Electronic equipment and programs

Abstract

To provide electronic devices that allow users to acquire various types of information more easily than before. [Solution] User information, which is information about the user, is acquired by an electronic device via an acquisition means that does not require the user to directly input it. The electronic device outputs information corresponding to the acquired user information from among pre-prepared information to an output means.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, electronic devices, programs, etc. that provide information to users.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, as in-vehicle devices mounted on vehicles such as rental cars, those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 are known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a recording retention system that records the driving state and driving situation of a vehicle for use as evidence in insurance processing procedures at the time of an accident. Patent Document 2 discloses an in-vehicle terminal that makes an emergency call to an emergency notification center in order to request assistance from a fire department or the like at the time of an accident. Patent Document 3 discloses a vehicle tracking device that, when renting a rental car, outputs important matter regulations information by voice at the time of vehicle departure and forcibly makes the renter listen in order to avoid troubles caused by not reading the rental agreement, and when the vehicle goes missing, transmits the current position of the missing vehicle to a specific address on a communication network. Patent Document 4 discloses a management system for a video movie camera that, when lending a video movie camera to a user of a rental car, transmits an operation permission signal to the video camera only when position information transmitted from the video movie camera is received, and makes the video movie camera unusable when the video movie camera cannot receive the operation permission signal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

[0005] The devices and systems disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 are used by vehicle managers to manage vehicles or equipment, or in the event of an emergency such as an accident, and cannot provide the diverse range of information desired by vehicle users. Users of electronic devices such as in-vehicle equipment want to receive the information they need from these electronic devices.

[0006] The object of the present invention is, for example, to provide electronic devices and programs that enable users to acquire various types of information more easily than before. The purpose of the present invention is not limited thereto, and the applicant intends to obtain rights through divisional applications, amendments, etc., for configurations that aim to obtain the effects derived from the components of the configuration disclosed in this specification and the drawings, etc. For example, a problem is disclosed in this specification where a phrase "can be done" is reinterpreted as "the problem is," and the applicant intends to obtain rights through divisional applications, amendments, etc., for configurations that solve this problem. The applicant intends to include a part of the configuration described in this specification in the claims through amendments or divisional applications. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) Electronic device that provides information to users, The electronic device may acquire user information, which is information relating to the user, through an acquisition means that does not require the user to directly input it, and output information corresponding to the acquired user information from among pre-prepared information to an output means.

[0008] Users can obtain information relevant to their user information from electronic devices without directly inputting their own user information. A configuration that does not require direct user input would be one where the user does not need to recognize or input the content of the user information to be entered. Furthermore, a configuration where the user does not need to manually input strings representing user information using input devices such as touch panels, pointing devices, or keyboards would be desirable. Such a configuration would reduce the effort required for the user to understand the content of their user information and to manually input it. Alternatively, a configuration where user information is entered without any user involvement is also possible.

[0009] As electronic devices, they can be used at home, but are especially suitable for use while out or traveling. Since there is often little time for cumbersome manual data entry when out or traveling, electronic devices that do not require manual user information entry are particularly effective for use in such situations. As electronic devices, they should ideally be used in conjunction with vehicles. Examples of electronic devices used in vehicles include in-vehicle navigation systems, dashcams, and portable navigation systems used both inside and outside the vehicle. They may also be used by unspecified individuals, independently of vehicles. Examples of such electronic devices include printers installed in convenience stores and other print service providers.

[0010] User information may include, for example, information that changes as the user moves, or information that defines the user's actions in the future that are continuous with the present. Examples of information that changes as the user moves include location information representing the user's current location. Examples of information that defines the user's actions in the future that are continuous with the present include information that identifies the purpose of vehicle use. For example, longitude and latitude can be used as location information representing the user's current location. Information that identifies the purpose of vehicle use could specify one of various purposes, such as tourism or business.

[0011] Pre-prepared information could include, for example, information associated with a specific location or area. Examples of such information include information indicating tourist destinations and facilities, and information identifying the location of the company being visited. Examples of information associated with a specific location or area include the names of tourist destinations and facilities, information identifying applications prepared in association with a region or facility that provide useful information to visitors of that region or facility, information identifying municipalities that offer return gifts for hometown tax donations, and map information.

[0012] Information corresponding to user information output to the output device should be stored in a database associated with the user information in the storage device of the electronic device. Furthermore, information corresponding to user information that should be output to the output device should be extracted by referring to this database based on the user information.

[0013] As a means of acquisition, for example, it is preferable to have the processing device acquire user information without requiring the user to perform an operation to recognize and input the content of the user information.

[0014] Such means of acquisition may include, for example, a recording medium that records the contents of user information, and a reader that reads the information recorded on this recording medium. The recording medium may be, for example, a near-field communication (NFC) compatible contactless IC card. The contactless IC card may be a dedicated card for recording user information, or it may be an NFC-compatible driver's license, etc. The reader may be, for example, a communication device that can communicate with an NFC-compatible contactless IC card. The recording medium may be, for example, a paper medium on which the contents of user information have been coded and recorded. In this case, the reader may be a reader that optically reads the code recorded on the paper medium.

[0015] Such acquisition means may include, for example, a server that stores user information associated with each of multiple users, and an identification means for identifying users. The identification means may include, for example, a contactless IC card and a contactless card reader that record user identification information. Alternatively, the identification means may be a means for identifying users using biometric authentication technologies such as fingerprint authentication, iris authentication, or facial recognition. By transmitting user information associated with the user identified by the user's identification information from the server to the processing means, the processing means can acquire the user information.

[0016] Such an acquisition method may involve, for example, allowing the processing means to acquire user information without requiring any user action and without the user even noticing. Such an acquisition method could be, for example, a location detection device that acquires the current location information of an electronic device. As this location detection device, for example, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver can be used. By having the user carry the location detection device, the processing means can acquire user information, including the user's current location information.

[0017] For example, the processing means may include a central processing unit (CPU) that can receive information via an acquisition means, and a storage device that stores a program for operating the CPU.

[0018] As a method of outputting information corresponding to user information to an output means, it is preferable to display that information on the display screen of the output means. When electronic devices are used in conjunction with a vehicle, the vehicle user can use the vehicle while visually recognizing the information corresponding to the user information. As a method of providing information corresponding to user information to the user, the information may be printed on paper. The user can carry the paper with the information printed on it and visually recognize the information printed on the paper.

[0019] (2) The electronic equipment has a configuration that is used inside the vehicle, The user information includes information indicating the purpose of using the vehicle, and the processing means may be an electronic device having a function of causing the output means to output information corresponding to the purpose of using the vehicle indicated by the information indicating the purpose of using the vehicle.

[0020] The user of the vehicle can obtain information from the electronic device according to the purpose of using the vehicle. The user of the vehicle is not limited to a specific person and may be an unspecified person. Even if the user of the vehicle changes or a person other than the owner of the vehicle uses the vehicle, information can be provided to the user according to the user information of the current user.

[0021] The vehicle may be used by an unspecified person. As a vehicle used by an unspecified person, for example, it may be a vehicle rented out to an unspecified person, for example, a vehicle used for car rental or car sharing. Even though the vehicle is rented out to an unspecified person, the user can receive information corresponding to the user information from the electronic device as if it were their own vehicle. Also, as a vehicle used by an unspecified person, it may be a vehicle rented out by a person who rents out the vehicle and receives a usage fee from the user. If an electronic device is rented out along with the rented vehicle, information corresponding to the user information of the user of the vehicle is provided from the electronic device, so value-added can be added to the service of renting out the vehicle.

[0022] The vehicle rental company may register information about the user with the server before renting out. The processing means of the electronic device may obtain the user information from the server of the vehicle rental company through the acquisition means. Or, the user information is copied from the server of the vehicle rental company to a removable memory card, a non-contact IC card, etc., and the processing means of the electronic device may obtain the user information by causing the acquisition means to read the content of this memory card, non-contact IC card, etc.

[0023] The electronic device may be one that can be used inside a vehicle. As an electronic device that can be used inside a vehicle, it may be an electronic device that can be brought into the vehicle as needed, but it is particularly preferable to be an electronic device pre-installed in the vehicle or an electronic device that can be retrofitted and installed in the vehicle. It is particularly preferable to be an electronic device that is installed in the vehicle and cannot be removed or is difficult to remove outside the vehicle. By making it an electronic device that cannot be removed or is difficult to remove outside the vehicle, it becomes difficult to take out the electronic device from the vehicle, so it is possible to avoid as much as possible the occurrence of a situation where the electronic device is taken out of the vehicle and the user of the vehicle cannot use the electronic device.

[0024] Examples of the usage purpose indicated by the information indicating the usage purpose of the vehicle include, for example, a sightseeing purpose, a business purpose, etc. For example, when the acquisition means of the electronic device is a barcode reader and it is determined that the processing means has read a two-dimensional barcode drawn on a company business card, the usage purpose is assumed to be a business purpose, and when the processing means has read a barcode displayed in a sightseeing guidebook, the usage purpose is assumed to be a sightseeing purpose.

[0025] When the usage purpose indicated by the information indicating the usage purpose is a sightseeing purpose, the information corresponding to the usage purpose is preferably information that can identify a sightseeing spot or a sightseeing facility, for example, the name of a sightseeing spot or a sightseeing facility. It is even better to provide sightseeing guidance information in addition to the name of the sightseeing spot or the sightseeing facility. The user can receive a service equivalent to the service provided by a person serving as a sightseeing guide from the electronic device.

[0026] When the usage purpose indicated by the information indicating the usage purpose is a business purpose, the information corresponding to the usage purpose is preferably information that can identify a company, for example, information indicating the location of the company.

[0027] (3) The user information includes information indicating the relationship between the user and the person who acts together with the user, and the processing means is preferably an electronic device having a function of causing the output means to output information corresponding to the information indicating the relationship between the user and the person who acts together with the user.

[0028] Vehicle users can receive information from electronic devices that reflects their relationship with the people they are traveling with. Examples of such relationships include family relationships, romantic relationships, and friendships.

[0029] For example, if the relationship between the user and the person they are with is that of a family member, the processing means should output information to the output means that indicates tourist destinations and facilities suitable for families to visit, such as amusement parks, as information appropriate to the user information. For example, if the relationship between the user and the person they are with is that of a romantic partner, the processing means should output information to the output means that indicates tourist destinations and facilities suitable for couples to visit, such as date spots, as information appropriate to the user information. For example, if the relationship between the user and the person they are with is that of a friend, the processing means should output information to the output means that indicates places suitable for friends to visit, as information appropriate to the user information.

[0030] (4) The pre-prepared information includes information that grants a predetermined benefit to the user, and the processing means is an electronic device that has the function of outputting at least a portion of the information that grants a predetermined benefit to the user in accordance with the user information to the output means.

[0031] Users can obtain information about benefits that can be obtained based on their user information. Examples of such benefits include preferential treatment. For example, benefits such as free food / drinks or admission, or food / drinks or admission at a discounted price from the regular price.

[0032] The information providing the specified benefits may include information about coupons that offer those benefits, such as information identifying the coupon. Users can obtain information about coupons that offer the specified benefits. The information providing the specified benefits may be provided to users by displaying it as an image on the display screen of an electronic device. Users can visually recognize the information providing the specified benefits.

[0033] It would be advisable to transfer coupon information from an electronic device to the user's mobile device using short-range wireless communication, etc., and then allow the user to receive the specified benefit by holding the mobile device over a terminal installed at the facility's entrance gate. Alternatively, the coupon information transferred to the mobile device could be displayed on the mobile device, and the user could receive the specified benefit by showing the displayed content to a facility staff member.

[0034] Information regarding the specified benefits should be provided to users by displaying that information on the display screen of an electronic device. Users can then see the display screen showing the information regarding the specified benefits and understand what benefits they are entitled to.

[0035] (5) The processing means may be an electronic device that has a function to erase the acquired user information when predetermined erasure conditions for erasing the user information are met.

[0036] Even when a vehicle is rented out to an unspecified number of people, users can ensure that information about themselves is not visible to other users. This user information could be, for example, personal information. In this way, users can prevent other users of electronic devices from knowing their personal information.

[0037] A predetermined erasure condition may be that the erasure operation has been performed by the user. The vehicle on which the electronic equipment is used may be one that is rented to the user with a specified return location, such as a rental car. In this case, a predetermined erasure condition may be that the vehicle has been returned to the return location.

[0038] (6) The vehicle is used in a manner in which it is rented to the user for a set period of time, the user information includes information indicating the scheduled time for using the vehicle, and the processing means is an electronic device that has the function of outputting information corresponding to the information indicating the scheduled time to the output means.

[0039] Users can obtain information from electronic devices that corresponds to the planned time of vehicle use. For example, if a vehicle is used in a manner where it is rented out to an unspecified number of people, the planned time of vehicle use should be the time from when the vehicle is borrowed until when it is returned.

[0040] The processing means should output only the information available within the scheduled time for vehicle use from the pre-prepared information, as information tailored to the user information, to the output means. For example, the processing means should output information about places that can be visited round trip within the scheduled time for vehicle use, as information tailored to the user information. By excluding less useful information about places that cannot be visited within the scheduled time for vehicle use from the output, the user can obtain only highly useful information about places that can be visited round trip within the scheduled time.

[0041] (7) The vehicle is used in a manner in which it is lent to the user with a specified return location, the user information includes information indicating the return location, and the processing means is an electronic device that, when the distance between the vehicle's current location and the return location falls below a predetermined distance, outputs to the output means location information of a refueling facility located on the route from the vehicle's current location to the return location, or location information of a refueling facility located within a predetermined area including the vehicle's current location.

[0042] When the distance between the user's current location and the vehicle return location falls within a predetermined distance, the user can recognize the location of a suitable refueling facility before returning the vehicle. The predetermined area including the current location can be, for example, an area centered on the current location, or a circular area with a predetermined radius centered on the current location. In this way, even if there are no refueling facilities on the route from the user's current location to the vehicle return location, the user can recognize a relatively nearby refueling facility that can be reached by taking a slightly longer route.

[0043] The vehicle return location should ideally be a storage location when the vehicle is not being rented out, such as a rental car company's branch or a coin-operated parking lot where car-sharing vehicles are stored. In this way, vehicle users can be aware of the location of refueling facilities along the route from their current location to the vehicle's storage location, or the location of refueling facilities within the area including their current location, before returning the vehicle to the storage location from which it was rented.

[0044] The facilities for refueling should ideally be service stations for vehicles located along roads, such as gas stations. If the rented vehicle is powered by electricity charged from an external source, such as a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV) or electric vehicle (EV), then the refueling facilities should ideally be charging stations. This allows users to know the location of the appropriate facility according to the type of energy source their vehicle uses.

[0045] (8) The vehicle is used in a manner in which it is leased to the user with a specified end time, the user information includes information indicating the end time, and the processing means is an electronic device that has the function of outputting information representing the remaining time from the current time to the time indicated by the information indicating the end time to the output means at a predetermined timing.

[0046] Users can easily see the remaining time until the vehicle's usage period ends. The vehicle usage period should be the final time when the rented vehicle must be returned after payment of the usage fee, and the time when an additional fee will be incurred if the vehicle is not returned by that time. Users can decide whether or not to depart based on the information indicating the remaining time that is provided. By making an appropriate decision on whether or not to depart, users can avoid paying additional fees.

[0047] (9) User information includes identification information that identifies a specific individual, The processing means may be an electronic device having the function of recording the history of the vehicle's travel route in a readable format in association with the identification information.

[0048] Electronic devices can be used to retrieve the driving route history for each user, distinguishing between them. Identification information that identifies a specific individual should be assigned to each user by the vehicle rental business. This allows for the management of the vehicle's driving route history for each user. For example, the identification information assigned to the user of a vehicle at a rental store can be recorded on a contactless IC card from a terminal at the store using short-range wireless communication, and then transferred from that contactless IC card to an electronic device. This makes it easy to retrieve the identification information assigned to the user on an electronic device.

