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System). Alternatively, position information may be acquired based on signals from a 5G communication base station device.

[0085] The server device 40 comprises a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, and a communication unit 43. The control unit 41 controls each part of the server device 40. The control unit 41 is, for example, a computer including an arithmetic processing circuit and memory. The arithmetic processing circuit includes, for example, a CPU and other arithmetic processing circuits. The memory includes, for example, RAM or other volatile memory. The arithmetic processing circuit performs various controls by temporarily reading programs and other data into the memory and performing arithmetic processing. The storage unit 42 stores data. The storage unit 42 is a hard disk or other auxiliary storage device. The communication unit 43 communicates with external devices via a communication line NW. The communication unit 43 includes a communication circuit and the like for communicating via the communication line NW.

[0086] The memory unit 42 has a content database 421 that stores content. The content database 421 stores, for example, passenger attributes and the content to be delivered to passengers with those attributes. Passenger attributes may be, for example, gender and age, but may also be other attributes. If the content represents an advertisement, the content database 421 may associate, for example, a woman in her 20s with an advertisement for cosmetics, and a man in his 50s with an advertisement for a bar.

[0087] Furthermore, Content DB421 stores location information associated with the content that will be delivered at the location indicated by that location information. In Content DB421, location information is associated with content related to tourist spots, restaurants, and other facilities near the location indicated by that location information. For example, if the current location is near Tokyo Tower, Content DB421 will be associated with tourist information about Tokyo Tower and its surroundings, as well as commercials for recommended restaurants in the vicinity.

[0088] This example of the embodiment will be described. [1. Effective content (commercials, etc.) distribution methods] [1-1] Determine the passenger's attributes and distribute them to the display device 30. Figure 4 is a sequence chart showing the processing flow in this example. The control unit 31 of the display device 30 starts this process when it determines that a passenger has boarded. There are no particular restrictions on how the boarding of a passenger is determined, but a configuration may be adopted in which the display device 30 can acquire signals indicating that the driver D has performed a predetermined operation or that the taxi meter has started measuring the fare.

[0089] The control unit 31 determines the passenger's attributes (step S1). The control unit 31 may, for example, analyze the image generated by the imaging unit 35 to determine the user's attributes. The algorithm for this image analysis is not limited, but examples include methods using deep learning or machine learning (such as pattern matching). Next, the control unit 31 transmits attribute data indicating the determined attributes to the server device 40 via the communication unit 34 (step S2).

[0090] In the server device 40, the control unit 41 acquires attribute data via the communication unit 43 (step S3). The control unit 41 refers to the content DB 421 and selects content stored in association with the attribute indicated by the acquired attribute data (step S4). If there are multiple contents stored in association with the attribute indicated by the acquired attribute data, the control unit 41 may select one of the contents according to a predetermined rule or randomly. For example, the control unit 31 may be configured to preferentially select content from companies or other businesses that pay large amounts for CM distribution to the service provider. The control unit 41 transmits the selected content to the display device 30 via the communication unit 43 (step S5). In the display device 30, when the control unit 31 acquires the content via the communication unit 34 (step S6), it displays the content on the acquired display unit 32 (step S7). Passenger P views this content. If the communication line NW is a high-speed line exemplified by 5G, the content distributed from the server device 40 is displayed on the display device 30 immediately (for example, almost in real time).

[0091] If the content is an advertisement, the content display time is short, such as 15 seconds. Therefore, the control unit 41 may sequentially select and transmit content, or transmit multiple content items at once. In this way, multiple content items can be displayed continuously. In the display device 30, once the display of one content item is complete, the control unit 31 displays the next content item. The display device 30 may sequentially display content items for the entire period (for example, a predetermined time) while the passenger is on board the vehicle 90.

[0092] [1-2] Distribute to the display device 30 according to the current location. Figure 5 is a sequence chart showing the processing flow in this example. The control unit 31 of the display device 30 should start this process when it determines that a passenger has boarded the vehicle 90.

[0093] The control unit 31 performs positioning using the positioning unit 37 (step S11). Next, the control unit 31 transmits position information indicating the positioned location to the server device 40 via the communication unit 34 (step S12). In the server device 40, the control unit 41 acquires the position information via the communication unit 43 (step S13). The control unit 41 refers to the content DB 421 and selects the content stored in association with the acquired position information (step S14). If there are multiple contents stored in association with the acquired position information, the control unit 41 may select one of the contents according to a predetermined rule or randomly. The method of selecting the content may be the same as or different from the method in S4. The control unit 41 transmits the selected content to the display device 30 via the communication unit 43 (step S15). In the display device 30, when the control unit 31 acquires the content via the communication unit 34 (step S16), it displays the content on the display unit 32 (step S17). Passenger P views this content. If the communication line NW is a high-speed line such as 5G, the content delivered from the server device 40 will be displayed on the display device 30 immediately (for example, in near real-time). In this example as well, the control unit 41 may sequentially select and transmit content, or transmit multiple content items at once.

[0094] With the above configuration, passengers P in vehicle 90 can view content that is appropriate to the attributes of passenger P or the location of vehicle 90. For example, content that passengers P are encouraged to view can be displayed, preventing passengers from getting bored while vehicle 90 is in motion.

[0095] On the other hand, passengers may find it annoying to be forced to watch commercials and other content. Therefore, in the case of vehicle 90, it is thought that it would be feasible if passengers were to benefit from reduced fares. In this way, the discount on the vehicle's fare can be used as an incentive to encourage passengers to watch the content. It is assumed that the cost of the fare reduction will be borne by the companies, stores, and other businesses that commissioned the commercials.

[0096] For example, in the display device 30, the control unit 31 may transmit data on the actual display of content via the communication unit 34 to a taxi meter or other device that calculates taxi fares. This device may determine that the fare to be paid by passenger P is the fare calculated by deducting an amount corresponding to the actual display of content from the regular fare (i.e., the regular fare) calculated according to the distance traveled and travel time of the vehicle 90. For example, the discount may be increased for each piece of content displayed, or the direction of the passenger P's gaze may be determined from the image captured by the camera unit 35, and the time the gaze was directed towards the display unit 32 may be used as the content viewing time, with the discount increasing for longer viewing times. The relationship between the actual content display or viewing and the discount on the vehicle 90 fare may be determined as appropriate. For example, the taxi meter displays this discounted fare. The calculation of the fare discount may be performed by the display device 30 (control unit 31) or other devices. In lieu of or in addition to a discount on usage fees, the control unit 31 may display content (e.g., image coupons) on the display unit 32 that has monetary value corresponding to the content display or viewing history. This monetary value may be replaced with various benefits described later.

[0097] It is preferable to have a function to acquire the status of passenger P's viewing of content based on video footage from a camera that films the interior of the vehicle. In particular, it is preferable for the control unit 31 to have a function to store in the storage unit 33 or the like the relationship between the status of passenger P's viewing of content based on video footage from a camera that films the interior of the vehicle and information to identify the display status of that content at that time. The camera that films the interior of the vehicle may be one for this system, such as the filming unit 35, or it may be one of the filming units of other in-vehicle devices such as a drive recorder.

[0098] The passenger's viewing status of content based on video footage from a camera filming inside the vehicle may be the video footage itself, or it may be information that identifies the user's gaze detected from the video footage, or information that indicates whether or not the user detected from the video footage is viewing the content. Furthermore, the control unit 31 should store this information in association with the video footage from the camera filming outside the vehicle in the storage unit 33 or the like. In this way, it becomes possible to determine whether the passenger is not viewing the content because they are not interested in it, or because they are viewing the scenery or situation outside the vehicle, and the appeal of the content, or the effectiveness of the advertisement if the content is an advertisement, can be measured more accurately. The camera filming outside the vehicle may be installed specifically for this system, but it is also possible to use the filming unit of other in-vehicle devices such as a drive recorder.

[0099] [Second Embodiment] This embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in that the display device 30 cooperates with the navigation device 10 mounted on the vehicle. In the display device 30, the communication unit 34 has a function for communicating with the navigation device 10 (an example of a navigation system) in addition to the functions of the first embodiment described above. This communication may be wired or wireless, but if wireless, it may be wireless LAN communication such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), or other types of wireless communication. The parts of the display device 30 that are not specifically described in this embodiment may be the same as those of the first embodiment described above. Note that the display device 30 may also be configured without a positioning unit 37. The navigation device 10 is located on the driver's side of the vehicle 90 and is mainly used by the driver D.