[0049] (10) The vehicle is used in a manner in which it is lent to the user with a specified return location, the user information includes information indicating the return location, and the processing means is an electronic device that has the function of outputting a message to the output means prompting the user to refuel when the distance between the current location of the vehicle and the return location falls below a predetermined distance.

[0050] Users can determine whether or not they need to refuel by noticing a notification prompting them to do so when the distance between their current location and the vehicle return location falls within a predetermined distance. The vehicle return location should ideally be a place where vehicles are stored with a full tank of fuel, such as a rental car company's branch or a coin-operated parking lot where car-sharing vehicles are stored. This prevents situations where users forget to refuel before returning the vehicle. The predetermined distance for prompting refueling should be a distance where there is a high probability of at least one service station, such as a gas station, existing between the vehicle's current location and the vehicle return location, for example, 1 km. This eliminates or minimizes the need for users to turn back to a service station for refueling while driving towards the vehicle return location.

[0051] (11) The processing means may be an electronic device that has the function of calculating the remaining amount of fuel in the storage unit for storing the vehicle based on information about the amount of fuel in the storage unit for storing the vehicle obtained from the vehicle's electronic control unit, and recording information representing the calculated remaining amount of fuel in a readable format.

[0052] Vehicle managers can determine the remaining fuel level by reading information recorded on electronic devices.

[0053] The processing means can acquire information about the amount of fuel in the storage unit from the vehicle's engine control device via the on-board network, for example, from the electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling the vehicle's engine via the Controller Area Network (CAN). In this way, the processing means can acquire information about the amount of fuel in the storage unit from existing devices and networks installed in the vehicle. Since there is no need to install new devices or systems to acquire information about the amount of fuel in the storage unit, this method allows for low-cost acquisition of this information.

[0054] Examples of fuel storage units include gasoline tanks for storing gasoline and batteries for storing electricity. Information regarding the amount of fuel in the storage unit should be information that allows for the determination of the remaining amount of fuel stored in the storage unit, such as the measurement results of gasoline consumption. In this way, the remaining amount of fuel stored in the storage unit can be determined using information obtained from the vehicle's electronic control unit.

[0055] The readable record can be, for example, a readable record on an external recording medium via short-range wireless communication. Examples of external recording media include contactless IC cards. In this way, it is advisable to install a reader for this recording medium in the stores of rental businesses that lend out vehicles to an unspecified number of people. Store employees can then know the remaining fuel level by holding the recording medium over the store's reader, without having to go to the vehicle to check the fuel gauge, and the information indicating the remaining fuel level will be displayed.

[0056] (12) The processing means may be an electronic device that has the function of calculating the charge required to fill the fuel storage unit with fuel based on information regarding the amount of fuel in the fuel storage unit of the vehicle obtained from the electronic control unit of the vehicle, and outputting the calculation result to the output means.

[0057] Users can easily recognize the cost of filling the fuel tank and prepare the necessary amount before refueling. The system can be configured to acquire this information from the vehicle's electronic control unit, for example, via CAN from the vehicle's ECU. This allows the processing unit to obtain information about the amount of fuel in the storage tank from existing equipment and networks already present in the vehicle. By eliminating the need for new equipment or systems, information about the amount of fuel in the storage tank can be acquired at a low cost.

[0058] Examples of fuel storage units include gasoline tanks for storing gasoline and batteries for storing electricity. Information regarding the amount of fuel in the storage unit should be information that allows for the determination of the amount of fuel consumed or the remaining amount stored in the storage unit, for example, the measurement result of gasoline consumption. The user can be notified of the charge according to the degree of fuel depletion due to the vehicle's operation. The vehicle's fuel should be fuel that is replenished in the storage unit by paying a fee, for example, gasoline or electricity. In this way, the vehicle user can be aware of the charge when replenishing fuel in the storage unit by paying a fee.

[0059] (13) The processing means may be an electronic device that stores information about contacts to be contacted when a problem occurs with the vehicle and has the function of outputting the information about the contacts to the output means.

[0060] Users can easily find out who to contact in case of trouble with the vehicle. The trouble should be something that would easily upset the user, such as a vehicle accident or breakdown. In this way, even if the user is upset by the trouble with the vehicle, they can still contact the appropriate person to report the problem. The contact number in case of trouble should be the phone number of the management company that manages the vehicle, such as the phone number of the rental car company branch from which the vehicle was rented. In this way, when a problem occurs with the vehicle, the user can contact the company that manages the vehicle and receive instructions from that company on how to take action in accordance with the management company's regulations.

[0061] (14) The device further has a storage means for storing parking prohibition information, which defines parking prohibition areas by location information, The processing means may be an electronic device that determines whether the vehicle is parked or not, and if it is determined that the vehicle is parked, records information indicating that the vehicle was parked in a no-parking area as defined in the no-parking information, in a readable format.

[0062] Vehicle managers can determine whether a vehicle was parked in a no-parking zone by reading information indicating that it was parked in such a zone. The location information should be the latitude and longitude calculated using signals received from GPS satellites. The no-parking zone should be an area where parking is subject to enforcement under the Road Traffic Act, such as areas that include publicly announced priority or top priority no-parking zones.

[0063] Information indicating that a vehicle was parked in a no-parking zone should ideally include the duration for which the vehicle was continuously parked in that zone. This allows the vehicle manager to refer to the record to determine if the vehicle's user is likely to have committed a parking violation, and if so, to contact the user to confirm whether they have violated the rules. This reduces the burden of the verification process compared to checking all vehicle users for parking violations.

[0064] Parking prohibition information can be defined, for example, as information that defines no-parking zones in map data. This parking prohibition information can be stored in non-volatile memory, such as EEPRPM. In this way, when the power supply to electronic devices is stopped by turning off the accessory switch in the vehicle, and then restarted by turning the accessory switch on, the parking prohibition information can be used again.

[0065] (15) The electronic device is used in a manner that moves together with the user, The user information includes location information indicating the current location of the electronic device. The aforementioned pre-prepared information includes information that identifies multiple applications that can be executed on the electronic device, The information corresponding to the user information may include information that identifies some of the applications selected from multiple applications based on location information indicating the current location of the electronic device.

[0066] When an electronic device is used in a manner that moves with the user, the location information of the electronic device can substantially indicate the user's current location. By having the processing means select an application based on the location information of the electronic device, the user can know about the existence of an application that can be conveniently used near the location indicated by the location information, for example, without having to search for an application themselves.

[0067] Pre-prepared information is preferably stored in the processing device's memory, and especially preferably on an external server that can communicate with electronic devices. Storing the information on an external server allows for the addition or update of information on the server itself, rather than having to perform the addition or update process on each individual electronic device. The server is particularly well-suited to be connected to a public network such as the internet, allowing access from multiple electronic devices.

[0068] Information that identifies selected applications based on the current location of an electronic device can be displayed, for example, as icons on the display screen as an output method. Users can then be aware of the presence of these selected applications by viewing the icons.

[0069] It is advisable to include so-called "local apps" that are highly useful in tourist areas, shopping districts, etc., among the multiple applications prepared in advance. Suitable electronic devices include smartphones, tablet devices, portable navigation devices, and in-car navigation devices. For example, devices equipped with an operating system such as Android® or iOS® are suitable. The current location information of the electronic device should be, for example, latitude and longitude information obtained by GPS.

[0070] Some applications selected based on the current location information of the electronic device may be automatically downloaded and installed from the server, or they may be downloaded and installed by the user, as described in (16) below.

[0071] The processing means may output only those applications that are already installed, selected based on the current location information of the electronic device, to the output means. Users can specify the application they want to run from among the applications that can be run immediately without needing to download or install anything new. The processing means may also output only those applications that are not installed, selected based on the current location information of the electronic device, to the output means. Users can become aware of the existence of new applications they were previously unaware of. The processing means may also output all applications selected based on the current location information of the electronic device to the output means, regardless of whether they are installed or not. By increasing the range of applications that users want to run, users can find more useful applications.

[0072] Traditionally, navigation devices have competed based on their ability to guide users from their current location to their destination. Portable navigation devices, however, can be taken out of a vehicle and carried on foot, guiding users on foot from the point where they exit the vehicle to their destination. Such devices are sometimes referred to as "pedestrian navigation systems."

[0073] When traveling independently by car or on foot, there were no devices that provided detailed information about tourist attractions. At best, there were navigation devices that contained information on tourist attractions listed in tourist guidebooks and had a function to link navigation with tourist attraction information. Therefore, compared to guided tours with a tour guide, it is difficult for independent travelers to obtain detailed tourist information at tourist destinations. It is possible for map data providers and navigation device manufacturers to create and include detailed tourist information for tourist destinations in navigation devices, but creating tourist information for tourist destinations all over the country would require enormous costs and is not practical.

[0074] On the other hand, local apps are becoming increasingly popular as smartphone and tablet applications, rather than navigation devices, provided by various providers such as tourism associations, local governments, shopping districts, and individuals at the regional level. There are also businesses that create these local apps. Local apps created for each region include applications that provide tourist guide information for tourist spots, tourist facilities, and shopping districts; applications that utilize augmented reality (AR) technology in conjunction with location information; applications for participating in stamp rallies that visit various locations in the region; and applications that offer games related to the region.

[0075] Visitors to tourist destinations may become aware of these applications by chance seeing brochures or signs provided at the destination, or by searching for the local area on application provider websites. However, those who do not notice the brochures or signs, or who do not actively search for the applications, will not be aware of their existence. Travelers may regret not realizing the existence of these local apps while on their trip, only to discover them after their trip is over. Furthermore, despite many local apps being offered for free, the number of downloads for these applications is not currently growing.

[0076] Users of electronic devices can easily become aware of the existence of these local apps based on the location information of their devices. For application providers, this can be expected to increase the number of downloads of their local apps.

[0077] (16) When the user performs an operation to specify at least one application based on information that identifies some selected applications, the processing means may be an electronic device that downloads and installs the specified application.

[0078] When users are provided with information identifying a selection of applications, they can download and run those applications by specifying the ones they are interested in.

[0079] For specifying an application, the user should, for example, select the corresponding icon on the touch panel by tapping it. Icons for already installed applications should be displayed on the touch panel in a different manner than icons for applications that are not yet installed. For example, an overlay icon indicating that an application is already installed should be displayed over the icon for an installed application.

[0080] It is preferable to display an install button and a run button along with information that identifies a selection of applications based on the current location of the electronic device. When the user taps the install button, the processing device should install the application corresponding to the tapped icon. When the user taps the run button, the processing device should install the application corresponding to the tapped icon and run it automatically. For applications that are already installed, it is preferable to display only the run button and not the install button.

[0081] Applications specified by the user should be downloaded and installed in the background. For example, electronic devices can download and install applications without the user noticing while performing navigation functions.

[0082] (17) When the user specifies a downloaded application and performs an operation to execute it, the processing means may be an electronic device that executes the specified application.

[0083] Users can select and run only the desired applications from their installed applications at the time they wish. For example, when a user arrives at a tourist destination or facility, they can select and run a local app related to that destination or facility.

[0084] (18) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function to set a destination to which the user is going, and a function to search for a route from the current location to the destination, and having a function to select some applications from a plurality of applications based on the location information of the destination and the location information of intermediate points along the route, and output information that identifies the selected applications to the output means.

[0085] Users can learn about valuable applications at their destination and along their route when they depart for their destination. For example, they can learn about tourist attractions and facilities along their route and plan stops at places of interest.

[0086] Information identifying the selected application based on location data of intermediate points along the route to the destination should be displayed in order of the earliest estimated arrival time at the points along the route associated with the application. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to display the region name and estimated arrival time together with the application identification information. This would allow users to intuitively understand the order in which they will visit tourist spots and facilities along the route to their destination.

[0087] The processing device should, upon detecting that an electronic device has entered an area where the installed applications are of high utility, notify the user of information indicating the presence of such applications in the vicinity of their current location. For example, a guidance window displaying information identifying useful applications could be shown on the display screen. This would remind the user of the existence of useful applications if they have forgotten about them.

[0088] For example, the area where an application has high utility value can be determined from the map data stored in the electronic device and the name of the application. For instance, if the name of the application includes the name of a tourist destination or tourist facility, the area where the application has high utility value can be defined as a circular area with a predetermined radius centered on a point identified by the location information associated with the name of the tourist destination or tourist facility included in the map data. For example, if the name of the application includes the name of a local government, the area within the administrative district identified by the name of the local government included in the map data can be defined as the area where the application has high utility value.

[0089] If the electronic device is configured to be used in a vehicle, the processing means may automatically execute the application corresponding to the point where the power was turned off if it detects that the vehicle's power has been turned off within an area where the installed application is of high value. This can prevent situations where the user forgets about the application and goes sightseeing without running it.

[0090] If multiple applications are installed that correspond to the location where the vehicle's power was turned off, it is advisable to allow the user to select which application to run from among the multiple applications. For example, icons identifying the multiple applications corresponding to the location where the vehicle's power was turned off could be displayed on the screen, and the user could be asked to select one icon. Since these applications are already installed, they can be launched immediately.

[0091] (19) Having a storage means that stores information identifying multiple applications, associated with location information for each application, It is preferable to have an electronic device that compares location information, which serves as the basis for selecting some applications from multiple applications, with location information stored in the storage means, and selects some applications from multiple applications based on the comparison result.

[0092] Information identifying popular applications and applications considered highly convenient for users can be stored in a memory device beforehand. This allows for the selection and provision of highly convenient applications to users. Users can exclude applications they deem unhelpful from the selection and receive only information identifying potentially useful applications. This reduces the effort required to find applications they want to use.

[0093] (20) The processing means may be an electronic device that uses a database that associates location information with keywords to extract keywords from location information that will serve as the basis for selecting some applications from a group of applications, sends the extracted keywords to a search server that searches for applications, and selects applications based on the results returned from the search server.

[0094] Electronic devices can select applications using an external search server, without having to store application information within the device itself.

[0095] As a database that associates location information with keywords, it is advisable to use map data that stores information such as prefecture names, city / ward / town / village names, public facility names, tourist destinations and tourist facilities names, store names, road names, and railway station names in association with location information. This map data can be stored, for example, in the memory device of the processing device. Keywords can be, for example, the city / ward / town / village name of the point indicated by the location information that forms the basis for selecting an application, and the names of public facilities, tourist destinations, tourist facilities, stores, roads, railway stations, etc., that exist within a predetermined distance from that point. By using these names as keywords, it is possible to select applications that are of high utility value in the vicinity of the location indicated by the location information that forms the basis for selecting an application.

[0096] The search server could be, for example, a server for an internet search site that searches for applications. Examples of such search sites include Google Play® and the App Store®, which provide application distribution services. The application search site returns information identifying multiple applications extracted based on keywords as search results. The processing device should provide the user with information identifying all applications included in the search results. If the number of applications included in the search results exceeds a predetermined number, the processing device should provide the user with information identifying a predetermined number of applications from the beginning of the list of applications in the search results. This reduces the effort required of the user to review all the applications provided.

[0097] (21) The processing means may be an electronic device that, when predetermined uninstallation conditions for an installed application are met, outputs information to ask the user whether or not to uninstall the application that has met the uninstallation conditions, and when the user performs an uninstallation operation, uninstalls the application that was the target of the uninstallation operation.

[0098] Users can easily identify applications that meet the uninstallation criteria. When the number of installed applications becomes too large, for example, a large number of icons appear on the launcher, making it difficult to find the desired application among many installed ones. Uninstalling applications that meet the uninstallation criteria can prevent the number of installed applications from becoming excessive. Furthermore, it can reduce the amount of memory space occupied by applications in non-volatile memory, for example.

[0099] A predetermined uninstallation condition may be that the electronic device's current location is outside the area where the application provides services. The area where the application provides services may be, for example, the area within the administrative boundaries of a prefecture or municipality identified by the application's name. If the name of a municipality is not identified by the application, it may be defined as the area within a predetermined distance from a facility, shopping street, or other location identified by the application's name.

[0100] For example, if electronic devices are used with a vehicle that is rented out to a user, a predetermined uninstallation condition may be that the electronic devices have returned to the vehicle rental location. For instance, if a vehicle is rented out at a store near an airport or train station, the predetermined uninstallation condition may be determined to be met when the distance between the electronic devices' current location and the store where the vehicle was rented out falls below a predetermined distance.

[0101] The electronic device may be programmed with the user's home location information, and when the device returns to the user's home, it may be determined that the predetermined uninstallation conditions have been met. Alternatively, for each installed application, the period during which the electronic device is not within the area where that application provides its service may be calculated, and when this calculated period continues for a predetermined time, for example, one month, it may be determined that the predetermined uninstallation conditions have been met. This allows applications that have become less useful to be presented to the user as candidates for uninstallation.

[0102] To prompt the user whether or not to uninstall the application, information such as "Do you want to uninstall the application XX?" along with "Yes" and "No" buttons can be displayed on the electronic device's screen. The processing method should be such that when the user taps the "Yes" button, the process of uninstalling the application begins.

[0103] If the specified uninstallation conditions are met, the processing device may automatically uninstall the application without contacting the user. This eliminates the hassle of the user having to decide whether or not to uninstall the application, and also avoids the effort required to perform the uninstallation operation.

[0104] (22) The processing means may be an electronic device that, when it detects that the electronic device has entered an area where it can connect to a wireless LAN that can be used free of charge, outputs a message to the output means indicating that it can connect to a wireless LAN that can be used free of charge.

[0105] Users can discover that they can use Wi-Fi for free. When users switch the network their electronic devices use from a mobile communication network to Wi-Fi, they can communicate at high speed without consuming the data allowance of their contracted mobile communication service. Furthermore, even if the user's contracted mobile communication service is experiencing bandwidth limitations, they can still communicate at high speed via Wi-Fi.

[0106] One example of free Wi-Fi is what is known as "local Wi-Fi." For instance, local Wi-Fi is offered in tourist areas, tourist facilities, shopping districts, and other locations.

[0107] It is advisable to pre-store the local Wi-Fi identifier (SSID) and location information defining the area where that wireless LAN can be used in the storage device of the electronic device. When the processing device detects that the electronic device's current location has entered the area where the wireless LAN is available as stored in the storage device, it is advisable to notify the user that it can connect to that wireless LAN.

[0108] It is advisable to inform the user that a wireless LAN is available and to output information asking the user whether or not to connect to the wireless LAN. When the user notices this inquiry and performs the action to connect to the wireless LAN, the processing device should start the process of connecting to that wireless LAN.

[0109] Some local Wi-Fi networks require users to enter their information, such as their email address, before using the service. It would be beneficial if the processing device's storage memory could pre-register the information to be entered for each local Wi-Fi network, allowing the device to automatically input this information. This would enable users to utilize local Wi-Fi without the cumbersome process of manually entering information.

[0110] (23) The electronic device is used in a manner that moves together with the user, The user information includes location information of the current location of the electronic device, The aforementioned pre-prepared information includes information indicating the municipalities that provide return gifts for hometown tax donations. The information corresponding to the user information may include information that identifies some of the municipalities selected from among several municipalities that provide the return gifts, based on the current location information of the electronic device.

[0111] Users can find out which municipalities offer the return gifts based on the current location of their electronic devices. As a method for selecting a municipality based on the location information of the electronic device, for example, the processing device could select the prefecture and municipalities, such as cities, towns, and villages, that correspond to the administrative division encompassing the current location of the electronic device.

[0112] The Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) system was originally established to make it easier for people to donate to their hometowns or to prefectures, cities, towns, and villages they have an attachment to. In order to solicit donations using the Furusato Nozei system, many municipalities offer return gifts related to their area to donors. There is a tendency for donations to concentrate in municipalities that offer cost-effective return gifts or popular items as return gifts. As a result, donations tend to be one-time events, and the current situation is far removed from the original purpose of making donors feel a sense of "hometown" in the municipality they donate to.

[0113] By receiving information that identifies a selection of municipalities based on the electronic device's current location, users of electronic devices can easily find out whether the area they are currently visiting is one of the municipalities offering return gifts. Based on the information provided to users, they can decide whether or not to donate to the municipality they are actually visiting. Because the recipient municipality is one they are currently visiting, they are more likely to donate with a sense of attachment to that municipality compared to donating to a municipality they have no connection to. For municipalities, this has the effect of expanding donations, fostering a sense of attachment to their area, and leading to the acquisition of repeat donations.

[0114] To select some municipalities from among several that offer return gifts based on the current location information of an electronic device, it is advisable to use an online introduction site that lists municipalities offering return gifts. For example, the name of the municipality corresponding to the administrative division encompassing the electronic device's current location can be provided as the information to be entered (search query) into the search box of the introduction site, and a search request can be made. The search site will then return information that identifies the municipality offering the return gift from among the municipalities corresponding to the administrative division encompassing the current location, or from nearby municipalities. The processing method can be, for example, to display the returned information on a screen. For example, the name of the municipality can be displayed.

[0115] (24) The information corresponding to the user information includes, in addition to information that identifies some municipalities selected based on the location information of the electronic device's current location, information that identifies the return gifts provided by the municipalities, and the processing means may be an electronic device having a function to output the information that identifies the selected some municipalities and the information that identifies the return gifts to the output means.

[0116] Users can access information identifying the municipalities offering the return gifts, as well as details that specify the return gifts offered by those municipalities. Based on this information, users can decide whether or not to make a donation.

[0117] To identify the return gift, it is advisable to display information such as the product name and an illustration representing the gift on the display screen. This information can be obtained, for example, from the website of the municipality providing the return gift, along with information identifying the municipality.

[0118] It is advisable to include information that identifies the category of the return gift in the user information. For example, it is advisable to register information that identifies the category of return gifts that the user is interested in in the user information. The processing means should select information that identifies the municipality to be output to the output means based on the location information of the electronic device and the information that identifies the category of the return gift. For example, it is advisable to output information that identifies the municipality that corresponds to the administrative district encompassing the current location of the electronic device and that provides return gifts belonging to the category identified by the user information. This allows users to easily find municipalities that offer items of interest as return gifts. Examples of return gift categories include "meat," "rice," "fruit," "vegetables," "alcohol," "confectionery," and "handicrafts."

[0119] If information identifying the category of the return gift is not pre-registered as user information, the user may be allowed to specify the category of the return gift from the information identifying the municipality and the information identifying the return gift output to the output device. The processing device should screen for municipalities that provide return gifts belonging to the category of return gift specified by the user, and output information identifying the municipalities selected by the screening to the output device.

[0120] (25) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function to set the destination to which the user is going, and a function to search for a route from the current location of the electronic device to the destination, and a function to select some municipalities from a plurality of municipalities that provide return gifts based on the location information of the destination and the location information of points along the route, and to output information that identifies the selected some municipalities to the output means.

[0121] Users can receive information that identifies some of the municipalities offering return gifts, selected from among several municipalities, based on their destination location and the location of points along their route to the destination. For example, if the municipality where the destination is located, and the municipalities the user passes through to reach the destination, offer return gifts, the user can obtain information that identifies these municipalities offering the return gifts. Users can use this information to help them decide whether or not to make a donation.

[0122] It is advisable to include information that identifies the category of the return gift in the user information. The processing means should screen the municipalities where the destination is located and the municipalities the user passes through to reach the destination for municipalities that offer return gifts belonging to the category of return gift identified in the user information, and output information that identifies the screened municipalities to the output means.

[0123] (26) The processing means may be an electronic device that has the function of outputting to the output means information indicating the location where products corresponding to the return gifts provided by some selected municipalities are sold.

[0124] Users can visit locations that sell the products corresponding to the return gifts, based on information indicating where these products are sold. Users can then see the actual products corresponding to the return gifts and decide whether or not to make a donation.

[0125] For example, information indicating where the products corresponding to the return gifts are sold should include the location of the store or roadside station. If the store or roadside station does not have parking facilities, it would be good to provide users with information on nearby parking lots along with the store's information. This would save users the trouble of searching for nearby parking when visiting a store without its own parking lot.

[0126] It would be beneficial to allow users to receive their thank-you gifts on the spot by presenting proof of their donation at the store or other designated location. If the thank-you gifts are such as accommodation vouchers or activity experience tickets (e.g., horseback riding), it would be beneficial to allow users to exercise their rights to the accommodation or activity experience on the spot. This would eliminate the need for users to travel to the location in order to exercise their rights based on the thank-you gifts after receiving them.

[0127] When retailers or other businesses provide return gifts, it is advisable for their staff to enter the information that the gift has been provided into the system that manages the provision of return gifts to donors. This will help avoid situations where the same return gift is provided to multiple donors.

[0128] The ability to immediately receive a return gift can be an incentive for donors to make donations to local governments. For local governments that offer return gifts, this can have the effect of increasing donations.

[0129] If the quantity of return gifts offered for donations is insufficient for the donor, the donor can receive the return gifts at the store and purchase additional items corresponding to the return gifts. Furthermore, they can also purchase products other than the return gifts. For the store, this allows them to increase sales, thereby contributing to the development of the region.

[0130] For example, if a municipality offering a return gift is a fruit-producing region and the gift is apples, which are less prone to spoilage, a retailer that also sells peaches and grapes can increase sales of those fruits. Alternatively, a retailer could sell apples, peaches, and grapes as a set and offer a discount equivalent to the price of the apples to the donor, effectively providing a return gift.

[0131] For example, if the return gift is local sake, the user can purchase other brands of sake in addition to the local sake they received as a return gift. Furthermore, retailers may sell the local sake given as a return gift along with other brands of sake as a set.

[0132] (27) The processing means may be an electronic device that has a function to allow the user to specify at least one municipality from among a selection of municipalities based on the location information of the electronic device's current location, and further has a function to carry out a donation procedure to the municipality specified by the user.

[0133] Users can select a municipality they wish to donate to from a selection based on their electronic device's current location information and complete the donation process on the spot. Personal information, such as credit card details, necessary for the donation process should be pre-stored on the electronic device's storage device. The processing mechanism should utilize the user information stored on the storage device to complete the donation process.

[0134] When a donation is made to a designated local government, it is advisable to inform the donor of the location where the corresponding product is sold, as explained in (26) above. Once the donation process is complete, it is advisable to send information proving the donation from the donation-receiving server to an electronic device. It is especially advisable to allow the donor to receive the return gift on the spot by presenting this information at the store or other location.

[0135] When executing a donation procedure, it is advisable to register information that serves as a criterion for determining whether or not to proceed with the procedure, such as an upper limit on the total amount of donations, an upper limit on the amount of individual donations, and an upper limit on the number of municipalities to which donations can be made, in the storage device of the electronic device. If the processing device does not meet these criteria when a donation application request is made by the user, it is advisable to notify the user of a message asking whether or not to proceed with the donation procedure. This prevents unintended donations from being made due to user lapses in memory or operational errors.

[0136] For example, when a user makes a donation, the processing system should compare the donation amount specified by the user with the upper limit for individual donation amounts, and notify the user if the specified donation amount exceeds the upper limit for individual donation amounts. The processing system should also accumulate the individual donation amounts and notify the user if the cumulative value exceeds the upper limit for the total amount of donations. The processing system should also count the number of recipient municipalities and notify the user if the donation operation exceeds the upper limit for the number of recipient municipalities. After making these notifications, the processing system should allow the user to choose whether to proceed with or cancel the donation process.

[0137] The "Furusato Tax One-Stop Special Exemption System" is in place, which eliminates the need to file a tax return if the number of recipient municipalities is five or fewer. For example, it is advisable to set the upper limit of the number of recipient municipalities to "5," which is the upper limit for the number of recipient municipalities that can utilize the Furusato Tax One-Stop Special Exemption System. Users can recognize that they will no longer be able to use the Furusato Tax One-Stop Special Exemption System by noticing a notification from the processing system.

[0138] The processing method should involve subtracting the total amount of past donations from the upper limit of the total donation amount, and then informing the user of the remaining available donation amount. The user can then use this remaining amount as a basis for deciding whether or not to donate to the currently featured municipality.

[0139] Under the current hometown tax donation system, whether the entire amount remaining after deducting the 2,000 yen self-payment from the donation amount is eligible for deduction depends on the donor's income. A good processing method would be to calculate the upper limit of the donation amount that can be fully deducted based on the user's estimated income and notify the user of this limit. The user's estimated income could be calculated, for example, by having the user input the details of their payslip.

[0140] The processing device should have the functionality to display buttons such as "Apply for Donation," "Interested," "View Sales Locations," and "Share on SNS" on the display screen, along with information that identifies a selection of municipalities based on the current location information of the electronic device. When a user taps the "Apply for Donation" button, the processing device should, for example, carry out the donation procedure and obtain a certificate from the donation management server proving that the donation has been made. When a user taps the "Interested" button, the processing device should, for example, add information indicating the municipality and the return gift to a favorites list so that the user can retrieve it later. When a user taps the "View Sales Locations" button, the processing device should, for example, display a map on the display screen and perform a route search using the sales location as a waypoint or destination. When a user taps the "Share on SNS" button, the processing device should, for example, automatically input information indicating the municipality and the return gift into the SNS posting screen.

[0141] Some local governments allow donors to specify how their donations will be used. Examples of uses include industrial development, environmental conservation, cultural property preservation, childcare, welfare, and disaster relief. It is advisable to pre-assign priorities to multiple uses of donations and store these priorities in a memory device. For example, the processing system could display the multiple uses of donations on a screen, sorted according to priority, allowing the user to specify which use they want. Users can easily find the use they wish to specify from among the multiple uses. Alternatively, the processing system could display the multiple uses on the screen with the highest priority use selected as the default value. This would allow users to skip the step of specifying the use when entering their donation.

[0142] The processing system, upon receiving a request to make a donation to a local government, should provide the user with information identifying other local governments to which the donor has made donations (hereinafter referred to as "recommended local governments"). For example, the recommended local governments should be prioritized in providing the user with information identifying local governments near the user's current location. For example, local governments within the same prefecture as the recipient local government to which the donation was made should be prioritized. Regardless of the local government's location, the system may also prioritize providing the user with information identifying local governments with a large number of donors. It is particularly beneficial to provide the user with both information prioritizing nearby local governments and information prioritizing local governments with a large number of donors.

[0143] (28) The processing means may be an electronic device having a function to switch between corporate mode and individual mode, and when switched to corporate mode, it has the function to perform the donation procedure in accordance with the procedure for corporate donations, and when switched to individual mode, it has the function to perform the donation procedure in accordance with the procedure for individual donations.

[0144] The donation procedure differs depending on whether the donor is an individual or a corporation. By providing both a corporate mode and an individual mode, users can donate as either an individual or a corporation. For example, if the electronic device is a car navigation system installed in a company vehicle, it should be switched to corporate mode, and if the electronic device is a car navigation system installed in a private vehicle, it should be switched to individual mode.

[0145] There are differences between individual and corporate versions of the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) system, such as the recipient municipalities, the availability of return gifts, and the method of tax deduction. It is advisable to differentiate the criteria for selecting municipalities based on user information when the processing system is operating in corporate mode versus individual mode. For example, when the processing system is operating in corporate mode, it should only select from municipalities that are eligible recipients for corporate Furusato Nozei donations. It is also advisable to change the information output by the output device depending on whether the processing system is operating in corporate mode or individual mode. For example, under the corporate version of the Furusato Nozei system, donations are made to "community, people, and job creation donation utilization projects" planned by each municipality. In addition to information identifying the municipality, the processing device should output details of the "community, people, and job creation donation utilization projects." Users can use the information output by the output device as a basis for deciding whether or not to make a donation.