[0100] Figure 6 shows the external appearance of the navigation device 10. Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation device 10. The navigation device 10 comprises a portable device body 2 and a cradle 3, which is a mounting member that holds the device body 2. By attaching the device body 2 to the cradle 3, it functions as an in-vehicle navigation device, and by removing it from the cradle 3, it functions as a portable navigation device (PND). Of course, it is not necessary to adopt a configuration in which the device body 2 can be easily attached to and detached from the cradle 3 in this way. The device body 2 is detachably attached to the cradle 3. The device body 2 comprises a flat rectangular case body 4. A display unit 5 is located on the front of the case body 4, and a touch panel 8 is provided on the display unit 5 to detect which part of the display unit 5 is touched, and warning lamps 9 are provided on both sides of the front. The cradle 3 comprises a cradle body 6 that holds the device body 2, and a base 7 that supports the cradle body 6 in any orientation at a predetermined position in the vehicle interior (such as the dashboard). The base portion 7 is attached to and fixed to a dashboard or the like by a suction cup provided on its bottom surface. The base portion 7 and the cradle body 6 are connected via a connecting mechanism such as a ball joint so that they can rotate within a predetermined angular range. Because it is a ball joint, the base portion 7 and the cradle body 6 can rotate relative to each other within any angular range in three dimensions, and the frictional resistance at the joint portion keeps them in place at any angular position. Therefore, the device body 2 attached to the cradle body 6 can also be positioned in any orientation on the dashboard. Furthermore, one side of the case body 4 is provided with an SD memory card slot portion 21, into which an SD memory card 22 containing map data, etc., can be inserted. Also, a DC jack 24 is provided on the side of the case body 4 where the SD memory card slot portion 21 is located. The DC jack 24 is for connecting a cigarette lighter plug cord (not shown), and power can be supplied by connecting to the vehicle's cigarette lighter socket via the cigarette lighter plug cord.

[0101] On the other hand, a power switch and a USB terminal 23 are provided on the side opposite to the SD memory card slot 21. This USB terminal 23 allows connection to a PC for software application updates and other operations. The following devices and components are located inside the case body 4. A microwave receiver 11 is located inside the rear of the case body 4. The microwave receiver 11 receives microwaves in a predetermined frequency band and detects the signal level of the received microwaves when it receives them. Specifically, it uses the RSSI voltage, which corresponds to the signal level and electric field strength. The predetermined frequency band includes, for example, the frequency of microwaves emitted from a vehicle speed measuring device. A GPS receiver 12, which receives GPS signals and determines the current location, is located inside the top of the case body 4. A second communication unit 14 is located inside the front of the case body 4. The second communication unit 14 sends and receives data to and from terminal devices 60 (e.g., smartphones, tablet computers, mobile phones, etc.). The second communication unit 14 may communicate via a communication line NW, but it may also perform wireless LAN communication such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), or other types of wireless communication. Furthermore, a speaker 20 is also built into the case body 4.

[0102] Furthermore, the navigation device 10 of this embodiment includes a wireless receiver 13 and a remote control receiver 16. The wireless receiver 13 receives incoming wireless signals of a predetermined frequency. The remote control receiver 16 communicates data with the remote control (portable unit: slave unit) 17 and performs various settings for the device. The wireless receiver 13 receives incoming wireless signals of a predetermined frequency band. This predetermined frequency can be, for example, the frequency band used by emergency vehicles to notify a base station of their vehicle's position. In addition to the navigation function, the navigation device of this embodiment also includes a target detection function as a target detection device that detects targets such as vehicle speed measuring devices and other traffic monitoring points. All of these functions, including the navigation function and the target detection function, are stored on the EEPROM of the control unit 18 as a program executed by the computer in the control unit 18, and are realized by the computer in the control unit 18 executing this program.

[0103] In other words, the control unit 18 performs predetermined processing based on information input from the various input devices (GPS receiver 12, microwave receiver 11, wireless receiver 13, touch panel 8, remote control receiver 16, etc.) and outputs predetermined information, alarms, and messages using output devices (display unit 5, alarm lamp 9, speaker 20, etc.). This predetermined processing is for executing each of the above functions and accesses the database 19 and SD memory card 22 as needed. The database 19 can be implemented using a non-volatile memory (e.g., EEPROM) attached to the microcontroller of the control unit 18 or externally to the microcontroller. The database 19 is pre-registered with certain target objects, maps, and other information necessary for target detection and navigation at the time of shipment, and data for targets added thereafter can be updated through predetermined processing. This update processing may be performed, for example, by inserting the SD memory card 22 containing the additional data into the SD memory card slot 21 and transferring the data from the SD memory card 22 to the database 19. Furthermore, this data update can be performed using the second communication unit 14 or by using a personal computer or other external device connected via the USB terminal 23. In the navigation device 10 with the above configuration, the control unit 18 has the function of communicating with the display device 30 using the second communication unit 14.

[0104] [2-1] Distributing content (such as commercials) related to stores and other facilities around the destination set in the navigation device 10 to the display device 30.

[0105] Figure 8 is a sequence chart showing the processing flow in this example. The control unit 31 communicates with the navigation device 10 via the communication unit 34 and obtains information that identifies the destination set in the navigation device 10 (hereinafter referred to as "destination information") (step S21).

[0106] Next, the control unit 31 transmits destination information to the server device 40 via the communication unit 34 (step S22). In the server device 40, the control unit 41 acquires destination information via the communication unit 43 (step S23). The control unit 41 refers to the content DB 421 and selects content stored in association with location information corresponding to the acquired destination information (step S24). The location information corresponding to the destination information may be location information indicating the same location as the destination indicated by the destination information, or location information indicating a location within a predetermined distance range from the destination, and is sufficient as long as it indicates a location specified by the destination.

[0107] If there are multiple contents stored in association with location information corresponding to the acquired destination information, the control unit 41 may select one of the contents according to a predetermined rule or randomly. This selection method may be the same as or different from that in step S4, etc. The control unit 41 transmits the selected content to the display device 30 via the communication unit 43 (step S25). In the display device 30, when the control unit 31 acquires the content via the communication unit 34 (step S26), it displays the content on the display unit 32 (step S26). Passenger P views this content. In this example as well, the control unit 41 may select and transmit the contents sequentially, or it may transmit multiple contents at once. In the display device 30, when the display of one content is completed, the control unit 31 displays the next content. The display device 30 repeats this process for the entire period (for example, a predetermined time) while the passenger is on board the vehicle 90.

[0108] With the above configuration, content is displayed that is relevant to the destination that passenger P is planning to visit, making it easier to capture passenger P's interest.

[0109] [2-2] Distributing content (such as commercials) related to famous long-established shops and other facilities located between the navigation departure point set in the navigation device 10 and the destination to the display device 30.

[0110] Figure 9 is a sequence chart showing the processing flow in this example. The control unit 31 communicates with the navigation device 10 via the communication unit 34 and obtains information that identifies the content of the route guidance set in the navigation device 10 (hereinafter referred to as "route guidance information") (step S31). The route guidance information is, for example, information that identifies the route that the vehicle 90 is scheduled to travel, and may include information such as the departure point, destination and intermediate points, and the roads that will be traveled.

[0111] Next, the control unit 31 transmits route guidance information to the server device 40 via the communication unit 34 (step S32). In the server device 40, the control unit 41 acquires the route guidance information via the communication unit 43 (step S33). The control unit 41 refers to the content DB 421 and selects content corresponding to the acquired route guidance information (step S34). The location information corresponding to the route guidance information may be location information indicating the location of at least one of the departure point, destination, and intermediate points indicated by the route guidance information, or location information indicating a location within a predetermined distance range from said location. Alternatively, the location information corresponding to the route guidance information may be location information indicating a location within a predetermined distance range from a location on the route that the vehicle 90 is scheduled to travel. In this way, the location information corresponding to the route guidance information only needs to indicate a location specified by the route guidance information.

[0112] If there are multiple contents corresponding to the acquired route guidance information, the control unit 41 may select one of the contents according to a predetermined rule or randomly. The selection method may be the same as in step S4, etc., or it may be different. The control unit 41 transmits the selected content to the display device 30 via the communication unit 43 (step S35). In the display device 30, when the control unit 31 acquires the content via the communication unit 34 (step S36), it displays the content on the display unit 32 (step S37). Passenger P views this content. In this example as well, the control unit 41 may select and transmit the contents sequentially, or it may transmit multiple contents at once. In the display device 30, when the display of one content is completed, the control unit 31 displays the next content. The display device 30 repeats this process for the entire period (for example, a predetermined time) while the passenger is on board the vehicle 90.

[0113] In this example, the display device 30 may display commercials for long-established shops and other businesses in tourist areas as content.

[0114] With the above configuration, content is displayed that corresponds to the points that passenger P will pass through on their way to their destination, making it easier to capture passenger P's interest.

[0115] The display device 30 may have a function to generate information for the user to receive content corresponding to route guidance information on a terminal device such as a smartphone. The control unit 31 of the display device 30 generates information for receiving content, such as a two-dimensional code or barcode that can be read by a terminal device such as a smartphone, or other information that can be optically read by a camera, and displays it on the display unit 32. The information displayed on the display unit 32 may include, for example, information about an internet URL. URL information is an example of access destination information that specifies the access destination.