[0146] (29) The processing means may be an electronic device that has a function to register a person other than the individual identified in the user information as another user, and when carrying out the donation procedure, identifies the user who will be the principal donor from among the registered users, and carries out the donation procedure with the identified user as the principal donor.

[0147] For example, when traveling in a group, each traveler can make a donation via electronic device.

[0148] To identify a single donor from among multiple registered users, for example, the processing device could display a list of information identifying each registered user on a screen, and allow the donor to select the information that identifies them from this list. Alternatively, the donor could be identified by having each user hold a near-field communication (NFC) compatible card over a reader. Examples of NFC compatible cards include transportation cards with registered personal names and driver's licenses. Furthermore, personal authentication systems such as fingerprint authentication systems and facial recognition systems could be used to identify donors.

[0149] It is advisable to register credit card information for donations in advance for each user on a storage device. If the donor's name and the name on the credit card do not match, the donation may not be eligible for tax deductions. The processing method should compare the registered user's name with the name on the credit card associated with that user, and notify the user if they do not match. This will prevent donors from making donations using credit cards with different names and thus being unable to receive tax deductions.

[0150] (30) The electronic device is used in a manner that it is lent to the user, The processing means has a function that allows the user to specify a municipality of interest from a selection of municipalities. The electronic device should have a function that allows the user to access information about a designated municipality of interest, even after the electronic device has been returned.

[0151] Even after returning the electronic device, users can retrieve information about the municipalities they specified during their use of the device. This information can be preserved as travel memories and may motivate them to revisit those municipalities.

[0152] The processing method should display information on the screen that identifies a selection of municipalities based on the current location information of the electronic device, and also display a "Interested" button, allowing the user to specify the municipalities they are interested in by tapping the "Interested" button.

[0153] For example, an electronic device could be installed in a rental car and rented to a user. Upon return of the rental car, the user could be asked whether they want to upload information about a municipality they are interested in to a cloud that they can access, or delete it. The user's request could be displayed on a screen as a processing tool. The cloud that users can access would be managed by the rental car company, and the rental car company would notify the user of a key information, such as a security code, to retrieve the information about the municipality they are interested in from the cloud. The user could then access the rental car company's cloud and enter the key information to retrieve the information about the municipality they specified.

[0154] It would be even better if information about municipalities of interest to users were always uploaded to the cloud when they return their rental car. Even if a user doesn't think they need that information at the time of return, they might change their mind later and want to know it. In that case, the user can retrieve the information about the municipalities of interest that has been uploaded to the cloud.

[0155] The criteria for determining whether the current time is the rental car return time could be, for example, that the fuel tank is full, the current location matches the rental car return location, and the time the vehicle has been stopped at that location exceeds a predetermined time, such as 5 minutes. Alternatively, the criteria could be that the rental car's engine has been turned off at the return location.

[0156] (31) The electronic device is a printer installed at a print service provider store, The user information includes location information of the print service provider visited by the user of the printer. The aforementioned pre-prepared information is map information. The information corresponding to the user information may be an electronic device that includes a map of a certain area, including the location of the print service provider visited by the user, printed out by the printer.

[0157] Users can obtain a paper map of an area including their current location without having to input location information for the printer. Compared to maps displayed on smartphones or tablets, larger maps such as A4, B4, and A3 are available. Larger maps are suitable for use in situations where multiple people need to view and discuss maps simultaneously. Furthermore, a wide area of ​​the map can be viewed at once without scrolling. Additionally, printed maps can be easily marked by writing on them, folding them, etc. This is particularly useful when traveling with others, as maps can be printed at a printing service provider at the travel destination and referenced during the trip.

[0158] The printed map should be designed in a way that allows the print service provider that printed the map to be distinguished from other facilities. For example, this could involve marking the location of the print service provider, using a different color for the symbol representing the print service provider on the map than for the symbols representing other facilities, or placing the print service provider in the center of the map.

[0159] For example, examples of print service providers include convenience stores located throughout Japan. The location information of print service providers should be registered with the printer when it is installed. Alternatively, the printer management server can store the printer's identification information and location information in association. The printer can obtain its location information from the printer management server by querying it. This eliminates the need to set the location information on-site when the printer is installed, preventing forgetting to set the location information or setting it incorrectly.

[0160] (32) The printer may be an electronic device that has the function of providing information for displaying a map of the same area as the printed map on a mobile terminal carried by the user.

[0161] Users can obtain information to display a printed map and then display the map on their mobile device. This information could include, for example, identifying the internet server providing the map data. By accessing this server, users can display the printed map on their mobile device. Examples of mobile devices include smartphones and tablet devices.

[0162] Information identifying a website provided to a mobile device can be provided by printing out information that identifies the website's URL along with a map. Examples of information that identifies the URL include text information indicating a shortened URL and a two-dimensional barcode representing the URL. Alternatively, the information that identifies the URL can be transferred to the mobile device wirelessly from the printer. For example, wireless communication compliant with the NFC standard can be used.

[0163] (33) The printer prints out information that identifies a part of the map along with the map, Furthermore, the electronic device may have a function to provide information that identifies the area on a printed map to which the user's current location belongs, based on the location information of the mobile device carried by the user.

[0164] Users can easily find their location on a map with the help of area-specific information. Mobile devices typically have a function that displays a map of a certain area around the user's current location on the screen, fixing the device's current location to a specific point on the display screen. When the device's current location moves, the device automatically scrolls the map to prevent the current location from moving on the display screen. Therefore, while the map displayed on the mobile device is convenient for users to know the surrounding area, it is not suitable for understanding their relative position in a specific area larger than the area displayed on the screen. In contrast, using a printed map allows users to easily understand their relative position within a specific area represented on the map by finding their current location on the map.

[0165] To identify specific areas on a map, it is helpful to use textual information such as "top," "bottom," "left," and "right." Printers should print these words on the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the printed map, respectively. For example, a mobile device can indicate a location on a map using the center and one of the terms "top," "bottom," "left," or "right," such as "Your current location is to the upper right of the center."

[0166] As information to identify a specific area on a map, for example, the entire printed map may be divided into multiple matrices, and information to identify the rows and columns may be used. For example, the columns could be identified from left to right with letters A, B, C, D, etc., and the rows from top to bottom with numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Each section on the map can be identified using a combination of letters and numbers. For example, a mobile device can notify the user of their current location using information that identifies the section, such as, "Your current location is in section A1."

[0167] A mobile device with a compass function should, for example, notify the user of the correspondence between the top of the device's screen and the top, bottom, left, and right directions on a printed map. For example, it could notify the user that "the top of the screen is to the right on the map."

[0168] In the description in (33) above, the function of providing information to identify the area on the map to which the mobile device's current location belongs was given to the printer that prints out the map, but this function may also be given to the server that distributes the map data to the printer. This specification discloses an electronic device invention comprising two devices: a printer and a server that has the function of providing information to identify the area on the map to which the mobile device's current location belongs.

[0169] (34) The processing means may be an electronic device that has the function of printing out advertisements for stores within the area to be printed out, along with the map.

[0170] Users can obtain information about stores (souvenir shops, restaurants, etc.) located near their current location. Store advertisements should include information indicating the right to receive benefits at that store, such as coupons. Users who print out the map, such as tourists and business travelers, can receive benefits at those stores, such as a 200 yen discount on food and drinks. Part or all of the cost of printing the map can be offset by an amount equivalent to the benefit received by the user. Stores can benefit from attracting tourists and others to their stores.

[0171] (35) The printer may be an electronic device that has the function of printing out advertisements based on advertisement data received from a server that provides an advertisement creation support service to the advertiser.

[0172] Ad providers, such as stores, can easily create advertisements by receiving ad creation support services from the server. The ad creation support service could, for example, be a service that allows users to create advertisements using ad templates. For instance, it could allow advertisers to create advertisements simply by inserting photos and text into a template. It would be beneficial to provide multiple templates, allowing advertisers to select their preferred template. Advertisers could download template data from the server to their devices, create advertisements using the templates on their devices, and then upload the created advertisement data back to the server, thus accumulating the ad data on the server. Alternatively, advertisers could create advertisements directly using templates on the server via their device's browser, accumulating the ad data on the server.

[0173] While it's acceptable to charge businesses for advertising, making it free is especially beneficial. Free advertising offers significant advantages to businesses providing ads. For businesses offering map printout services, this can lead to an increase in advertisers.

[0174] As the number of advertisements increases, it becomes difficult to print out all of them on the map. In such cases, the printer should filter the advertisements according to predetermined filtering conditions to extract only a portion of the advertisements that should be printed from the large number of advertisements. The predetermined filtering conditions should be provided to the printer by the user operating the printer. For example, the user could be able to select the type of business of the stores offering the advertisements they want to print out. The printer should then extract the advertisements of stores in the type of business selected by the user from the large number of advertisements and print out the extracted store advertisements along with the map.

[0175] Alternatively, filtering conditions can be pre-set on the server providing the ad creation support service or on the user's mobile device, and these conditions can be applied to extract the ads that should be printed from a large volume of ads.

[0176] This specification discloses an invention of an electronic device comprising at least two devices: a printer and a server that provides services to assist in the creation of advertisements. Furthermore, this specification discloses an invention of a server that provides services to assist in the creation of advertisements.

[0177] (36) The printer is an electronic device that prints out information identifying the map along with the map, receives location information from the server as location information of the user's visited location, of the location of the information acquisition device that reads the information identifying the map among the information acquisition devices installed in the area represented by the map, and prints out a new map in a manner that allows the user's visited location to be identified.

[0178] Map users can see a new map printed in a way that allows them to identify their visited locations, enabling them to recognize the places they visited after carrying the map from the print service provider where they initially printed it. The printer used to print the first map and the printer used to print the new map do not need to be the same printer. It would be convenient to have multiple printers, each with the ability to print both the first and new maps, installed in multiple print service providers. For example, a user could print the first map at a print service provider in their travel destination and then print a new map at a print service provider near their home that allows them to recognize the places they visited. This new map can then be kept as a memento of their trip.

[0179] For information acquisition, it is advisable to use humanoid robots or digital signage with information reading capabilities. Users can input map identification information into the information acquisition device by, for example, having the barcode printed along with the map read by the barcode reader or camera of the information acquisition device. Humanoid robots and digital signage are installed, for example, in stores.

[0180] A humanoid robot installed in a store should read the identification information on the map and then speak to the map user, introducing the store to them. For example, it could retrieve the name of the print service provider that printed the map from the map's identification information and say something like, "You came from store XX, right? We recommend XX."

[0181] The name of the print service provider that prints out the map can be obtained, for example, by having a humanoid robot read the map's identification information and querying a server that stores the map's identification information in association with the name of the print service provider. Alternatively, the name of the print service provider can be obtained by performing image recognition on the entire map.

[0182] When the server receives map identification information from the information acquisition device, it is preferable to store the map identification information in association with the location information of the location where the information acquisition device is installed (the visited location). When the printer requests the provision of the visited location information by identifying the map identification number, the server should have a function to send the visited location information associated with the map identification information to the printer. As information to identify the map, for example, a unique number that identifies the map can be used. The information to identify the map may be printed out together with the map in the form of a barcode, for example.

[0183] It would be beneficial to register the user's payment card information on a server, and then have the server retrieve the location information of the store where the user made a purchase using the registered payment card, and store this store location information as the location of the visited location. Even if the store does not have information acquisition equipment installed, when a purchase is made using a payment card, the server can still record that the user visited that store.

[0184] The server may further store identification information that identifies the user's terminal in association with the identification information of the map, and may have a function to deliver to the user's terminal the location information of the visited locations associated with the identification information of the map, and the location information of the location where the printer that printed out the map is installed.

[0185] Map users can recognize the locations they visited while carrying the map, based on the location information delivered to their device. It would be beneficial for users to upload information about the locations they visited to a social networking service (SNS) server by operating their device, allowing for sharing with multiple people. It would also be beneficial to deliver the aforementioned location information to the devices of companions who were with the map user.

[0186] (37) The printer may be an electronic device that has the function of receiving augmented reality information acquired by the user using a terminal within the range shown on the map from a server, and printing out the augmented reality information received from the server on a map of the same range as the map.

[0187] Users can recognize augmented reality information obtained at their visited locations by viewing a map printed from a printer. This augmented reality information could include, for example, image information of a character appearing in the augmented reality world corresponding to a specific location in the real world, and location information of the place where that character appeared. The printed map should include an image of the character appearing at the location on the map corresponding to where the character appeared.

[0188] The server may have the function of obtaining augmented reality information acquired by the user using a terminal within the area shown on the map, storing it in association with the map's identification information, and transmitting the map's identification information and the augmented reality information to the printer that has requested transmission.

[0189] This specification discloses an electronic device comprising two devices: a printer and a server as described in at least one of the above descriptions (35) to (37). It is particularly preferable that multiple printers communicating with the server are installed and operated. Furthermore, this specification discloses an invention of a server as described in at least one of the above descriptions (35) to (37).

[0190] (38) The program should be one that enables a computer to perform any of the functions of an electronic device described in (1) through (37) above.

[0191] The inventions described in (1) to (38) above can be combined in any way. For example, another invention can be obtained by adding at least part of the configuration of at least one of the inventions from (2) onward to all or part of the configuration of the invention described in (1). In particular, it is preferable to create an invention by adding at least part of the configuration of at least one of the inventions from (2) onward to the invention described in (1). Alternatively, any configuration can be extracted from the inventions described in (1) to (38) and the extracted configurations can be combined. The applicant of this application intends to obtain rights to inventions that include these configurations. [Effects of the Invention]

[0192] Users of the electronic device of the present invention can obtain information corresponding to their user information from the electronic device without having to directly input their own user information. 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 applicant intends to obtain rights to the components that produce such effects through divisional applications, amendments, etc. For example, any phrases in this specification that say "can do ~" are descriptions that specify the effects produced, and there are also components that produce effects even without the phrase "can do ~". [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0193] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a navigation device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a navigation device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a navigation device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the processing flow performed by the control unit of the navigation device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of the navigation device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit when the third screening method is employed in the navigation device according to the first modification of the third embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to a second modification of the third embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to a third modification of the third embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows another example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to a third modification of the third embodiment. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows an example of an image when application icons are displayed on the screen in order of their scheduled arrival time, from earliest to latest. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows the flow of processing performed in the control unit of the navigation device according to a fourth modification of the third embodiment. [Figure 12] Figure 12 shows an example of an image in which information asking the user whether or not to uninstall the application is displayed on the display unit, in a fifth modification of the third embodiment. [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows an example of an image of the display unit in the sixth modified example of the third embodiment, showing information that informs the user that they can connect to a free wireless LAN. [Figure 14]Figure 14 shows the processing flow performed by the control unit of the navigation device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 16] Figure 16 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to the first modification of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 17] Figure 17 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to a third modification of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 18] Figure 18 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to a fourth modification of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 19] Figure 19 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to a fifth modification of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 20] Figure 20 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to a sixth modification of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 21] Figure 21 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to the seventh modification of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 22] Figure 22 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to the eighth modification of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 23] Figure 23 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit of a navigation device according to the tenth modification of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 24] Figure 24 is a functional block diagram of a printer according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 25] Figure 25 shows the process flow in which a printer provides information to a user. [Figure 26] Figure 26 shows an example of a printed map. [Figure 27] Figure 27 shows an example of a printed map and advertisement. [Figure 28] Figure 28 shows an example of a map and a one-dimensional barcode printed on paper. [Figure 29] Figure 29 shows an example of a new map printed out in a manner that allows the user's visited locations to be identified. [Figure 30] Figure 30 shows an example of a map printed out by combining augmented reality information. [Figure 31] Figure 31 is a diagram showing the flow of processing performed by multiple electronic devices according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 32] Figure 32 shows an example of an image displayed on the screen of the personal computer 160 when creating an album using the electronic device according to the sixth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0194] Examples of electronic devices used in vehicles include navigation systems, dashcams, and radar detectors.