[0116] The user operates a terminal device such as a smartphone that they own. Accordingly, the terminal device reads the information displayed on the display unit 32. If this information includes URL information, the terminal device accesses the server identified by that URL in accordance with the user's operation. This server may be server device 40 or another server.

[0117] The control unit 31 of the display device 30 has a function to send information from the vehicle to the server at the URL for generating content corresponding to the route guidance information provided in the vehicle at that time. The server receives the URL and the information for generating content corresponding to the route guidance information provided in the vehicle at that time, stores them in association, and when the URL is accessed from a terminal device, it has a function to generate content corresponding to the route guidance information based on the information for generating content corresponding to the route guidance information provided in the vehicle at that time that is stored in association, and sends it to the user's terminal device. The user's terminal device, such as a smartphone, then receives and plays the generated content. Therefore, the user can receive content corresponding to the route guidance information even after getting out of the vehicle. In this way, when the terminal device accesses the server, content corresponding to the route guidance information is provided to the user.

[0118] In the example described above, the control unit 31 generates predetermined information for receiving content such as URLs on a terminal device such as a smartphone and displays it on the display unit 32. However, the display unit 32 could also display human-readable information such as numbers or letters. In this case, the user would look at the displayed information, read it, and input it into a terminal device such as a smartphone. The information could also be readable using NFC or similar technologies.

[0119] In each of the examples described above, the content corresponding to the route guidance information should include information about the vicinity of the destination. In particular, the content corresponding to the route guidance information should include information about surrounding facilities. In particular, the content corresponding to the route guidance information should include information about surrounding facilities along with the route information. The content corresponding to the route guidance information should include the "guidance" in each of the third embodiment and subsequent examples described later.

[0120] This system includes a function to send information to a server that allows the user to view video recorded by the dashcam when they get in the vehicle on their smartphone or other device after they get out of the vehicle. This function to send to the server may be provided by the dashcam, or by a separate device. This separate device acquires video from the dashcam and identifies the range of video from when the user gets in until they get out of the vehicle, either by acquiring the door opening / closing signal from the user's side or by recognizing the user getting in and out of the vehicle from the video, and uploads the video within that range to the server. The uploading device should also have a function to generate information that allows the user's terminal device to obtain the server's address.

[0121] The information used to obtain the server address on the user's device should be the same as the information used to receive content corresponding to the aforementioned route guidance information on the user's smartphone or other terminal device. For example, information such as a QR code (registered trademark) can be generated, and when the user scans the QR code with their smartphone and accesses the URL within the QR code, the video can be played on the smartphone.

[0122] For example, as described above, a QR code (registered trademark) or the like can be displayed on the display unit 32 of the display device 30, and by reading the QR code (registered trademark) or the like with a terminal device such as a smartphone and accessing the server of the URL represented by the QR code (registered trademark) or the like, the user can receive video content recorded by the drive recorder while in the vehicle on the terminal device.

[0123] The URL for this information and the URL for the information that the user receives on their smartphone or other terminal device based on the route guidance information may be the same URL, and the configuration may be such that the content based on the route guidance information and the video footage from the time of the ride are both output on the same page. It is also desirable to store the URL, the information that identifies the video data, and the information for generating the content based on the route guidance information provided in the car at that time in association with each other, and to have a function that, when the user's terminal device accesses the URL, transmits the information about the content generated at the time of the ride and the video footage from the drive recorder at the time of the ride to the user's terminal device based on this stored information.

[0124] [Third Embodiment] In this embodiment, the person inside the vehicle is, for example, the driver of the vehicle, and the navigation system includes a control unit that displays predetermined content to the driver. The navigation system of this embodiment, for example, as shown in the navigation device 10 in Figure 10, has a control unit 18 implemented within the device that searches for a route to the input destination and displays the search result on the display unit 5.

[0125] The content displayed in this embodiment is, for example, content corresponding to the vehicle's location, and the control unit 18 may have a function to display it on a map displayed by the navigation system. In particular, it may have a function to process and provide facility information as content for facilities that provide similar products and services, where price is often a significant factor. The timing of displaying the facility information may be, for example, based on a predetermined operation by the user, or it may be done automatically according to predetermined conditions.

[0126] The following describes an example of its application to a navigation device 10 equipped with a function to display facility information related to a gas station, which is an example of a facility that sells gasoline, a product for which price is often a major consideration.

[0127] A block diagram of the navigation device 10 in this embodiment may be shown, for example, as in Figure 10. As shown in Figure 10, the basic configuration is the same as that of the navigation device 10 in the second embodiment shown in Figure 7. The functions of each device, equipment, and processing unit are the same as in the second embodiment, and the same reference numerals are used for those components, and their detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0128] The navigation device 10 of this embodiment includes a third communication unit 25. The third communication unit 25 performs wireless communication with an external device via a communication line NW. The third communication unit 25 includes a communication circuit and antenna for performing such wireless communication. The external device is, for example, a server 50. The communication line NW is, for example, a network compliant with the 5G standard, enabling high-speed communication. However, the communication line NW may also be a line compliant with LTE, 4G, or other standards.

[0129] The control unit 18 reads map information of the current location area recorded in the database 19 and displays it on the display unit 5 as needed. The control unit 18 has a function to display a destination setting button on the display unit 5 in response to the operation of an input means such as the touch panel 8 or a separately provided input button unit. When the control unit 18 detects a press on the touch panel 8 at a position corresponding to the display position of the destination setting button, it performs the destination setting process. The destination setting process is performed, for example, as follows: The control unit 18 receives specific information that identifies the destination, such as name, telephone number, and address, and accesses the database 19 based on the received specific information to obtain location information of the destination. Then, the control unit 18 sets the obtained location information as the location information of the destination and performs the process of determining a recommended route from the current location to the destination based on the road network information stored in the database 19. A known method such as Dijkstra's algorithm may be used as the method for calculating this recommended route.

[0130] The control unit 18 then displays the calculated recommended route along with a map of the surrounding area. For example, as shown in Figure 11, the route 103 from the current location 101 to the destination 102 is displayed as the recommended route in a predetermined color (e.g., blue). Note that in Figure 11, for illustrative purposes, the route 103 is drawn with a thick line.

[0131] Server 50 is, for example, a web server. This server 50 stores and stores information about gas stations as content, such as location information to identify their location, brand, gasoline price information, store name, address, business days, business hours, and refueling method (self-service / manned). Gasoline price information may include prices for each type of gasoline, such as regular, premium, and diesel, and may also include regular prices and discounted prices such as member prices. Location information may include longitude and latitude. This server 50 manages and distributes a webpage for a gasoline price comparison site that comprehensively manages the gasoline prices of multiple gas stations (an example of a refueling station) and provides the managed gasoline prices in a comparable manner. Furthermore, the brand of a gas station may be registered by associating the brand name with a logo mark, which is an image that users can recognize (identify) as that brand. Displaying the logo mark allows drivers to see at a glance which brand the gas station is, and it is also beneficial because the presence of the gas station can be confirmed from a relatively long distance when actually visiting the location.

[0132] [3-1] Display the location of gas stations along the route 103 to the destination searched by the navigation device 10, along with their gas prices, on the display unit 5 (prioritizing gas stations on the route).

[0133] Figure 12 is a sequence chart showing the processing flow in this example. The control unit 18 of the navigation device 10 transmits information specifying the content of route guidance to the searched destination (hereinafter referred to as "route guidance information") to the server 50 via the third communication unit 25 (step S41). The route guidance information is, for example, information that specifies the route that the vehicle 90 is scheduled to travel, and may include information such as the departure point, destination and intermediate points, and the roads to be traveled. The timing at which the control unit 18 transmits the route guidance information to the server 50 may be, for example, automatically when the navigation function searches for a route in response to the input of a destination and a route is determined, but it is preferable for the control unit 18 to transmit the information when, for example, a predetermined operation is performed by the user while driving and route guidance is being provided, or when conditions are met that would be beneficial to display a guide to a predetermined gas station, such as when the fuel level is low or when approaching the entrance to a highway.

[0134] When server 50 obtains route guidance information (step S42), it selects content corresponding to the obtained route guidance information (step S43). Specifically, server 50 extracts gas stations located along the route 103 that vehicle 90 is scheduled to travel according to the route guidance information, and obtains information about the extracted gas stations. The information about the gas stations to be obtained may include, for example, location information, information that identifies the gas station such as brand, and information on the price of gasoline sold there. The gasoline price information may, for example, show the price per unit amount of gasoline supplied (yen / liter). If there are multiple gas stations on the route, the above information is extracted for all of those gas stations and associated with each gas station.

[0135] The server 50 transmits the selected content to the navigation device 10 via the communication line NW (step S44). In the navigation device 10, the control unit 18 acquires the content via the communication line NW (step S45) and displays the acquired content on the display unit 5 (step S46). This content may be displayed, for example, at the location of a gas station on the map 105 displayed by the navigation function, as shown in Figure 13(a). The control unit 18 determines the location to display the content based on the acquired location information, and displays, for example, specific information 106 that identifies the gas station and the gasoline price 107 associated with that location. The control unit 18 also displays a vehicle position icon 108 at the location on the map corresponding to the vehicle's current location.

[0136] The gasoline price 107 displayed by the control unit 18 should preferably display the "official price" for "regular" gasoline from the acquired gasoline price information. For example, the official price of regular gasoline is sometimes used as a benchmark when comparing prices between gas stations, making it easier for drivers and others to compare prices.

[0137] If, for example, there are multiple gas stations outside the route in the vicinity of the current location, as shown in Figure 13(b), the control unit 18 will display only gas stations A, B, and C that are on the route, as shown in Figure 13(b), and will not display gas stations that are not adjacent to the route, or gas stations that are adjacent to the road on the route but located on the opposite lane (for example, D).

[0138] In this way, the control unit 18 displays gas stations located along the route, so drivers can see at a glance whether there are gas stations along the road they are traveling on to their destination. For example, if there are gas stations located outside the route within the display area of ​​the map, as shown in Figure 13(b), it becomes easier to find gas stations located along the route compared to displaying all surrounding gas stations evenly. Therefore, for example, if you need to refuel while driving in an unfamiliar area, you can find out whether there are gas stations along the route you are currently following.

[0139] In this embodiment, the gasoline price 107 is also displayed, allowing drivers to compare the gasoline prices at each gas station along the route. For example, they can see that a gas station a few stops further down the route is cheaper, enabling them to make an appropriate decision about which gas station to refuel at. For instance, in the example shown in Figure 13(a), of the three gas stations along the route, the third gas station C is the cheapest within the displayed area, costing 10 yen per liter less than refueling at the first gas station A. In this way, when multiple gas stations exist along a route, displaying each one along with its price allows drivers to consider the remaining fuel level in the vehicle, and if there is a cheaper station even if it is far away, they can choose to refuel at the cheaper station instead of a nearby one. Furthermore, even if the gas station is far away, it is still on the route, thus avoiding unnecessary driving.

[0140] In the diagram, the specific information 106 is represented by the letters GS(a), GS(b), GS(c), etc., where the lowercase letters in parentheses indicate the brand of the gas station. For example, GS(a) means a gas station belonging to brand a, and GS(b) means a gas station belonging to brand b. In practice, the specific information 106 can be displayed as text, but it is preferable to use the logo marks representing each brand. Using logo marks allows drivers to recognize the brand of the gas station at a glance. While drivers may not know all the brand logo marks, they are likely to know the logo marks of the gas stations they usually use or like. Therefore, by looking at the logo marks displayed on the map, they can at least determine whether or not it is a gas station of the same brand as the one they usually use.

[0141] For example, at a particular brand of gas station, if it's possible to refuel at a member price that's cheaper than the regular price, the amount the driver actually pays may be lower even if the regular price is high. Member prices are often set at a price that is XX yen / liter cheaper than the regular price. And drivers are often aware of discount information, such as how much cheaper the member price is. Therefore, when the regular price of each gas station is displayed, drivers should calculate the amount by subtracting a predetermined amount from the displayed regular price at gas stations of the same brand they are members of, and then compare that amount with the regular prices of other gas stations.

[0142] The timing at which the control unit 18 displays information about gas stations along the route can be, for example, when it obtains information about gas stations from the server 50, or it may obtain the information but not display it, and instead display it based on a soft button operation, such as pressing a predetermined button or touching the screen. Furthermore, when the information is displayed at various timings, it is preferable to hide the facility information or switch to a less conspicuous display after user operation, after a predetermined time has elapsed, or after a predetermined distance has been traveled. This eliminates the annoyance caused by the continuous display of facility information. These conditions also apply to the examples shown below.

[0143] Furthermore, the information about gas stations obtained from the server 50 should include not only gas stations located along the route, but also information about gas stations located outside the route or in the surrounding area. When obtaining information about gas stations located outside the route, etc., and displaying it on the display unit 5, the control unit 18 should identify and display gas stations that meet the conditions. This allows the system to respond to changes in the display content even when the vehicle deviates from the route, and to display information about gas stations outside the route, as will be described later. These conditions are also applicable to the examples shown below.

[0144] [3-2. Prioritization based on gasoline prices] When the control unit 18 displays the location of a gas station on the map, associating it with specific information 106 that identifies the gas station and the gasoline price 107, it is preferable to display those with lower gasoline prices in a more prominent manner. For example, if there are multiple gas stations on a route, the control unit 18 may display the specific information 106 and / or gasoline price 107 for gas stations selling gasoline at a price lower than a predetermined standard price in a prominent color, such as red, or in a prominent display manner, such as blinking, or in a larger size. The predetermined standard price may be a fixed value, but it is preferable to use the average price, for example. If the average price is used as the standard price, gasoline can be purchased at a price lower than the average. The average price may be obtained, for example, from a gasoline price comparison site that obtains gasoline prices as described above.

[0145] Furthermore, instead of comparing low gasoline prices to a standard value, or in addition to that, the control unit 18 may select and display a predetermined number of gas stations with low gasoline prices located along the route within the displayed map area. In this way, the number of gas stations displayed at one time will be limited to a predetermined number. Therefore, drivers can easily and quickly find cheap gas stations without overlooking them and refuel at a lower price. For example, in areas where gas stations are relatively close together, gasoline prices 107 for many gas stations may be displayed while driving. In such cases, it can be difficult to compare the numerous gasoline prices 107 displayed at once and recognize at a glance which gas station is the cheapest or relatively cheapest, but limiting the number of displayed prices can prevent such situations from occurring.

[0146] Furthermore, by adjusting the map scale to display a wider area, for example, displaying a predetermined number of inexpensive gas stations, it becomes possible to efficiently find inexpensive gas stations within a drivable area considering the remaining fuel level.

[0147] By displaying multiple gas stations with low gasoline prices in this way, nearby cheaper gas stations become easier to find, and the range of choices expands. Furthermore, the control unit 18 should also display gas stations that are not cheap, for example, those whose prices exceed a benchmark price. This increases the freedom of choice. For example, it can meet requests such as wanting to refuel at the nearest gas station even if the gasoline price is high, or wanting to refuel at a gas station belonging to a specific group. Even in this case, the control unit 18 should, for example, set a second benchmark price that is higher than the set benchmark price, compare it to this second benchmark price, and not display gas stations with excessively high gasoline prices.

[0148] Furthermore, when the control unit 18 displays multiple gas stations with low gasoline prices, it is preferable to display them in a way that shows the order of price. For example, the control unit 18 should display gas stations with lower gasoline prices more prominently. Displaying them prominently means, for example, making the gas stations that sell gasoline at lower prices larger, blinking, or changing the display color or intensity. The control unit 18 may also indicate the ranking numerically or add a specific mark to the display.

[0149] [3-3. Display control based on the vehicle's remaining fuel level] This system has a function to identify the remaining fuel level of a vehicle, for example, and the control unit 18 should control the display to change the guidance depending on the identified remaining fuel level. For example, if the identified remaining fuel level is less than a standard, the control unit 18 should display guidance to a gas station, such as identifying information 106 for the gas station and the gas price 107. If the identified remaining fuel level is more than a standard, the system should not display guidance to a gas station.

[0150] The function to determine the remaining fuel level can be implemented, for example, in the navigation device 10, or by acquiring fuel level information from an external source. The fuel level information provided from an external source can be, for example, the fuel level determined by an external device or equipment, or information output from the vehicle.

[0151] When implemented in the navigation device 10, the fuel consumption can be calculated from vehicle information obtained from, for example, the OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) 2 connector. For example, the vehicle information may include information on fuel consumption. If this fuel consumption information is output each time a certain amount is consumed, the fuel consumption can be calculated by counting the output signals. The control unit 18 should also have a function to accept input of the amount of fuel added each time the vehicle is refueled at a gas station. This input of the amount of fuel added can be done, for example, by manual input by the user, or by reading the receipt and using OCR processing to recognize the amount of fuel added. The control unit 18 should then calculate the remaining amount of gasoline by performing appropriate addition and subtraction processing based on this input information. The refueling information can also be stored, for example, the number of liters when the tank is full. When the control unit 18 receives input that the tank is full, it sets the stored number of liters as the current remaining amount of gasoline, and thereafter, it sequentially subtracts the remaining amount of gasoline based on the acquired vehicle information. The number of liters in a full tank can be set by the user manually, or the system can store the number of liters in a full tank for each vehicle model as information. When the user registers a vehicle model, the control unit 18 can read the number of liters associated with the entered vehicle model and set it.

[0152] The function of determining the remaining fuel level based on such vehicle information may be provided by an external device or equipment to the navigation system 10, and the navigation system 10 may acquire the remaining fuel level determined by that external device or equipment.

[0153] Furthermore, if the vehicle information includes the current fuel level of the vehicle, it is advisable to use that fuel level for control. If information regarding fuel consumption cannot be obtained from the vehicle information, the control unit 18 may, for example, determine the fuel consumption based on the distance traveled and fuel efficiency.