[0195] A navigation system has the function of guiding the vehicle from its starting point to its destination.

[0196] A dashcam has the function of recording, for example, the surroundings of a vehicle while it is in motion, such as the view ahead, and the vehicle's location information. Dashcams are sometimes installed in rental cars. Rental cars are rented out after a rental car company employee checks the vehicle for any damage such as dents and scratches. After the vehicle is returned, if any damage other than that checked by the rental car company employee before renting it out is found, it is determined that the damage was caused by the user who rented the vehicle, and it is treated as an accident, and the rental car company charges the user a Non-Operation Charge (NOC). A dashcam can be used to prove whether or not such an accident occurred.

[0197] Radar detectors typically have three basic functions: radar warning, radio warning, and GPS warning. The radar warning function alerts the vehicle when it detects electromagnetic waves emitted from a road-mounted speed measuring device. The radio warning function alerts the vehicle when it receives radio waves of a known frequency used by police radios. The GPS warning function alerts the vehicle when it approaches an automated speed enforcement device.

[0198] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

[0199] [First Embodiment] <Navigation system configuration> The configuration of the navigation device 1 as an electronic device in the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0200] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the navigation device 1 in this embodiment, and Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation device 1 in this embodiment.

[0201] Navigation device 1 is configured to be installed in a rental car as described later, and is used by an unspecified person when they use the rental car, inside the rental vehicle. Such a rental car is rented out by the rental car company to the user, for example, after the rental car company receives a usage fee from the user based on the rental time.

[0202] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the navigation device 1 includes a display unit 5, a lamp 6, a touch panel 8, a card slot 9, a microwave receiver 11, a GPS receiver 12, a wireless transceiver 13, a control unit 18, a database 19, a speaker 20, a memory card reader 21, and an On-board diagnostics (hereinafter referred to as "OBD") connector 24.

[0203] The navigation device 1 is supported on the vehicle's dashboard via a cradle 3. The bottom surface of the cradle 3 is attached to the vehicle's dashboard, thereby securing the navigation device 1 to the dashboard. The navigation device 1 is detachable from the cradle 3 and is used when installed together with the cradle 3 on the dashboard of a rental car.

[0204] The display unit 5 is located on the front of the navigation device 1 (the side facing the rear of the vehicle (driver side)). The display unit 5 is composed of, for example, a 3.2-inch color TFT liquid crystal display. The display unit 5 displays a menu screen under control from the control unit 18, which acts as a processing means. The control unit 18 implements the navigation function, information provision function, return time notification function, fuel replenishment notification function, fuel level recording function, toll notification function, and contact information notification function, which will be described later.

[0205] Lamp 6 lights up or flashes according to control from control unit 18 to issue an alarm or provide notification.

[0206] The touch panel 8 is located on the display unit 5. The touch panel 8 detects the position touched on the display unit 5 by the vehicle user. The detection result from the touch panel 8 is provided to the control unit 18.

[0207] The card slot 9 is located on the right side of the navigation device 1. A memory card 22, which serves as a removable storage medium, is inserted into the navigation device 1 through the card slot 9. For example, a microSD memory card (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as SD) is used as the memory card 22.

[0208] The microwave receiver 11 receives microwaves of a predetermined frequency emitted from an external speed measuring device. The microwave receiver 11 detects the signal level of the received microwaves and outputs the detection result to the control unit 18.

[0209] The GPS receiver 12 is located inside the upper center of the rear side of the navigation device 1. The GPS receiver 12 receives GPS signals from multiple GPS satellites and determines the current position (longitude, latitude) based on the received GPS signals. The GPS receiver 12 outputs the determined current position information to the control unit 18. The GPS receiver 12 also receives time information from GPS satellites and outputs the received time information to the control unit 18.

[0210] The wireless transceiver 13 has the function of performing short-range wireless communication with terminals such as contactless IC cards and personal computers, which are the communication partners. Using this short-range wireless communication function, the navigation device 1 performs data communication with the communication partners.

[0211] The control unit 18 starts up when an accessory switch (not shown) provided in the vehicle is turned on, receiving power from an onboard battery (not shown). When the accessory switch is turned off, the navigation device 1 continues to operate using power from the built-in battery and displays a dialog box on the display unit 5 asking the user whether to continue operating on battery power for a grace period, for example, 10 seconds. If the user inputs that they wish to continue operating on battery power, the navigation device 1 continues to operate on battery power. If the user does not input that they wish to continue operating on battery power within the grace period, the navigation device 1 stops operating and turns off its power.

[0212] The control unit 18 is composed of a microcontroller equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, and I / O interfaces. The control unit 18 implements navigation functions, information provision functions, return time notification functions, fuel level recording functions, refueling notification functions, toll notification functions, contact information notification functions, parking recording functions, etc., by having the CPU execute programs stored in the EEPROM. The control unit 18 determines which part of the display unit 5 was touched based on the detection result of the touch position input from the touch panel 8, and executes a program to implement each of the above functions according to the determination result. Details of each function will be described later.

[0213] The control unit 18 is connected to the above-mentioned parts and, based on the information and detection results input from the various input devices (touch panel 8, GPS receiver 12, microwave receiver 11, wireless transceiver 13, etc.) and the OBD connector 24, and further using information stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 18 as needed, executes predetermined processing and issues alarms or notifications using output devices (display unit 5, speaker 20, etc.). These basic configurations can basically be the same as those of conventional systems. For example, audio output is performed by the control unit 18 playing back PCM data stored in the EEPROM. The control unit 18 has a real-time clock function that continues to keep time even when the power is turned off.

[0214] Database 19 is stored in an EEPROM externally attached to the control unit 18. Database 19 stores map data at the time of shipment. The map data stored in database 19 includes location information indicating each point on the map. The map data also includes location information for gas stations and rental car company branches, as well as location information indicating no-parking zones. Here, no-parking zones are areas where parking a vehicle is subject to enforcement under the Road Traffic Act, and include priority areas and top priority areas for no-parking.

[0215] Database 19 includes a table (hereinafter referred to as the "tourism purpose table") that stores information relating to the name of a tourist destination or tourist facility, tourist information for that destination or tourist facility, and location information indicating the location of that destination or tourist facility. Database 19 also includes a table (hereinafter referred to as the "business purpose table") that stores information relating to a company name, company information for that company, and location information indicating the location of that company. The tourism purpose table and the business purpose table are each assigned information to identify the tourism purpose table and the business purpose table, respectively. The map data, tourism purpose table, and business purpose table stored in database 19 are updated as needed.

[0216] Speaker 20 is built into the lower part of the navigation device 1. The speaker opening of speaker 20 is located on the bottom surface of the navigation device 1. Speaker 20 issues alarms or makes announcements according to the control unit 18.

[0217] The memory card reader 21 is built into the card slot 9 inside the navigation device 1 and has both reader and writer functions. The memory card 22 can be inserted into the memory card reader 21 through the card slot 9.

[0218] The OBD connector 24 is connected to an OBD connector (not shown) on the rental car, which is the other party to the connection. The OBD connector on the rental car is connected to an ECU (electronic control unit) (not shown) installed in the rental car. By connecting the OBD connector 24 to the OBD connector on the rental car, the control unit 18 obtains measurement results of the amount of gasoline consumed in the gasoline tank from the ECU installed in the rental car. The OBD connector 24 is equipped with terminals for communication via an in-vehicle network such as CAN (Controller Area Network) or K-Line.

[0219] <Navigation system operation> The operation of the navigation device 1 in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0220] {Actions taken at a rental car company's branch when renting a car} Cradle 3 is installed on the dashboard of rental cars managed by the rental car company's branches. For rental cars returned to the rental car company's branches, the navigation device 1 is removed from cradle 3. The navigation device 1, once removed from the rental car, is charged at the branch.

[0221] The staff at the rental car company's branch lends a navigation system 1 along with the rental car to the user who has applied to use the rental car, and installs the rented navigation system 1 into the cradle 3 installed in the rental car. The rental car user can receive an explanation from the rental car company's branch staff regarding the operation of the rental car, as well as an explanation of the setup procedure for the navigation system 1 necessary to receive the various functions provided by the navigation system 1.

[0222] Navigation device 1 is connected to the vehicle battery via an accessory switch, and power is supplied to navigation device 1 from the vehicle battery when the accessory switch is turned on. The control unit 18 is started up when power is supplied from the vehicle battery, and the CPU of the control unit 18 executes a program stored in the EEPROM, displaying a menu screen on the display unit 5. This menu screen displays start buttons for starting the navigation function, information provision function, return time notification function, and contact notification function. The control unit 18 starts providing the function corresponding to the start button on the menu screen selected by the user operating the touch panel 8.

[0223] First, let's explain how the navigation device 1 provides its information provision function. Here, the information provision function is the function of providing information from the navigation device 1 that is tailored to the user's purpose for using the rental car.

[0224] There are various needs for rental cars, depending on whether you want to transport people or luggage. Furthermore, the needs differ depending on the user's attributes, such as gender, age, occupation, and hobbies, as well as the purpose of the rental. Specifically, the needs for a rental car will differ depending on whether you're using it for a date with your significant other or for a girls' night out.

[0225] Navigation device 1 provides rental car users with information that is switched according to their needs regarding rental cars, and in particular, it switches the information provided according to the purpose of rental car use. Navigation device 1 switches the information provided depending on whether the rental car is for leisure use or business use.

[0226] The purpose of using the rental car is declared by the user to the rental car company when they apply for the rental. The rental car company's staff inputs information identifying the purpose of use declared by the user, and the navigation device 1 stores this information in the EEPROM of the control unit 18. As a result, the control unit 18 can refer to this information and determine whether the current user's purpose of use is for tourism or business.

[0227] When the purpose of using the rental car is for tourism, the control unit 18 has the function of selecting the tourism purpose table based on the identification information assigned to each table in the database 19, reading information on the names of multiple tourist destinations and tourist facilities from the tourism purpose table, and displaying the information on the names of the multiple tourist destinations and tourist facilities that it has read in a selectable manner on the display unit 5. When the purpose of using the rental car is for business, the control unit 18 has the function of selecting the business purpose table based on the identification information assigned to each table in the database 19, reading information on multiple company names from the business purpose table, and displaying the information on the multiple company names that it has read in a selectable manner on the display unit 5.

[0228] The system includes a function that allows the user to operate the touch panel 8 and select a tourist destination, tourist facility, or company name of interest from those displayed on the display unit 5. The control unit 18 has the function of storing the information selected by the user from the information indicating the names of tourist destinations, tourist facilities, or companies displayed on the display unit 5 in the control unit 18's EEPROM.

[0229] Next, the operation of the navigation function of the navigation device 1 will be explained. Here, the navigation function basically refers to the functions that a typical car navigation device has, such as displaying the route from the current location to the destination on the map displayed on the display unit 5. In addition to the above function, the navigation function includes various other functions such as a map display function that displays a map on the display unit 5, a voice route guidance function, an intersection enlargement display function, and a nearby facilities search function.

[0230] The control unit 18 detects the user's operation of the touch panel 8 and the selection of the start button to instruct the provision of the navigation function. The control unit 18 displays an input screen on the display unit 5 for inputting the rental car's departure point and destination. The rental car user inputs the departure point and destination by looking at the input screen displayed on the display unit 5 and operating the touch panel 8. The destination can be determined, for example, based on information such as tourist spots and tourist facilities displayed on the display unit 5 according to the user information. The control unit 18 calculates the route from the input departure point to the destination. The control unit 18 reads the map data stored in the database 19 and displays the map on the display unit 5, and displays the calculated route on the map displayed on the display unit 5.

[0231] In this embodiment, the navigation device 1 further has the following functions as a navigation function. After determining the above route, the control unit 18's CPU executes a program stored in the EEPROM and displays a button on the display unit 5 for selecting whether to display the rental car return location on the map. When the button displayed on the display unit 5 is selected, the control unit 18 reads the rental car company store information stored in the database 19 and displays it on the display unit 5 as selectable. The information indicating the store selected by the user from the rental car company store information displayed on the display unit 5 is stored in the EEPROM as the rental car return location, and an icon indicating the return location store is displayed on the map displayed on the display unit 5. Store location information can be obtained from the database 19.

[0232] Next, the operation of the return time notification function of the navigation device 1 will be explained. Here, the return time notification function is a function that notifies the user of the remaining time until the end of the rental car's usage period.

[0233] Before the navigation device 1 is rented out to a user, an employee at the rental car company's store sets the end-of-use time information on the navigation device 1, which specifies the planned time for the rental car to be used (hereinafter referred to as the end-of-use time). Here, the end-of-use time is the planned time for returning the rental car, which was rented out by paying a rental fee, and the time by which the user will be required to pay an additional fee if the rental car is not returned by that time. The control unit 18 displays a start button on the menu screen displayed on the display unit 5 to instruct the user to start the return time notification function. When the user selects this start button to instruct the user to start the return time notification function, the control unit 18 calculates the remaining time, which is the difference between the time indicated by the set end-of-use time information and the current time measured by the real-time clock function or the current time obtained from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12, and starts the process of notifying the user of the calculated remaining time.

[0234] Next, the operation of the contact notification function of the navigation device 1 will be explained. Here, the contact notification function is a function that notifies emergency contact information.

[0235] If you experience any problems with your rental car, you must contact the rental car company, explain the situation, and follow their instructions. This is because rental car companies always have car insurance or mutual aid coverage for their rental vehicles.

[0236] The navigation system 1 is pre-configured with emergency contact information, including the phone number of an emergency contact. This emergency contact information is typically set by an employee at a rental car company's branch. The emergency contact information includes, for example, the phone number of the branch where the rental car was rented.

[0237] {Actions taken while using a rental car} After the above settings are configured, the rental car user drives the rental car and departs from the rental car company's branch. Navigation device 1 operates to provide the rental car user with navigation functions, information provision functions, return time notification functions, fuel level recording functions, refueling notification functions, fare notification functions, contact information notification functions, and parking record functions while the rental car user is using the rental car. Each function is described in detail below.

[0238] First, we will explain the operation of the navigation function of the navigation device 1.

[0239] The control unit 18 provides a map display function that displays the current location as an icon on the route to the destination on the map displayed on the display unit 5, based on the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12.

[0240] Based on the information indicating the rental car return location, which is stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 18, the control unit 18 displays an icon indicating the rental car return location at the corresponding position on the map displayed on the display unit 5. This allows rental car users to recognize the rental car return location.

[0241] It is conceivable that rental car users may return their rented car at a designated location, then rent another car at a different location to continue to their destination. Specifically, for example, a rental car user traveling from Tokyo to Nagoya might drop off their rental car in Shizuoka, take a train to Hamamatsu, and then rent another car in Hamamatsu to continue to their destination, Nagoya. By enabling this type of rental car drop-off, it is possible to eliminate the waste that occurs when a rental car is left unused for an extended period while the user is staying overnight during their journey.

[0242] In this case, since the rental car user will be returning the car to a different location than where they picked it up, it is conceivable that they may not know where to return the rental car. In such cases, the rental car user can easily find the return location by looking at an icon indicating the rental car return location.

[0243] Next, we will explain the operation of the information provision function of the navigation device 1.

[0244] Navigation device 1 provides both navigation and information provision functions.

[0245] First, let's explain the case where the purpose of using the rental car is sightseeing. When the distance between the current location of the rental car and the location indicated by the location information associated with the information indicating the names of tourist destinations and tourist facilities registered in the sightseeing purpose table falls within a predetermined distance r1, the control unit 18 starts providing the information indicating the names of those tourist destinations and tourist facilities registered in the sightseeing purpose table, along with their sightseeing information. Then, when the distance between the current location of the rental car and the location indicated by the location information associated with the information indicating the names of tourist destinations or tourist facilities registered in the sightseeing purpose table falls within a predetermined distance r2 (r1>r2), the control unit 18 stops providing the sightseeing information.