[0154] Alternatively, a camera used in a drive recorder or other in-vehicle device to photograph the interior of the vehicle (for example, a camera that photographs the front from the rear of the vehicle) may be used to photograph the vehicle's meter display area, and the captured image may be analyzed to determine the approximate remaining amount from the position of the meter needle or the numerical value in the case of a digital display.

[0155] For the in-car camera, it would be good to use a rear camera, for example, which is a two-camera system that captures both the exterior and the interior of the vehicle, with the rear camera specifically designed to capture the interior. Alternatively, a spherical camera could be installed to capture a 360-degree horizontal view, allowing one camera to capture the vehicle's instrument panel display.

[0156] Furthermore, determining the remaining amount of gasoline (fuel level) does not only involve specifying the amount numerically, as mentioned above, but also involves determining whether the amount is relatively high or low. For example, determining the remaining amount of gasoline may involve determining whether it is higher or lower than a predetermined amount (standard). Alternatively, determining the remaining amount of gasoline may involve determining an estimate based on, for example, the vehicle's driving time and / or distance traveled.

[0157] [3-3-1. Display a message to inform the user when the fuel level is low.] In the configuration described above, the control unit 18 should display information about gas stations, such as specific information 106 and gasoline price 107, when the gasoline level is low, and should not display any information about gas stations when the gasoline level is high.

[0158] In this way, when refueling is needed, information about gas stations (location, price, etc.) is displayed at the corresponding location within the map area, allowing the driver to select a gas station that suits their needs. On the other hand, when there is plenty of gasoline remaining, refueling is not necessary, so the gas station identification information 106 and gasoline price 107, which are unnecessary information, are not displayed, allowing other useful information to be easily and reliably accessed.

[0159] For example, the control unit 18 may display a message about gas stations when the fuel level is low, or it may do so when the vehicle's mileage since the last refueling exceeds a predetermined distance, or / or the driving time exceeds a predetermined time. For example, the data used to identify the vehicle's mileage and driving time may be shared with the data used in the reminder function provided by the applicant, Yupiteru Corporation. This reminder function guides the user on when to change the oil, tires, etc., based on the vehicle's mileage and driving time.

[0160] Furthermore, the control unit 18 may control the display of guidance based on an indicator of the remaining amount, such as whether the remaining amount of gasoline (fuel) is relatively high or low, as described above. For example, the control unit 18 may not display guidance when the remaining amount of gasoline is relatively high, but may display guidance when it is low, and may display guidance more frequently when the remaining amount of gasoline is relatively low than when it is high. Also, if the control unit 18 displays guidance in response to the user's operation of a predetermined operation image, it may display the operation image (e.g., a soft button) in a position that is easier to operate when the remaining amount of gasoline is relatively low than when it is high. Displaying the operation image in an easy-to-operate position may, for example, be displayed on the top screen or on a screen at a higher level among multiple screens that are hierarchically related, or it may be a matter of displaying the operation image in a larger size, and it is good to make the display such that the user can easily notice the operation image and the display is easy to operate.

[0161] [3-3-2. Display a message indicating a gas station outside the route if the fuel level is low.] The control unit 18 may control whether or not to display information about gas stations located outside the route, depending on the remaining fuel level. For example, if there is a lot of fuel remaining, the control unit 18 will not display information about gas stations located outside the route, but will instead display information about gas stations located on the route, such as specific information 106 and gasoline price 107. On the other hand, if there is little fuel remaining, the control unit 18 may display information about gas stations located outside the route in addition to those located on the route.

[0162] This approach allows drivers with sufficient fuel remaining and sufficient driving distance to refuel along their route, enabling them to stop and refuel without having to make detours. Conversely, if the fuel level is low, the system can also display information about gas stations outside the route. For example, drivers who are worried about running out of gas and prefer to refuel even if it means making a detour can find a nearby gas station.

[0163] The control unit 18 should display gas stations located outside the route in a less conspicuous manner than gas stations located on the route. This makes it easy to see at a glance whether a gas station on the route is located on the map, and those located on the route stand out. Therefore, drivers can more easily find gas stations that do not require detours, while also satisfying the need to find a nearby gas station even if it requires a detour. Examples of conspicuous displays include making information such as gasoline prices, brand marks, and gas station names displayed on the map larger, flashing, or using specific colors, but various display methods that are easily noticeable to humans can be adopted.

[0164] Furthermore, when changing the control that changes the guidance display according to the specified remaining amount of gasoline, it is not limited to switching the display on or off, as described in 3-3-1, where a display guiding users to a gas station is shown when the amount is below a certain standard and not shown when it is above a certain standard. Rather, as in this example, it is better to show a display guiding users to a gas station in both cases, but change the content of the display. Moreover, when switching, it is better to have a configuration that allows for three or more switching stages, for example, by having multiple different standards. When there are three or more switching stages, it is good to configure the system so that one of them does not show a guidance display.

[0165] [3-3-3. Display control based on remaining fuel level and driving distance] The control unit 18 should determine the remaining driving distance based on the amount of gasoline and change the displayed information based on that distance. The remaining driving distance can be determined, for example, by obtaining fuel efficiency information from the vehicle information mentioned above, or by calculating fuel efficiency from the distance traveled when a certain amount of fuel is consumed.

[0166] The control unit 18 calculates the travel distance to each gas station located within the map area and extracts gas stations within the drivable area that are shorter than the drivable distance. The control unit 18 then displays specific information 106 and gasoline prices 107 for gas stations located on the route and within the drivable distance range.

[0167] This allows drivers to find a gas station with cheaper gasoline prices within a reasonable driving distance and refuel there. For example, it minimizes the chances of running out of gas while driving to a cheaper gas station far away.

[0168] Furthermore, if there is no suitable gas station on the route, the control unit 18 may display a message indicating a gas station outside the route but within the drivable distance. This would minimize the risk of running out of gas while driving along the route and being unable to reach a gas station.

[0169] [3-4. Display control based on distance and route to destination] [3-4-1. Display directions when the destination is far away, and do not display directions when it is close.] The control unit 18 may display specific information 106 and gasoline price 107, which are examples of displays that provide information about gas stations along the route, when the destination is far away, and may not display such information when the destination is close. For example, if the distance traveled by the route based on the route guidance information is longer than a standard value, the control unit 18 may display specific information 106 and gasoline price 107 for that gas station at the location of the gas station on the map, and may not display them if the distance traveled is less than or equal to the standard value.

[0170] When the destination is far away, gasoline consumption increases accordingly. Even if there is plenty of gasoline remaining, there is a chance of running out of fuel along the way. Even if there is no running out of fuel, the remaining fuel may become low, requiring the driver to search for a gas station near or along the way to the destination, or causing the driver to drive while worrying about running out of gas. Since the likelihood of such situations occurring increases when the destination is far away, it is possible to issue a warning in advance. Drivers can then refuel at an appropriate time in response to such a warning.

[0171] [3-4-2. Provide directional signs in the area before the highway.] The control unit 18 may, based on route guidance information or destination information, display information about gas stations located in the area before entering the expressway if there is a possibility of driving on an expressway. In this case, the relevant gas stations should be limited to those located on the route, and if not limited to those on the route, those located on the route should be displayed prominently.

[0172] The control unit 18 should determine that there is a possibility of traveling on a highway if one exists along the route. Furthermore, even if the recommended route does not involve using a highway, the control unit 18 should determine that there is a possibility of using a highway if one exists between the current location and the destination.

[0173] This method helps to alert drivers to the presence of expressways. Therefore, even if the distance traveled on the expressway and the remaining fuel level suggest that it would be better to refuel before entering the expressway, it helps to minimize the chances of drivers accidentally entering the expressway without refueling.

[0174] For example, if the area on the map before the highway entrance is within the route and there are no gas stations on the route, the control unit 18 may display a message directing the driver to a gas station outside the route. This reduces the possibility that the driver, for example, is driving according to the route guidance of the navigation system 10 and enters the highway without refueling.

[0175] Furthermore, the control unit 18 should have a function to notify the user if there are no gas stations along the route from the current location to the highway entrance. This notification could be done by displaying a message such as "There are no gas stations from here to the highway entrance" as text on the display unit 5 or by announcing it audibly.

[0176] This allows drivers to know that there are no gas stations along their route and to consider whether to continue on the highway or to take a detour to refuel before getting on the highway. Therefore, it is possible to minimize situations where drivers enter the highway without realizing there are no gas stations along their route, resulting in running out of gas or having to refuel at a highway service area.

[0177] Furthermore, if there is no possibility of driving on an expressway based on route guidance information or destination information, the control unit 18 should be controlled not to display a message directing the user to a gas station.