[0246] This allows rental car users to receive tourist information from the navigation device 1, instead of the human tour guides they would receive when using services such as Hato Bus or Kobe City Loop Bus.

[0247] The predetermined distance r1 should be the estimated distance at which the user is about to visit the tourist destination or facility for which the distance from the rental car is to be measured, for example, about 1 km. The predetermined distance r2 should be the estimated distance at which the rental car equipped with the navigation device 1 has almost arrived at the target tourist destination or facility, for example, about 20 m.

[0248] Next, we will explain the case where the purpose of using the rental car is for business purposes. When the distance between the current location of the rental car and the location indicated by the location information associated with the company name information registered in the business purpose table falls within a predetermined distance r1, the control unit 18 starts providing the company name information and related company information registered in the business purpose table. Then, when the distance between the current location of the rental car and the location indicated by the location information associated with the company name information registered in the business purpose table falls within a predetermined distance r2 (r1>r2), the control unit 18 stops providing the company information.

[0249] The predetermined distance r1 should be the estimated distance at which the user is about to visit the company whose distance from the rental car is being measured, for example, about 1 km. The predetermined distance r2 should be the estimated distance at which the rental car equipped with the navigation device 1 has almost arrived at the target company, for example, about 20 m.

[0250] As described above, if the purpose of renting a car is for tourism, users can receive tourist information, etc., and if the purpose of renting a car is for business, users can receive company information, etc. In this way, users of rental cars can receive information from the navigation device 1 that is appropriate to the purpose of renting a car.

[0251] The tourist destinations and facilities that can be offered as candidates for providing tourist information may be limited to those selected by the user when renting a car using the touch panel 8. This allows for the exclusion of tourist destinations and facilities that are not of interest to the user, and provides tourist information for destinations and facilities that are of interest to the user.

[0252] Next, we will explain the operation of the return time notification function of the navigation device 1.

[0253] The control unit 18 displays information about the remaining time until the rental car's usage time ends on the display unit 5 for a predetermined period of time each time the rental car's engine is stopped and the accessory switch is turned off at a tourist spot or other location where the rental car is being used, and then the accessory switch is turned on again and the engine is started in order to move from that tourist spot or other location to the next destination. The predetermined period for displaying the remaining time on the display unit 5 should be sufficient time for the user to notice the remaining time displayed on the display unit 5 after starting the engine, for example, 10 seconds or more. Furthermore, the display of information about the remaining time should be stopped after it is presumed that the user would have noticed the remaining time displayed on the display unit 5, for example, 30 seconds.

[0254] This allows rental car users to plan their return to the rental car location by the end of the rental period, minimizing the need for unintended extensions of rental time due to missing the end of the rental period. Additionally, by displaying information indicating the remaining time until the end of the rental period for a predetermined period when the accessory switch is turned on, it avoids the annoyance of being notified of the remaining time until the end of the rental period more frequently than necessary.

[0255] If a rental car user exceeds the rental end time while using the rental car, they can receive the following services from Navigation System 1.

[0256] The control unit 18 stores identification information for the rental car to which the navigation device 1 is installed in its EEPROM. This rental car identification information is used to identify one specific rental car from among all the rental cars owned by the rental car company. When the current time, determined from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12 or the current time recorded by the real-time clock function, exceeds the usage end time stored in the EEPROM, the control unit 18 reads the character data to be notified when the usage end time has passed, which is pre-stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 18, and the rental car identification information stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 18. The control unit 18 then displays the characters of the read character data on the display unit 5 and the rental car identification information on the display unit 5. Specifically, the control unit 18 displays the message, "The return time has passed, please contact the ○○○ store," and the rental car identification information on the display unit 5. The rental car user sees the display on the display unit 5 and contacts the rental car company branch from which they rented the car by telephone or other means, informing them of their intention to extend the rental time, the extended time, and the rental car's identification information. Here, extended time refers to the time the rental car can be used beyond the initial rental period, which is based on the amount paid, on the condition that an additional fee is paid. The rental store that receives this notification manages the rented-out rental cars on its terminal, and by using the identification information received as a search key, it becomes easier to find information about that rental car on the terminal.

[0257] Upon receiving the above notification, the control unit 18 executes a program stored in the EEPROM using its CPU and displays a selection screen for selecting the extension time on the display unit 5. The rental car user sets the rental car extension time they contacted the rental car company to the navigation device 1. The control unit 18 acquires information regarding the extension time entered on the selection screen of the display unit 5. The control unit 18 calculates the time after the extension time indicated by the acquired information regarding the extension time from the current time obtained from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12 or the current time marked by the real-time clock function, and calculates the remaining time after the extension from the difference between the current time and the time after the calculated extension time has elapsed. Each time the accessory switch is turned on, the control unit 18 displays the information regarding the remaining time after the extension on the display unit 5 for the predetermined period of time described above.

[0258] This allows rental car users to easily choose to extend their rental time, making it easier for rental car companies to increase revenue from additional fees associated with extensions and thus improve their profitability. In addition, rental car companies can more easily receive notifications from users requesting extensions, allowing them to determine relatively early how many rental cars that were supposed to be returned within the initial rental period have not been returned.

[0259] Next, the operation of the fuel level recording function of the navigation device 1 will be explained. Here, the fuel level recording function is a function that records the amount of gasoline remaining in the gasoline tank of the rental car.

[0260] The vehicle includes an engine ECU, a body ECU, etc. The body ECU controls components such as door locks and hazard lamps. When the body ECU receives an instruction from the radar detector to turn on the hazard lamp, it turns on the hazard lamp. Controlling the vehicle's ECU to operate the vehicle in this way is called active control. In contrast, control that only receives information is called passive control. As active control, when the radar detector detects that a sudden brake has been applied, it instructs each ECU to perform emergency stop signal control to rapidly blink the hazard lamp, and control to automatically lock the doors when the vehicle speed reaches a certain value or higher. The navigation device 1 can also obtain the measurement result of the gasoline consumption in the gasoline tank of the rental car by communicating with such an ECU.

[0261] When the OBD connector 24 and an OBD connector (not shown) on the rental car side are connected, the control unit 18 obtains the measurement result of the gasoline consumption in the gasoline tank from the engine ECU installed in the rental car. The control unit 18 subtracts the gasoline consumption indicated by the measurement result obtained from the engine ECU from the amount of gasoline when the gasoline tank is full, which is pre-recorded in the EEPROM, to calculate the remaining amount of gasoline, and records the information regarding the calculated remaining amount of gasoline while overwriting the EEPROM. The overwriting record of the remaining amount of gasoline is executed by the control unit 18 at a predetermined cycle while the accessory switch is on.

[0262] Next, the operation of the fuel replenishment notification function of the navigation device 1 will be described. Here, the fuel replenishment notification function is a function that notifies that it is necessary to replenish gasoline.

[0263] Rental car users are required to return the rental car to the rental car company's store with a full tank of gasoline in the gasoline tank of the rental car. In this case, rental car users are often advised to refuel at a gas station designated by the rental car company. Also, rental car users may be obliged by the rental car company to submit the receipt obtained at the gas station last, or a full tank certificate with the stamp or signature of the gas station where the last refueling was done. If a rental car user returns the rental car without filling the gasoline tank to full, they must pay an adjustment fee calculated from the driving distance of the rental car. This adjustment fee is set higher than the fee when refueling gasoline by oneself at a gas station.

[0264] The control unit 18 compares the location information of the store, which is the return location of the rental car stored in the EEPROM, with the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12 at a predetermined cycle. When the distance from the current location to the return location of the rental car is at least a distance where there is a high possibility that there is at least one gas station (hereinafter referred to as the notification distance), for example, within 1 km, it starts providing the fuel replenishment notification function. The cycle for comparing the location information of the store and the current location information should be, for example, a time sufficiently shorter than the time required for the movement of the notification distance when driving at the legal speed. For example, the above comparison may be performed at a cycle of 1 / 10 or less of the time required for the movement of the notification distance when driving at 60 km / h.

[0265] The control unit 18 causes the display unit 5 to display and notify that it has approached the return location of the rental car. Further, the control unit 18 reads out the character data stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 18 that prompts refueling of gasoline, and causes the display unit 5 to display the characters of the read character data to notify to replenish gasoline and fill the gasoline tank to full. Specifically, the control unit 18 causes the display unit 5 to display that it has approached the return location of the rental car and the characters "Are you full?".

[0266] This allows rental car users to be aware of whether or not they need to refuel their car before returning it when they approach the rental car company's location. It also helps users avoid the inconvenience of being charged the adjustment fee for arriving at the return location without refueling, or having to backtrack to find a nearby gas station after arriving close to the return location.

[0267] When the distance from the current location to the rental car return location is less than 1 km, the control unit 18 displays a gas station icon on the map shown on the display unit 5 at the location of the gas station. In particular, the control unit 18 should determine a recommended route from the current location to the rental car return location, and if there is a gas station along this recommended route, it should display the icon corresponding to this gas station with greater emphasis than the icons corresponding to other gas stations.

[0268] This allows rental car users to see the locations of gas stations along the route from their current location to the rental car company's branch, minimizing the need to wander around looking for a gas station.

[0269] Next, we will explain the operation of the fare notification function of the navigation device 1. Here, the fare notification function is a function that notifies the user of the cost (gasoline cost) required to fill up the gas tank of the rental car before the tank is filled up.

[0270] The control unit 18 starts providing the fare notification function when the distance between the current location indicated by the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12 and the location information of the rental car return location store stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 18 becomes less than 1 km.

[0271] The control unit 18 pre-stores the price per standard amount of gasoline and the adjustment fee per standard mileage in its EEPROM. The control unit 18 communicates with the ECU installed in the rental car via an OBD connector 24 connected to an OBD connector (not shown) on the rental car side, and obtains the measurement result of the amount of gasoline consumed in the rental car's gasoline tank. The control unit 18 multiplies the amount of gasoline consumed shown in the obtained measurement result by the price per standard amount of gasoline to determine the cost of refueling that amount of gasoline. The control unit 18 multiplies the mileage traveled from the time the rental car was rented to the present by the adjustment fee per standard mileage to determine the adjustment fee corresponding to that mileage.

[0272] The mileage from the time the rental car was rented to the present can be calculated by subtracting the mileage at the time of rental from the current mileage of the rental car. The current mileage of the rental car can be obtained from the rental car's ECU via the OBD connector 24. The mileage at the time of rental can be obtained by the navigation system 1 from the rental car's ECU when the accessory switch is first turned on after the navigation system 1 is installed in the rental car. When renting out the rental car, the store staff may read the rental car's mileage and set it in the navigation system 1.

[0273] The control unit 18 displays the refueling fee and adjustment fee from the gas station side by side on the display unit 5. This allows rental car users to compare the refueling fee and adjustment fee from the gas station by looking at the display unit 5.

[0274] This allows rental car users to easily determine, based on the quoted price, whether they should refuel at a gas station and pay the rental fee, or pay an adjustment fee.

[0275] Next, the operation of the contact notification function of the navigation device 1 will be explained. Here, the contact notification function is a function that notifies emergency contacts.

[0276] If a rental car breaks down or is involved in an accident, the user may be so distressed that they cannot remember the phone number of the rental car company's branch, which is the emergency contact number. In this case, the rental car user will look at the selection screen displayed on the display unit 5 and operate the touch panel 8 to display the phone number of the rental car company's branch on the display unit 5.

[0277] For example, when an operation is performed to display information indicating the telephone number of a rental car company's branch, the control unit 18 reads the information indicating the telephone number of the rental car company's branch stored in the EEPROM and displays the read telephone number on the display unit 5.

[0278] This means that even if a rental car user is unable to remember the emergency contact number of the rental car company they rented from, or cannot find the paper with the emergency contact number, due to emotional distress or other reasons, in the event of an accident or breakdown of the rental car, they can still contact the emergency contact number.

[0279] Next, the operation of the parking recording function of the navigation device 1 will be explained. Here, the parking recording function is a function that records that the vehicle was parked in a no-parking zone.

[0280] Rental car companies want people to stop parking their cars in no-parking zones. This is because if a rental car company's user commits a parking violation while the car is rented out and fails to pay the fine, the rental car company is obligated to pay the fine on behalf of the user. While rental car companies could consider recovering the debt from the user after paying the fine, the effort involved in debt collection usually leads them to simply accept the loss. Here, a parking violation refers to parking a rental car in a no-parking zone for a specified period of time or longer in a state where it cannot be immediately driven.

[0281] According to the National Rent-a-Car Association, there were over 16,000 such parking violations recorded across the entire industry between June 2006 and May 2007. Of these, approximately 10,000 involved rental car users paying fines, and in 3,004 cases (about 18%), a "payment order" was ultimately sent to the rental car company. One rental car company paid as much as 15 million yen in fines over a year and a half.

[0282] The control unit 18, when the location indicated by the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12 is within a no-parking area identified by the no-parking area information stored in the database 19, measures the time the vehicle has been continuously parked within that no-parking area using the current time determined based on the time information input from the GPS receiver 12, or the current time kept by the real-time clock function. Specifically, the control unit 18 records in the EEPROM information indicating that the rental car's current location is within a no-parking area and the elapsed time from the time parking began to the time driving began. The time parking began can be determined, for example, by the time the vehicle's switch was turned off. The time driving began can be determined by the time the vehicle's speed exceeded zero.

[0283] In addition, when the control unit 18 determines that the current position of the rental car is within a parking prohibited area specified by the information indicating the parking prohibited area recorded in the database 19 and parking has started, it causes an alarm to be issued from the speaker 20.

[0284] {Operations at the rental car company's store when returning the rental car} When the user of the rental car returns to the store of the rental car company, which is the return location of the rental car, the user stops the engine of the rental car and turns off the accessory switch. As a result, the power supply from the in-vehicle battery mounted on the rental car to the navigation device 1 stops. The store clerk removes the navigation device 1 from the cradle 3 and takes it into the store. The navigation device 1 is activated by receiving power supply from the power source within the store of the rental car company and performs the following operations regarding the information providing function, fuel replenishment notification function, fuel remaining amount recording function, and parking recording function.

[0285] First, the operation regarding the information providing function of the navigation device 1 will be described.

[0286] The CPU of the control unit 18 executes the program stored in the EEPROM and causes the display unit 5 to display a button for erasing the information on tourist spots, tourist facilities, and company names recorded in the EEPROM. When the above button displayed on the display unit 5 is selected, a process for erasing the information indicating tourist spots, tourist facilities, and company names is performed. Thereby, the user of the rental car can prevent the above information from being known to a third party without the user's knowledge. In particular, when the above information is personal information, the user of the rental car can prevent his / her personal information from being known to a third party without the user's knowledge.

[0287] Next, the operation regarding the fuel remaining amount recording function of the navigation device 1 will be described.

[0288] The control unit 18 transmits information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline, which is recorded in the EEPROM, to a terminal in the store via the wireless transceiver 13. The terminal in the store displays the information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline transmitted from the control unit 18 on its display.

[0289] Rental car company staff can determine whether a rental car is full of gas upon return without having to look at the fuel gauge, by referring to the fuel level information displayed on the terminal's screen. If the rental car is not full of gas, the staff will charge the rental car user an adjustment fee calculated based on the mileage driven.

[0290] Next, we will explain the operation of the parking recording function of the navigation device 1.

[0291] The control unit 18 transmits information recorded in the EEPROM indicating the duration of continuous parking in a no-parking zone to the store's terminal. The store's terminal displays the information indicating the duration of continuous parking in a no-parking zone on its display.

[0292] This allows rental car company staff to determine the likelihood of a rental car user committing a parking violation based on the length of time the vehicle was continuously parked in a no-parking zone, as displayed on the terminal screen at the store. Specifically, rental car company staff can determine that the longer the time the vehicle was parked in a no-parking zone, the higher the likelihood of a parking violation, and then only ask rental car users who are highly likely to have committed a parking violation whether or not they have done so. In this way, rental car company staff only need to ask rental car users who are highly likely to have committed a parking violation whether or not they have done so, which reduces the burden on them compared to asking all rental car users.