[0178] [3-4-3. Display information to guide users to gas stations based on destination information.] The control unit 18 may, for example, based on destination information, control the system to display information such as specific information 106 and gasoline price 107 if the destination is a tourist area or a city center where gasoline prices are relatively high, or if the destination is a mountainous area or rural area where the density of gas stations is low. For example, even if there is enough gasoline remaining to reach the destination, there may not necessarily be gas stations along the route when refueling costs are incurred near the destination or on the return trip. With a configuration like this example, it is possible to consider whether it is better to refuel near the current location before going to the destination or at an appropriate time while driving along the route. It is also good to have a function to notify that a display guiding users to gas stations is being made based on these circumstances.

[0179] Furthermore, it would be beneficial to have a function that notifies the user when a display guiding them to a gas station is being shown based on destination information, etc. In addition, if the destination does not meet the above-mentioned conditions, the control unit 18 should be controlled so as not to display a display guiding them to a gas station.

[0180] [3-5. Show areas outside the route] The control unit 18 may control the display of gas stations located within the map area, for example, gas stations along the route, such as displaying specific information 106 and gasoline prices 107. Gas stations outside the route should not be displayed. In this case, the display of gas stations outside the route should not be shown at all, or if it is shown, it should be displayed in an inconspicuous manner.

[0181] [3-6. Showing businesses that are currently open] The control unit 18 searches for information on the operating hours of each gas station that it has acquired, and notifies users of gas stations that are currently open or that are about to close. It is preferable that it either not display information about gas stations that have already closed, or displays it in an inconspicuous manner.

[0182] The control unit 18 can determine whether a gas station is open or closed by comparing the current time with the operating hours of each gas station. Furthermore, when refueling at a gas station located far away, it takes time to arrive, and even if the station is currently open, it may be closed by the time of arrival. Therefore, the control unit 18 can use an algorithm similar to the one used in car navigation systems to predict arrival times to destinations, to determine the estimated arrival time with the gas station as the destination. If the estimated arrival time falls within the operating hours, the control unit 18 should display a guidance message; otherwise, it should either not display a guidance message or display it in a different manner.

[0183] [3-7. Function to display detailed information on gasoline prices] As shown in Figure 13(a) and other examples, in the above-mentioned examples, the regular price for regular gasoline was displayed as gasoline price 107. However, the control unit 18 may be provided with a function to display detailed information such as the prices of different types of gasoline or discounted prices such as member prices.

[0184] Displaying all relevant details on the map simultaneously can actually make it more confusing. For example, when the gasoline price section 107 is touched, it is better to display the detailed information 109 for the associated gas station (see Figure 14). In this way, if the driver is a member of a particular brand of gas station, they can find out the member price for that brand of gas station and compare it with the regular price at other brands of gas stations to find the gas station where they can refuel at the lowest price.

[0185] Furthermore, when displaying detailed information in this manner, the control unit 18 should display the detailed information 109 while keeping the specific information 106 visible, and should also display it in a way that makes it clear which specific information 106 the detailed information 109 pertains to. In particular, in cases where multiple gas stations are located side-by-side on main roads, it is possible to confirm that the detailed information 109 for the desired gas station is being displayed without pressing the wrong button.

[0186] [3-8. Products and services other than gasoline prices] In the examples above, gasoline was used as the fuel for the vehicles, but the same principles should be applied to refueling stations that provide various fuels such as electricity and hydrogen for electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles.

[0187] Furthermore, while the examples above described displays showing the price of gasoline, which is the cost of gasoline sold at a gas station, displays providing information about gas stations are not limited to gasoline prices. For example, displays could include the price of engine oil changes, the price of kerosene, or other products sold at gas stations, and it would be good to display them in conjunction with other similar products sold at the station. In addition, prices for services could include, for example, car wash fees, and it would be good to also display the type of car wash, such as machine wash or hand wash.

[0188] [Fourth Embodiment] [4. Providing information to the server] The system should have a function to provide information to a server 50 or the like that provides information about gas stations. As shown in Figure 15, the navigation device 10 obtains information from the server 50 about a gas station, which is an example of a facility, such as the price of gasoline sold there, and displays a message on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 10 to guide the user to a gas station. This processing function should be the same as in each of the embodiments described above. The server 50 also centrally manages the price of gasoline, which is the price paid when purchasing gasoline, one of the products sold at multiple gas stations, in order to provide the above-mentioned gasoline price information. The control unit 18 of the navigation device 10 obtains the gasoline price information, etc., from the web page managed by this server 50 as described above and displays it on the display unit 5.

[0189] Server 50 also has a function to accept submissions from registered users, such as gasoline prices and photos of gas station exteriors, and to reward members who submit such submissions with predetermined benefits (an example of the first benefit). These benefits should be advantageous to members and should encourage them to submit content. For example, the benefits could be points usable on the Server 50 webpage. These points should have monetary value, such as being exchangeable for certain products or electronic money. Furthermore, the benefits are not limited to monetary value; they could also be something that gives users some kind of value, such as being able to participate in a special game, acquire special video or other content, or gain status within Server 50. Server 50 should be equipped with a processing unit for granting such benefits. Benefits may also be granted by providing physical goods such as limited edition merchandise or gifts. When providing video or other content, Server 50 may send the content, or it may send login information for a site where the content can be viewed. Regarding participation in the game, server 50 may either have users download the game itself, or it may send login information and other necessary information for users to play the game.

[0190] When the granting processing unit grants benefits such as points, electronic money, content such as games and videos, or status to a user through electronic processing, it is advisable to update the data managed in association with the user's account or ID according to the benefit being granted. When the benefit is granted in kind, the granting processing unit should output the data necessary to grant the benefit (for example, data identifying the relationship between the benefit and the user) to a predetermined output destination (for example, a computer device of the business that will ship the benefit).

[0191] [4-1. Rewards for posting gas station usage records] The system includes a function to detect when a driver or other user has used one of the gas stations indicated on the display. This function can be configured such that, for example, the control unit 18 detects use when the user stays at one or more gas stations displayed on the display unit 5 for a period of time longer than that would warrant refueling. For example, the control unit 18 of the navigation device 10 records the time when the current location is at one of the gas stations. Then, when the power is turned off and then turned on again, the current time is obtained, the elapsed time from the previously recorded time to the current time is calculated, and if that elapsed time exceeds a certain threshold, the system can detect that the gas station has been used, i.e., that refueling has taken place.

[0192] Furthermore, instead of relying on the duration of stay, it would be better to detect that a gas station has been used when information such as whether the tank is full or how many liters were added is entered. Alternatively, instead of requiring the specific number of liters added to be entered, it would be better to detect that refueling has occurred based on a predetermined user action, such as pressing a designated button or touching a touch screen.

[0193] For example, when the control unit 18 detects the use of a gas station, it notifies the server 50 of the use. The usage notification is transmitted by associating user identification information, which identifies the user previously registered in the navigation device 10, information identifying the gas station used, and information on the date and time of use. The user identification information should be associated with user information used when using the server 50, such as the member ID registered with the server 50.

[0194] Server 50 receives usage notifications sent from the navigation device 10. The granting processing unit of Server 50 then identifies members registered with Server 50 from the user identification information in the received notifications and processes the granting of usage-based benefits to those members. Server 50 should also publish the usage history of each gas station collected in this way, either together with or separately from gas prices. In this way, users who see this information will have more information to consider when deciding which gas station to use, not just the cheapest gas prices, but also knowing which gas stations are actually frequently used.

[0195] [4-2. Rewards for posting photos of gas stations] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a drive recorder 80, which is an example of a second in-vehicle device, may be provided and configured to post images, for example, of the gas station used, to the server 50. The images taken may include, for example, the exterior of the gas station, a sign displaying prices, or images taken while the vehicle is parked inside the gas station. The images may be a video consisting of multiple frames or still images.

[0196] Identifying the gas station used can be done, for example, by communicating with a navigation device 10 that has a function to detect when the driver or other person has used the aforementioned gas station. For example, the drive recorder 80 is configured to send and receive information with the navigation device 10 via wired or wireless communication. When the navigation device 10 detects the use of a gas station, it sends detection information to the drive recorder 80. This detection information may include, for example, a notification that detection has occurred, or information that identifies the gas station used, such as location information and date and time of use.

[0197] When the drive recorder 80 receives such detection information, it reads predetermined image data and video data from the files recorded by the drive recorder 80 based on the received detection information. For example, when a notification of detection is received, the control unit of the drive recorder 80 may read data recorded from a certain period before the notification was received until the notification was received. Also, when location information or date and time information is received, the control unit of the drive recorder 80 may read data recorded at the corresponding location based on the received location information and date and time information.

[0198] The drive recorder 80 then sends the read image and video data to the navigation device 10. The navigation device 10 sends the received data to the server 50 via the communication line NW. If the drive recorder 80 has a communication function, it is preferable to configure it to send data to the server. This automatically posts the necessary image data to the server 50. Therefore, drivers and others do not need to take pictures of gas stations themselves and post them to the server 50. When the server 50 receives the posted image or video data, the granting processing unit of the server 50 should perform a process to grant predetermined benefits to the member who made the post.