[0293] [First Modification of the First Embodiment] In the first modification of the first embodiment, the navigation device 1 takes into account the rental car usage time when providing information provision and navigation functions.

[0294] The control unit 18 calculates the distance from the rental car's current location to the location of the tourist destination, tourist facility, or company selected by the information provision function. Based on the calculated distance and the standard vehicle speed pre-stored in the control unit 18's EEPROM, the control unit 18 calculates the time required to travel round trip from the current location to that tourist destination, tourist facility, or company.

[0295] If the control unit 18 adds the calculated required time to the current time obtained from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12 or the current time marked by the real-time clock function, and the time does not exceed the time indicated by the end-of-use information provided by the return time notification function, it displays a sightseeing route around the tourist destination or tourist facility on the display unit 5, thereby providing information and navigation functions. If the control unit 18 adds the calculated required time to the current time obtained from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12 or the current time marked by the real-time clock function, and the time exceeds the time indicated by the end-of-use information recorded in the EEPROM, it displays on the display unit 5 that the user will not be able to return within the usage time. If the control unit 18 is not set to provide the return time notification function, it stores the rental car end-of-use information in the EEPROM of the control unit 18 in the same operation as storing the end-of-use information by the return time notification function.

[0296] This allows rental car users to receive from the navigation system 1 a list of sightseeing routes they can visit within the rental period. Furthermore, since rental car users will not receive from the navigation system 1 a list of sightseeing routes they cannot visit within the rental period, it is possible to minimize the chances of them traveling to distant tourist destinations or facilities that they cannot return to within the rental period, thus reducing the need to unintentionally extend the rental period.

[0297] [Second variation of the first embodiment] The navigation device 1 according to a second modification of the first embodiment provides information that identifies coupons that offer predetermined benefits.

[0298] Database 19 includes a table (hereinafter referred to as the "coupon selection table") that stores the names of tourist destinations or tourist facilities, information identifying coupons that can be used at those destinations or tourist facilities, and location information indicating the location of those destinations or tourist facilities. When providing tourist information through the information provision function, the control unit 18 refers to the coupon selection table to determine whether information identifying coupons is associated with the name of the tourist destination or tourist facility for which the tourist information is provided. If information identifying coupons is associated with the name of the tourist destination or tourist facility for which the tourist information is provided, the display unit 5 displays the information identifying coupons associated with that tourist destination or tourist facility along with the tourist information. The information identifying coupons includes information such as the name of the facility where the coupon can be used, the details of the discount, and the expiration date. Rental car users can look at the information identifying coupons displayed on the display unit 5 and find coupons from their collection that can be used at the tourist destination or tourist facility for which the tourist information is provided.

[0299] When the distance between the rental car's current location and the tourist destination or facility falls below the predetermined distance r1 mentioned above, information identifying the coupon is displayed on the display unit 5. This minimizes the situation where coupons likely to be used soon get buried among coupons unlikely to be used for the time being, making it impossible to find coupons that are likely to be used soon.

[0300] Rental car users compare the coupon identification information displayed on the display unit 5 with the coupons they possess. Based on the coupon identification information provided by the navigation device 1, rental car users can then identify a coupon that is usable near their current location from among their possessions. This allows rental car users to enjoy benefits such as dining at restaurants at a discounted price from the regular price, or entering tourist attractions or facilities at a discounted price from the regular admission fee.

[0301] If a user does not have a coupon, the navigation system 1 may transmit information identifying the coupon provided by the rental car user to the user's mobile device via short-range wireless communication. Based on this information, the coupon will be displayed on the user's mobile device, allowing the coupon displayed on the mobile device to be used in the same way as a paper coupon. The user can then receive a discount by holding the mobile device displaying the coupon over a reader installed at the facility's entrance gate, or by showing the mobile device to a facility staff member.

[0302] In various regions, there are examples of integrated services being provided within the framework of railway companies, tourism associations, or local governments such as prefectures. It would be desirable for rental car companies to also be included in this framework. Specifically, a service that combines railway travel and rental cars, or a service that includes tourist information and coupons for tourist destinations or facilities, would be offered to those who use rental cars for leisure.

[0303] The above package can be marketed to rental car users as a single product offering. For example, it can be marketed to rental car users as an "Odaiba package" that includes train travel, rental cars, tourist information, and coupons in the Odaiba area. This would help promote tourism and showcase a variety of ways to enjoy rental cars.

[0304] [Third Modification of the First Embodiment] In the third modification of the first embodiment, the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1, when providing the navigation function, displays a sightseeing course on the display unit 5 that includes the sightseeing destination or facility when the rental car approaches the sightseeing destination or facility.

[0305] Specifically, the control unit 18 reads information representing the names of tourist destinations or tourist facilities from the tourist destination table when the distance calculated from the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12 and the location information associated with the names of tourist destinations or tourist facilities in the tourist destination table is 1 km or less. The control unit 18 then determines a tourist course that visits the tourist destinations or tourist facilities corresponding to the read information in order. The control unit 18 executes a program stored in the EEPROM by the CPU and displays a button on the display unit 5 to select the start of the guidance for the determined tourist course. When the user operates the touch panel 8 and selects this button, the control unit 18 displays the determined tourist course on the map displayed on the display unit 5.

[0306] As a result, rental car users can receive sightseeing routes from the navigation device 1 without having to set a destination themselves, allowing them to visit tourist spots or facilities they were previously unaware of.

[0307] [Fourth Modification of the First Embodiment] In the first embodiment, a rental car was used as the vehicle for use by an unspecified number of people. However, in the fourth modification of the first embodiment, a rental bicycle is used as the vehicle for use by an unspecified number of people. Rental bicycles are convenient for short-distance travel.

[0308] Typically, rental bicycles do not have a power source to supply power to the navigation device 1. It is preferable that the navigation device 1 rented out with the rental bicycle has a built-in battery. In order to make a navigation device 1 without a built-in battery usable with a rental bicycle, it is advisable to rent out an external mobile battery along with the navigation device 1.

[0309] When not in use, the rental bicycles are locked with a short-range wireless communication-enabled lock. A portable terminal with similar functionality to navigation device 1 receives and stores a four-digit unlocking code sent to an email address that the portable terminal can receive emails from. The lock is unlocked when the portable terminal, which has the stored unlocking code, is held over the lock. This makes the rental bicycle available for use. The email address for receiving the unlocking code is registered in advance with the rental bicycle management company using the World Wide Web.

[0310] Mobile devices used with such rental bicycles can provide navigation functionality when unspecified individuals renting bicycles are unaware of the location of areas where bicycle parking is prohibited or the cycle ports where bicycles are rented and retrieved.

[0311] This allows mobile device users to receive information about the locations of no-parking zones for bicycles or cycle ports via their mobile devices. Furthermore, by receiving this information, mobile device users can return rental bicycles that need to be returned within a short timeframe.

[0312] [Fifth Modification of the First Embodiment] In the fifth modification of the first embodiment, a paper document such as a travel magazine is linked to a mobile terminal having the same functions as the navigation device 1. By scanning the QR code printed in the travel magazine with the mobile terminal, only the necessary pages of the travel magazine can be downloaded to the mobile terminal. Such a mobile terminal can be used by rental car users when using the rental car.

[0313] Paper travel magazines and similar publications are bulky and inconvenient to carry around. Users of a mobile terminal with the same functions as navigation device 1 can obtain information about tourist destinations or facilities from their mobile terminal without having to look at paper travel magazines, thus eliminating the hassle of carrying around paper travel magazines.

[0314] [Sixth Modification of the First Embodiment] In the sixth modification of the first embodiment, a portable handheld terminal having the same functions as the navigation device 1 provides navigation by displaying the route from the exit of a train station to a tourist destination or facility where the coupon can be used. This handheld terminal is useful when the direction from the exit of a train station to a tourist destination or facility where the coupon can be used is unknown.

[0315] Specifically, database 19 includes a table (hereinafter referred to as the "information table") that stores information relating to railway stations, information about the names of tourist destinations or tourist facilities, information identifying coupons that can be used at those tourist destinations or tourist facilities, location information indicating the location of those tourist destinations or tourist facilities, benefit information indicating whether the use of the coupon will result in free entry or a discount, price information indicating the regular fare without the coupon and the discount amount when the coupon is used, and image information such as pictures or photographs showing the exterior of those tourist destinations or tourist facilities.

[0316] The CPU of the control unit 18 executes a program stored in the EEPROM and displays an input screen on the display unit 5 for entering the station name and the name of the tourist destination or tourist facility. When the user enters the station name and the name of the tourist destination or tourist facility by looking at the input screen displayed on the display unit 5, the control unit 18 determines the entered names and calculates a route from that station to the tourist destination or tourist facility via the exit closest to that station. The control unit 18 then displays the calculated route on the map displayed on the display unit 5, providing a navigation function. The displayed route includes identification information that specifies one of the station's multiple exits.

[0317] The control unit 18 displays information and image information that identifies the coupon associated with the name of a tourist destination or tourist facility on the information table on the display unit 5, and also displays benefit information and amount information that are associated with the coupon identifying information on the information table on the display unit 5.

[0318] As a result, users of mobile devices with functions similar to Navigation Device 1 can receive navigation services from their mobile devices to guide them on the route from the train station exit to a tourist destination or tourist facility. In addition, by receiving image information, users of these mobile devices can visually confirm their destination tourist destination or tourist facility. Furthermore, by receiving information on special offers, users of these mobile devices can find out before using a coupon whether it will be free or discounted at that tourist destination or tourist facility. In addition, by receiving information on monetary value, users of these mobile devices can determine how much of a financial benefit they will receive by using a coupon compared to not using one.

[0319] [Other variations of the first embodiment] In the first embodiment, when the control unit 18 provides a parking record function while the rental car is in use, it records information indicating the time the car is continuously parked in a no-parking zone in the EEPROM. However, it is also possible to record time information indicating the time when the current location, indicated by the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12, moves from outside the no-parking zone to inside the no-parking zone (hereinafter referred to as "entry time information"), and time information indicating the time when the current location, indicated by the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12, moves from inside the no-parking zone to outside the no-parking zone (hereinafter referred to as "exit time information") in the EEPROM. When the rental car returns to the store, the employee of the rental car company transfers the entry time information and exit time information from the navigation device 1 to the store's terminal and displays them on the terminal's display.

[0320] The staff at the rental car company's branch refer to the entry time information and exit time information displayed on the terminal to calculate the time between the entry time information and the exit time information. The longer the calculated time, the higher the likelihood of a parking violation. Therefore, the staff can only ask rental car users who are deemed likely to have committed a parking violation whether or not they committed a parking violation. This reduces the processing load on the control unit 18 compared to recording the time spent continuously parked in a no-parking zone, thus mitigating the decrease in processing speed of the navigation function of the navigation device 1 during the period when the parking recording function is provided by the navigation device 1.

[0321] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when providing the parking record function during rental car use, information indicating the duration of continuous parking in a no-parking zone was recorded. However, as information indicating whether or not the car was parked in a no-parking zone, a 1-bit data indicating whether or not it was parked may be recorded in the parking record area of ​​the contactless IC card. When the rental car returns to the store, the employee of the rental car company store holds the contactless IC card with the parking data recorded on it over the terminal at the rental car company store, transferring the data from the contactless IC card to the terminal and displaying information regarding whether or not the car was parked in a no-parking zone on the terminal's display. The employee of the rental car company store can refer to the information regarding whether or not the car was parked in a no-parking zone displayed on the terminal's display to determine whether or not it was parked in a no-parking zone, and can therefore only ask rental car users who parked in a no-parking zone whether or not they committed a parking violation. The data length of the data indicating whether or not it was parked can be shorter than the data length of the data indicating the parking time, thus reducing the time required to record to the contactless IC card.

[0322] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the information provision function provided company information when the purpose of renting a car was for business purposes, but it is also possible to provide only a general navigation function. This eliminates the need to store a business purpose table, thus reducing the capacity of the database 19.

[0323] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, various information was provided by displaying it on the display unit 5 for the information provision function, return time notification function, fuel replenishment notification function, fare notification function, and contact information notification function. However, various information may also be provided by voice or sound from the speaker 20. This allows rental car users to receive each function without looking at the display unit 5, and in particular, to concentrate on driving while driving the rental car.

[0324] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the return time notification function and the fuel replenishment notification function provided various information by displaying it on the display unit 5, but the lamp 6 may also be illuminated or flashed to provide various information. This allows rental car users to receive each function without looking at the display unit 5, and in particular, to concentrate on driving while driving the rental car.

[0325] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when providing the information provision function, the navigation device 1 provided tourist information or company information by acquiring information on the names of tourist destinations, tourist facilities, or companies. However, if the user of the rental car and the person traveling with them using the rental car are family members, lovers, or friends of the user, the navigation device 1 may acquire information indicating the relationship between the user and their companion, and provide information for family, lovers, or friends.

[0326] Specifically, database 19 includes a table (hereinafter referred to as the "type table") that stores type information indicating the type of relationship between the rental car user and the person they are traveling with using the rental car, such as family, lover, and friend; tourist information for tourist destinations or tourist facilities, or company information for companies, in association with location information indicating the location of those tourist destinations, tourist facilities, or companies. In the type table, tourist information for tourist destinations or tourist facilities suitable for visiting with family, such as amusement parks, is associated with type information for family; tourist information for tourist destinations or tourist facilities suitable for visiting with a lover, such as date spots, is associated with type information for friend.

[0327] The rental type information should be declared by the user when applying for a rental car. The rental car company's staff should set the rental type information in the navigation device 1 based on the user's declaration. When applying for a rental car using an internet website or a terminal installed at the store, the rental type information may be transferred from a server that manages rental car application status to the navigation device 1.

[0328] Alternatively, the control unit 18 may display a category information input button on the menu screen displayed on the display unit 5. When the user selects the category information input button displayed on the menu screen, the control unit 18 displays a dialog box on the display unit 5 prompting the user to input category information. Once the user has entered the category information, the control unit 18 stores the entered category information in the EEPROM.

[0329] The procedures at the rental car company's branch during rental and return are the same as when providing information using the tourism purpose table and business purpose table, so we will omit the explanation.

[0330] This allows rental car users to receive information from the navigation system 1 for family, partners, or friends who are traveling with them using the rental car.

[0331] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when providing information, the navigation device 1 provided tourist information or company information based on the vehicle's current location information and the location information of tourist spots, tourist facilities, or companies. However, it may also provide tourist information or company information based on information indicating the destination of the rental car. Examples of information indicating the destination include the location information of the destination, the name of the tourist spot, tourist facility, or company that is the destination. This allows rental car users to receive information from the navigation device 1 that is appropriate to their rental car's destination.

[0332] When the purpose of using a rental car is for sightseeing, for example, after the navigation device 1 starts its navigation function, if the user operates the touch panel 8 to input information indicating the destination, the control unit 18 can obtain sightseeing information from the sightseeing purpose table based on the information indicating the destination.

[0333] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when providing the return time notification function, the remaining time until the end of rental car use was notified each time the accessory switch was turned on and power supply from the vehicle battery began. However, if the rental car is rented for, for example, 6 hours, the remaining time may be notified each time there are 3 hours, 1 hour, and 30 minutes remaining until the end of rental car use.

[0334] For example, while using the rental car, the control unit 18 notifies the remaining time until the rental car's end time whenever the difference between the end time indicated by the information about the end time of use recorded in the EEPROM of the control unit 18 and the current time obtained from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12 or the current time marked by the real-time clock function reaches 3 hours, 1 hour, and 30 minutes.

[0335] This allows rental car users to be more aware of the remaining time as it gets shorter.