[0199] Furthermore, the detection of gas station usage is not limited to notifications from the navigation device 10 as described above. For example, the drive recorder 80 may be equipped with a usage detection function, and based on that detection function, it may perform the predetermined processing described above, such as posting image data. The usage detection function in the drive recorder 80 may, for example, perform image recognition processing on the image data being recorded to detect gas stations, and if it detects an image of the vehicle entering the detected gas station, it may be detected as having been used. For example, AI may be used for the image recognition processing. Also, since performing image recognition processing constantly during recording is burdensome, for example, if the vehicle stays in the same place for a certain period of time or longer, it may be better to perform image recognition processing on the image data taken at that time or immediately before that time when a stop is detected.

[0200] [4-3. Rewards for posting the true price of gasoline when using a gas station] For example, gas stations often have signs displaying prices, but there are times when there is a discrepancy between the price displayed on the sign and the actual selling price. This is because the price displayed on the sign may be the regular price, and members may be able to refuel at a lower price than the displayed regular price through member pricing. Alternatively, gas stations may intentionally make the price on the sign different from the actual price to avoid competition from other stations that would quickly copy their high prices. Therefore, gas prices obtained by, for example, taking a picture of a gas station sign with a camera may not be reliable. For example, if the gas price information published and provided by server 50 is based solely on the price displayed on the sign, it will deviate from the actual price, making it impossible to provide accurate information.

[0201] Therefore, taking these circumstances into consideration, and assuming that the prices displayed on the signs may differ, it would be best to configure the system so that information regarding the gasoline price at the time of refueling is sent to server 50 for posting, and rewards are given for posting. Since the actual gasoline price at the time of refueling is provided, the gasoline price information collected through such postings will be in line with the actual market price, and the reliability of the information will be increased.

[0202] The correct true price of gasoline at the time of refueling is recognized, for example, by the user operating a terminal device 60 such as a smartphone, scanning the receipt after refueling, and performing OCR processing. The terminal device 60 should associate the actual price of gasoline traded with the conditions for applying that price. The conditions for application should be, for example, the regular price without discounts and the type of discount if a discount is applied. These types of discounts may include, for example, member discounts, barcode discounts where a discount barcode coupon is attached to the panel used for refueling and the price is reduced by just scanning the barcode, cases where using a keychain-type payment system with registered credit card information results in a lower price, and cases where paying with a credit card original to the affiliated store results in a lower price. These types of discounts should be registered. Also, since there are many types of discounts, it is best to register them separately, at least separating them into barcode discounts that can be used by the general public and those that can be used by specific, pre-registered individuals.

[0203] When Server 50 receives a post that associates the true price of gasoline with the type of discount, it manages and displays the gasoline price for each type of discount. This allows users to know the price information more accurately. By displaying the conditions for the discount, users can see whether or not they are eligible to purchase at the discounted price. Therefore, users will not be disappointed when they see a discounted price, think it's cheap, and then find out that it wasn't discounted and was more expensive than expected. In addition, in the case of gas stations that offer barcode discounts available to the general public, when Server 50, and by extension the navigation device 10 that obtains this information from Server 50, displays this information as well, drivers and others will not forget to use the barcode discount.

[0204] Furthermore, especially for discounts available to those who have registered in advance, such as membership registration, keychain-type payment systems, or specific credit cards, it would be beneficial to further subdivide the categories of discounts during registration. By subdividing them in this way, drivers and others can more accurately determine whether or not they are eligible for the discount.

[0205] The discount type and true gasoline price read by the terminal device 60 described above can be posted to the server 50, for example, by first sending them to the navigation device 10. The control unit 18 of the navigation device 10 then creates further associated posting information, such as information identifying the gas station used and user information, and sends this posting information to the server 50 via the communication line NW.

[0206] When server 50 receives such posted information, it manages gasoline prices for each type of discount as described above, and displays or transmits the information as requested. Furthermore, a designated processing unit may grant a predetermined benefit to the member who made the post.

[0207] Furthermore, when sending the gasoline price read by the terminal device 60, it is advisable to configure it to recognize the price displayed on the sign and not post if the two prices are the same, but to post if they are different. The displayed price can be determined, for example, based on the image captured by the drive recorder 80 as described above.

[0208] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the data obtained by scanning receipts using the terminal device 60 is highly reliable. On the other hand, if submissions based on manual input are accepted, there is a risk that the submitted gasoline prices and applicable conditions may be incorrect. In such cases, it is advisable to accept manual input submissions only from highly reliable individuals with a high rank who are members of server 50.

[0209] The administrator of server 50 may adopt a sales method in which they purchase in-vehicle devices such as drive recorders 80 and navigation systems 10 from manufacturers and distributors and sell them to general users. In such cases, information identifying the in-vehicle device sold through the administrator of server 50 and information about the user using the in-vehicle device are recorded and maintained on server 50 and on servers 70 managed by the manufacturers and distributors.

[0210] The granting processing unit of server 50 should have a function to notify server 70 of the fact that a post has been made or the content of the post, along with user identification information such as an account or ID, when it receives a post from the in-vehicle device. Upon receiving such notification, server 70 should process the granting of a second reward, such as points or electronic money usable for transactions with manufacturers or distributors, to the user who made the post using the in-vehicle device. When the granting processing unit of server 70 grants the second reward to the user, for example by electronic processing, it should process the updating of data managed in association with the user's account or ID according to the reward to be granted. Alternatively, server 70 may not perform the second specific granting, and the granting processing unit of server 50 may perform the processing of granting the second specific information. The granting processing unit of server 50 should process the issuance of coupon information usable for transactions with manufacturers or distributors to the user who made the post.

[0211] In this way, users who purchase the in-car device can receive various benefits by using it, such as visiting gas stations or refueling. Therefore, they will be more inclined to actively use these benefits, leading to increased usage.

[0212] Furthermore, if the drive recorder 80 is a communication type equipped with communication functions that utilize public networks such as LTE or 3G, it can directly transmit image data and other information collected by the drive recorder 80 to the server 50 for posting, or send and receive information to and from other servers. However, this presents the problem of increased communication charges. For example, even if users receive rewards for posting, if the burden of communication charges is greater, their motivation to actively post will decrease.

[0213] Therefore, it would be good to provide a service that discounts communication fees when a post is made. The discount service could be the awarding of points that can be used to pay communication fees, or for example, the server 70 could be equipped with a function to also settle communication fees, and the server 70 could bill the user of the drive recorder 80, and the billing amount could be reduced according to the status of the post. Then, the payment to the communication company should be made by combining the amount billed to the user and the amount reduced according to the post. In the examples described above, point processing and other benefit granting were performed on server 50, but this could also be done on server 70.

[0214] [4-4. Discount processing for communication charges incurred due to the use of a gas station] For example, if the drive recorder 80 is an in-vehicle device equipped with a communication unit that performs communications for which a predetermined communication fee is charged, and the navigation device 10 detects that the user has used any of the facilities indicated on the display, it notifies the server 50 of the use. The server 50 may, upon receiving such notification, be equipped with a discount processing unit that performs processing to discount the above-mentioned communication fee. This discount processing unit may, for example, be used in conjunction with the granting processing unit that provides the above-mentioned benefits, and the discount processing may be granted as one of the benefits.

[0215] In this scenario, for example, if a user wants to transmit image data captured by an in-vehicle device and manage that image data externally, some users may feel mentally and financially burdened by the communication charges incurred when transmitting the image data. For such users, offering a discount on communication charges for using a designated facility would increase their willingness to use the facility, and the discount on communication charges would be a direct result of their actual use of the facility.

[0216] The system could also, for example, involve selling in-vehicle devices to companies that manage web pages, linking these devices to members who use the web pages, and then, when a notification of use is received from the web page directly or via other equipment via the in-vehicle device, a discount on communication charges would be applied. The discount on communication charges does not necessarily have to be provided by the company that manages the web pages; for example, it could be provided by a company that profits from the above-mentioned usage.

[0217] [5. Function to provide recorded image data, etc.] The drive recorder 80 may have a function to record, for example, the history of visits to specific facilities, along with images taken by the camera unit. The specific facility may be, for example, a gas station, and that gas station may be the gas station displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 10 shown in the examples above.

[0218] For example, as shown in Figure 15, the drive recorder 80 and the navigation device 10 are configured to communicate with each other and send and receive information. Then, for example, based on a notification from the navigation device 10, or by a function of the drive recorder 80, when it detects that the vehicle has stopped at a designated gas station, the drive recorder 80 records a file containing images taken at least during the period the vehicle was stopped, associating it with the history information of the stop, in a designated recording unit. This record may be stored on a recording medium such as an SD memory card equipped in the drive recorder 80, or transmitted to an external device or external server.

[0219] The history information should ideally include, for example, information identifying a gas station visited and the date and time of the visit. Furthermore, the image data recorded in association with the visit history should ideally be recorded separately from the recording area in the continuous recording mode of the drive recorder 80, and should be protected from overwriting. The drive recorder 80 is equipped with a function that, upon receiving a search query (which may also be called a search request) either directly or via the navigation device 10, searches for images taken and recorded at the time and facility specified in the search query and sends the results back to the source of the search query. The search query should ideally include information specifying the date and time and location (e.g., a gas station), such as "Month / Day, around 12:00, XX Gas Station." The image collection server, which collects images from the drive recorders 80, may issue video provision commands to, for example, the drive recorders 80 of people who have a history of visiting that gas station, the drive recorders 80 of users who live within a predetermined distance from that gas station, the drive recorders 80 currently existing within a predetermined distance from that gas station, or all drive recorders 80. The image collection server may have a hardware configuration similar to that of the server device 40. The image collection server may be managed and operated by, for example, a private company such as a security company or an insurance company, or by a public institution.

[0220] Furthermore, when recording video data, the date and time of recording and location information may be recorded in association with the data. Therefore, instead of sending information that identifies a specific facility, such as "○○ Gas Station," it may be acceptable to send only the date and time information and location information. The drive recorder 80 may also transmit and provide recorded data that matches or is similar to the received information.

[0221] Furthermore, the places of stopovers are not limited to gas stations; it is advisable to record video data taken at places where the driver stayed for a certain period of time (not too long) and associate it with the stopover history information. In this way, for example, if a crime occurred at a place the driver has visited many times in the past and footage of the vicinity is needed, a system can be configured to query the drive recorder 80 for information and collect it. This means that, for example, video data may be obtainable even in areas where security cameras are not installed.

[0222] Furthermore, the drive recorder 80 is powered by, for example, the vehicle's battery, and is configured to continue receiving power from the vehicle's battery even when the engine is turned off, allowing it to operate continuously for a predetermined period of time. In other words, it continues recording for a certain period after the engine is turned off. This allows the drive recorder 80 to continue operating and record captured images, even when, for example, the vehicle's engine is turned off while refueling at a gas station.

[0223] A stopover is a relatively short period of time spent in a vehicle. For example, if the vehicle is continuously receiving power from its battery, the battery will not be significantly depleted, and the vehicle's subsequent operation will not be affected. Another example of a stopover is the time spent at a refueling station to refuel the vehicle. Thus, stopovers are generally relatively short in duration.

[0224] This allows for the recording and retention of images taken when stopping at gas stations, etc., and later searching for and transmitting images that match requested criteria. For example, if images taken at a specific facility at a specific date and time are needed, sending a search query to all in-vehicle devices simultaneously may allow for the collection of images from various angles. Even if a gas station has surveillance cameras, there are blind spots and areas that are not captured. By considering the vehicle's location when it stops and the shooting area of ​​the drive recorder 80, it may be possible to obtain images of areas that are not captured by the surveillance cameras.

[0225] For example, gas stations are prone to incidents such as accidents and thefts. In such cases, in addition to surveillance camera footage, it is possible to collect image data from dashcams installed in vehicles that used the gas station around the time of or immediately before / after the incident. Therefore, useful information can be obtained by collecting images taken from various angles.

[0226] Furthermore, the drive recorder 80 is useful, for example, when recording in parking surveillance mode, as the vehicle remains in the same location for a certain period of time, such as while refueling, allowing users to view footage of the area around a gas station at a specific time. In this way, since users stay at a gas station for a certain amount of time, images similar to those from a fixed-point camera are recorded. Moreover, even when recording in parking surveillance mode, the vehicle's battery consumption is minimal because it is only a brief stop and the vehicle is not parked for a long period. Therefore, continuous operation is possible. In addition, the system should have a function to award points or other benefits usable on servers 50 and 70 in exchange for providing such images.

[0227] [6. Application to facilities other than gas stations, etc.] This invention is suitable for facilities that provide similar goods and services, where price is a significant factor. In addition to gas stations, which sell gasoline and the like, as described in the examples above, other examples include supermarkets that sell vegetables and other produce, and restaurants that sell curry and other standard menu items. Therefore, when there are multiple facilities providing the same type of goods and services within a certain distance, it is desirable to have a function to provide guidance and display information about those facilities.

[0228] Prioritized guidance displays should not be limited to price, even if price is a major factor. Instead, they should be displayed based on various criteria, such as popular facilities, favorite facilities, or facilities that issue membership cards.

[0229] Furthermore, the information used for displaying information should be obtained from publicly available information on the internet, such as supermarket sale information, price searches for tissues, toilet paper, and other staple products, and price comparison sites for various products. For example, a user might decide where to go shopping after getting into the vehicle. In such cases, the information obtained by searching the internet using the terminal device 60 can be sent to the navigation device 10 and displayed on the display unit 5. Also, when displaying information about a facility on the display unit 5, it is good practice to issue coupons usable at that facility on the display unit 5, as in various embodiments. The coupons should be readable by smartphones, for example, using a two-dimensional barcode. This can be seen as providing a benefit not to users who have used the facility, but to users who are planning to use it.

[0230] If route searching is not performed based on a destination, the priority should, for example, be set to prioritize price (i.e., cheapness) or distance from the current location. The control unit 18 of the navigation device 10 should then display on the map area whether distance or price should be prioritized so that the user can decide. The lowest price should be announced within the limits allowed by the remaining driving distance based on time and fuel level.

[0231] Information provided to users may be partially or entirely provided via audio or other means, rather than being displayed visually. Furthermore, information about facilities, for example, is not limited to being displayed on a map; it may also be provided as text or audio.

[0232] In the examples described above, the tests were conducted using in-vehicle devices such as the navigation system 10, but they are not limited to in-vehicle devices. For example, they could also be conducted using devices brought into the vehicle, such as smartphones, tablet computers, or wearable devices.

[0233] For each of the devices described above, such as the drive recorder 80 (an example of the second in-vehicle device), the third in-vehicle device, the fourth in-vehicle device, and various servers, a program may be provided to enable a computer to implement the functions that the device performed. Such a program is stored in a flash memory or hard disk or other storage device built into the device, or in an external storage device such as an SD card that can be attached to the device. The program's functions are realized when it is read into the device's memory area such as RAM by the device's processing unit such as the CPU and executed. Furthermore, each of these functions may be implemented using hardware resources, software resources, or a combination thereof.

[0234] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations explicitly described in the specification, but also includes combinations of various aspects of the present invention disclosed herein. While the configurations for which patent protection is sought are specified in the appended claims, the present inventors intend to include configurations not currently specified in the claims within the scope of the claims in the future.

[0235] The present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the embodiments above. The components of each embodiment and modification described above can be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of each embodiment and modification can be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the means for solving the invention, or any component that embodies any component described in the means for solving the invention. The present application intends to obtain rights to these as well through amendments or divisional applications. Even if there is a description such as "in the case of..." or "when...", it is not described as a configuration that is limited to that case or time. Configurations that do not fall under these cases or times are also disclosed, and the present application intends to obtain rights to them. Also, even if there is a sequence of descriptions, it is not limited to that order. Configurations with some parts deleted or the order rearranged are also disclosed, and the present application intends to obtain rights to them.

[0236] Furthermore, by converting to a design registration application, we intend to acquire rights to the overall design or a partial design. If the device displays an image, we intend to acquire rights to the design including all or part of that image. The drawing depicts the entire device with solid lines, but it is a drawing that includes not only the overall design but also partial designs claimed for parts of the device. For example, it is a drawing that includes not only a partial design for a part of the device's components, but also a partial design for a part of the device regardless of its components. A part of the device may be a component of the device, or a part of that component. We intend to acquire rights not only to the overall design, but also to any part of the drawing that is represented by a dashed line within the solid line portion. Furthermore, all modules, components, and parts inside the device's casing that are shown in the drawing are independently tradable, and we intend to acquire rights to them by converting to a design registration application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0237] 2: Main unit of the device 3: Cradle 4: Case body 5: Display section 6: Cradle body 7: Base 8: Touch panel 9: Alarm light 10: Navigation device 11: Microwave receiver 12: GPS receiver 13: Wireless receiver 14: Terminal communication unit 16: Remote control receiver 18: Control Unit 19: Database 20: Speaker 21: SD memory card slot 22: SD memory card 23: USB port 24: DC Jack 30:Display device 31: Control Unit 32: Display section 33: Storage section 34: Communications Department 35: Photography Department 36: Speaker 37: Positioning Unit 38: Input Reception Section 40: Server device 41: Control Unit 42: Storage section 421: Content Database 43: Communications Department 60: Terminal device 80: Dashcam 90: Vehicle 91: Driver's seat 92:Passenger seat 93: Rear seat

Claims

1. A display unit positioned in a location visible to people inside the vehicle, A control unit that controls the display unit to display content corresponding to the attributes of the person or the location of the vehicle while the person is riding in the vehicle, A system that has

2. A program for a computer to implement the functions of the system described in claim 1.

Images