[0336] Alternatively, the system could be configured to start notifying users when the remaining time is less than one hour. This would allow rental car users to use the rental car without being aware of the remaining time when there is still plenty of time left.

[0337] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when providing the fuel refueling notification function, icons indicating gas stations located along the route from the current location to the rental car return location were overlaid on the map. However, when displaying this information, icons indicating gas stations located within a circular area with a radius of 1 km centered on the current location may also be overlaid on the map.

[0338] Specifically, the control unit 18 compares the location information of the rental car return location with the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12 at predetermined intervals. When the distance from the current location to the rental car return location becomes less than 1 km, the control unit 18 reads information on gas stations included in a circular area with a radius of 1 km centered on the current location, as indicated by the current location information, from the map data. The control unit 18 displays an icon indicating the gas station at the location of the gas station on the map displayed on the display unit 5.

[0339] This allows vehicle users to see which gas stations are located within a 1km radius circle centered on their current location when they approach a rental car store.

[0340] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, rental cars were used as vehicles used by unspecified persons, but vehicles used for car sharing may also be used. If the vehicles used by unspecified persons are vehicles used for car sharing, the vehicle return location is a coin parking lot. In addition to rental cars and vehicles used for car sharing, private cars used by people other than family members, and company cars used by people other than employees may also be used as vehicles used by unspecified persons. The navigation device 1 attached to the vehicle used by unspecified persons may acquire information about the user based on information stored in the IC chip embedded in the driver's license.

[0341] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the rental car company's branch was notified as the emergency contact, but the affiliated branch of the rental car company may also be notified as the emergency contact. Specifically, the database 19 stores information indicating the telephone number of an affiliated branch of the rental car company where the rental car was rented, along with location information. The control unit 18 identifies the nearest affiliated branch from the rental car's current location and displays the telephone number of the identified affiliated branch as the emergency contact on the display unit 5. This allows rental car users to contact the nearest affiliated branch even if they experience trouble with their rental car far from the rental car company.

[0342] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the navigation device 1 was detachably attached to the cradle 3, but the navigation device 1 may be attached to the cradle 3 in a way that makes it impossible or difficult to remove from the cradle 3. Moreover, the navigation device 1 may be implemented by installing (including pre-installation) a predetermined application program on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. The application program may have a navigation function itself, or it may access a server on which a system for performing navigation is implemented and use that system. This specification discloses inventions of various types of such navigation systems.

[0343] Additionally, when users download necessary pages from travel magazines to their mobile devices, they could also be made able to download coupons in electronic data format.

[0344] Furthermore, vehicles used by unspecified individuals may be electric single-seater vehicles. This allows users of such vehicles to receive information from the navigation device 1 that is appropriate to the purpose of using the vehicle.

[0345] Furthermore, rental car users can have the electronic coupon information transferred from the server to their contactless IC card by holding their contactless IC card over a short-range wireless communication device on a rental car company terminal connected to a server that stores the electronic coupon information. Rental car users can then receive the specified benefits by holding the contactless IC card, which has the coupon information stored on it, over a short-range wireless communication device on a terminal installed at a tourist destination or facility where the coupon can be used.

[0346] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the rental car was a vehicle that runs on gasoline, but it may also be a vehicle that runs on electricity stored in an on-board battery, such as a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV) or an electric vehicle (EV). In this case, when the navigation device 1 provides the refueling notification function, it displays and notifies the location of a charging station for charging the on-board battery on the map.

[0347] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when providing the fuel refueling notification function, a notification prompting the user to refuel was given when the distance between the current location and the rental car company's store, which is the rental car return location, was within 1 km. However, in addition to this condition, a notification prompting the user to refuel may also be given when the amount of gasoline in the fuel tank has decreased to the level where refueling is necessary. Here, the condition that the amount of gasoline in the fuel tank has decreased to the level where refueling is necessary can be defined as when the needle on the rental car's fuel gauge has fallen even slightly below the level indicating a full tank. This allows the vehicle user to refuel the rental car's fuel tank without having to decide whether or not it is necessary to refuel.

[0348] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the navigation device 1 provided both a navigation function and an information provision function. However, the navigation function and the information provision function may be provided separately by making the destination set for receiving the navigation function and the tourist destination or tourist facility set for receiving the information provision function different.

[0349] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the fuel replenishment notification function and the fare notification function were initiated when the distance between the rental car's current location and the return location became 1 km or less. However, the distance between the rental car's current location and the return location required to initiate the fuel replenishment notification function and the fare notification function can be set arbitrarily.

[0350] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, user information, including the purpose of using the rental car, was entered into the navigation device 1 without the user having to manually input or perform any other operations. However, the rental car user may also operate the touch panel 8 to input information indicating the purpose of using the rental car. For example, the control unit 18 may display multiple user information options on the display unit 5, allowing the user to select from the displayed user information.

[0351] In the first embodiment, a navigation device 1 installed and used inside a vehicle was described, but the navigation device 1 may also be detached from the cradle 3 and used as a portable navigation device (PND). The navigation device 1 that can be used as a PND has a built-in battery, and when the navigation device 1 is used outside the vehicle, the navigation device 1 receives power from the built-in battery.

[0352] In the first embodiment, the rental car company's staff set the end time of rental car use on the navigation device 1, but the navigation device 1 may also be configured to allow the rental car user to set the end time information. For example, when the start button for instructing the start of the return time notification function displayed on the menu screen shown on the display unit 5 is selected, the control unit 18 displays a reception screen on the display unit 5 that accepts input of the end time of rental car use. When the user operates the touch panel 8 and inputs the end time information, the control unit 18 stores the input end time information.

[0353] In the first embodiment, emergency contact information was pre-configured in the navigation device 1, but the user of the rental car may set the emergency contact information in the navigation device 1. For example, the menu screen displayed on the display unit 5 by the control unit 18 may include a start button for setting emergency contact information. When the user selects this start button, the control unit 18 displays a reception screen on the display unit 5 that accepts input of emergency contact information. The user of the rental car enters information indicating the telephone number of the rental car company branch where they rented the car as an emergency contact into the navigation device 1. The control unit 18 stores the information indicating the telephone number of the rental car company branch that was entered into the reception screen on the display unit 5. For example, the user can enter the telephone number of the rental car company branch while being told by an employee of the rental car company branch.

[0354] In the first embodiment, various types of information, such as information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline, were directly transmitted and received between the navigation device 1 and the store terminal. However, information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline may also be transmitted and received via a contactless IC card. For example, a contactless IC card may be brought close to the wireless transceiver 13 of the navigation device 1 to transfer data from the navigation device 1 to the contactless IC card, and then the contactless IC card may be held over a reader on a terminal installed in the store to transfer information indicating the remaining amount of gasoline from the contactless IC card to the store terminal.

[0355] [Second Example] <Drive recorder configuration> The configuration of the drive recorder 2 as an electronic device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figure 3.

[0356] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the drive recorder 2 according to the second embodiment. In Figure 3, parts that are identical to those in Figure 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0357] Drive recorder 2 is configured to be installed in a rental car, as described below, and will be used by an unspecified person using the rental car when they use that rental car.

[0358] As shown in Figure 3, the drive recorder 2 includes a lamp 6, a microwave receiver 11, a GPS receiver 12, a wireless transceiver 13, a camera 17, a speaker 20, a memory card reader 21, a control unit 50, a display unit 52, an input unit 53, an acceleration sensor 54, and a database 60.

[0359] Camera 17 is incorporated into the housing of the drive recorder 2 in a position and orientation that allows it to capture the area in front of the rental car when the drive recorder 2 is installed in the rental car. Camera 17 captures video of the area in front of the rental car according to the control unit 50 and outputs the captured video data to the control unit 50.

[0360] The control unit 50 is composed of a microcontroller equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, and I / O interfaces. The control unit 50 performs processing to provide a driving history recording function, etc., by having the CPU execute a program stored in the EEPROM. Here, the driving history recording function is a function that records the driving history of a rental car in a readable format, associated with the identification information of the rental car user. The identification information of the rental car user is information assigned to each user when the rental car is rented out, and is a combination of multiple letters, a combination of multiple numbers, or a combination of letters and numbers.

[0361] The control unit 50 records video data captured by the camera 17 onto the memory card 22 via the memory card reader 21, based on the acceleration detection value input from the acceleration sensor 54, the comparison result between the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12 and the location information of places requiring attention (places requiring attention) stored in the database 60, or the detection result input from the microwave receiver 11.

[0362] For example, based on the acceleration detection value input from the acceleration sensor 54, the system detects the occurrence of events such as accidents, sudden acceleration, sudden stops, and sudden turns. When the control unit 50 determines that these events have occurred, it records video data captured by the camera 17 during a predetermined period before and after the event occurred onto the memory card 22. This predetermined period should be a period during which it is estimated that useful video footage for analyzing the cause of accidents, etc., is available. For example, it should be the period from one minute before to one minute after the event occurred.

[0363] For example, video data captured by camera 17 can be recorded on memory card 22 during periods when the distance from the vehicle's current location to a location requiring attention is less than or equal to a predetermined distance. This predetermined distance can be, for example, 500m, which is sufficient to confirm how the vehicle drove through the location requiring attention. Locations requiring attention can be, for example, locations where fixed automatic speed enforcement devices are installed, or locations where speeding violations, stop sign violations, etc., are frequently enforced.

[0364] For example, based on the strength of the radio waves input from the microwave receiver 11, video data captured by the camera 17 during a predetermined period before and after the time when it is determined that microwaves from a speed enforcement device have been received can be recorded on the memory card 22. This predetermined period can be, for example, a sufficient period to confirm how the vehicle was driving at the time the microwaves from the speed enforcement device were received, such as the period from 30 seconds before to 30 seconds after the time the microwaves from the speed enforcement device were received.

[0365] When the distance calculated from the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12 and the location information of the area requiring attention recorded in the database 60 falls below 500m, the control unit 50 issues an alarm by flashing or lighting the lamp 6, or by outputting an audio signal from the speaker 20.

[0366] When a switching signal for switching the screen is input from the input unit 53, the control unit 50 switches between the process of displaying the current video being captured by the camera 17 on the display unit 5 and the process of reading the video of the driving history previously captured by the camera 17 recorded on the memory card 22 and displaying it on the display unit 5.

[0367] The display unit 52 is located on the front of the drive recorder 2 (the side facing the rear of the vehicle (driver side)). The display unit 52 displays the current video being captured by the camera 17 or past driving history video recorded on the memory card 22, according to the control unit 50.

[0368] The input unit 53 detects an input operation to switch between the current video being captured by the camera 17 and the video of the driving history previously captured by the camera 17 recorded on the memory card 22, and outputs a switching signal to the control unit 50. For example, a push button can be used for the input unit 53. The input operation to switch the video can be performed, for example, by the user pressing a push button. It is preferable to provide separate push buttons for each function.

[0369] The acceleration sensor 54 detects the acceleration applied to the drive recorder 2 and outputs the detected value to the control unit 50. The acceleration applied to the drive recorder 2 is a value that reflects the acceleration applied to the vehicle on which the drive recorder 2 is installed.

[0370] The database 60 is constructed using an EEPROM externally connected to the control unit 50. The database 60 stores location information indicating the location of places that require attention.

[0371] <How the dashcam works> The operation of the drive recorder 2 according to the second embodiment will be described below.

[0372] {Actions taken at a rental car company's branch when renting a car} Dashcam 2 is installed in rental cars managed by rental car company branches.

[0373] The staff at the rental car company's branch will provide the customer who has applied for the rental car with a rental car equipped with Drive Recorder 2. The rental car customer will receive instructions from the rental car company's branch staff on how to operate the rental car, as well as instructions on how to set up Drive Recorder 2 in order to receive the driving history recording function from Drive Recorder 2.

[0374] The drive recorder 2 is connected to the vehicle's battery, and power is supplied to the drive recorder 2 from the vehicle's battery when the accessory switch is turned on. The control unit 50 starts up when power is supplied from the vehicle's battery, and the CPU of the control unit 50 executes a program stored in the EEPROM, displaying a menu screen on the display unit 5. This menu screen displays a start button for starting the driving history recording function. When the user views the menu screen and performs the operation to start the driving history recording function, the control unit 50 starts the operation to provide the driving history recording function. The operation to start the driving history recording function can be performed, for example, by the user pressing a push button.

[0375] The rental car company assigns identification information to rental car users for user management purposes. The rental car company's staff records the identification information for the rented vehicle and the user's identification information onto a memory card 22, and inserts the memory card 22 into the drive recorder 2 installed in the rental car.

[0376] The control unit 50 reads vehicle identification information and user identification information from the memory card 22 and records them in the EEPROM. This allows the control unit 50 to record the identification information and driving history in association with each other on the memory card 22.

[0377] A contactless IC card may be used to set vehicle identification information and user identification information in the drive recorder 2. For example, a store employee may record vehicle identification information and user identification information on a contactless IC card, and when the contactless IC card is brought close to the wireless transceiver 13 of the drive recorder 2, the control unit 50 may read the vehicle identification information and user identification information from the contactless IC card.

[0378] {Actions taken while using a rental car} Drive Recorder 2 provides a function to record driving history for rental car users while they are using the rental car.

[0379] When the acceleration detection value input from the acceleration sensor 54 exceeds a predetermined value, when the distance from the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12 to the location information of a place to warn recorded in the database 60 becomes 500m or less, or when the microwave receiver 11 receives a detection result indicating the reception of radio waves of a predetermined frequency, the control unit 50 associates the video data of the video captured by the camera 17, the identification information of the rental car user input from the wireless transceiver 13, the current time obtained from the time information input from the GPS receiver 12 or the time information of the current time kept by the real-time clock function, and the current location information input from the GPS receiver 12, and records them on the memory card 22 via the memory card reader 21.

[0380] {Actions taken at the rental car company's branch when returning a rental car} The drive recorder 2 terminates its driving history recording function when the rental car returns to the rental car company's store, which is the return location. For example, when a store employee presses a button on the drive recorder 2, the control unit 50 terminates the processing of the driving history recording function. When the rental car returns to the store, the store employee removes the memory card 22 from the drive recorder 2 and takes it into the store. Then, the employee inserts the memory card 22 into the memory card reader of the rental car company's store terminal and transfers the identification information, driving history, time information, and current location information recorded on the memory card 22 to the store terminal. The store terminal associates the identification information, driving history, time information, and current location information transferred from the memory card 22 with the rental car user and records them, for example, in a folder or file for each user.

[0381] When a rental car company employee views the driving history recorded on the terminal, they use the identification information associated with the driving history they wish to view to search for the file or folder containing that history. The rental car company's terminal then displays the driving history recorded in the folder or file found through the search on the terminal's display.

[0382] This makes it relatively easy for anyone viewing a vehicle's driving history to find it, as they can simply use the identification information associated with the desired driving history on the rental car company's terminal to locate it.

[0383] For example, if a returned vehicle is found to have new damage that was not present before it was rented out, the vehicle manager may be able to find the cause of the damage by reviewing the vehicle's driving history. Also, if the rental car company receives notification from the police after a vehicle has been returned that there was a violation of the Road Traffic Act, the rental car company's staff can check whether a violation occurred by reviewing the driving history of the vehicle in question.

[0384] The driving history of the rental car recorded on memory card 22 by the drive recorder 2 installed in the rental car contains the user's personal information. The driving history of each rental car user recorded on memory card 22 must not be viewable by third parties unless permitted by the rental car user. The driving history recorded on memory card 22 must not be viewable even by employees of the rental car company unless permitted by the rental car user.

[0385] When assigning the above identification information, which is associated with the driving history, to rental car users, if the rental car company is kept unaware of this identification information, at least a portion of the identification information can be used as a key when searching the driving history. To keep the rental car company unaware of the identification information, rental car users can set their own identification information without the rental car company seeing it. Rental car users enter the identification information they set themselves as an encryption key for the folder or file where their driving history is recorded into the rental car company's terminal, and the folder or file is encrypted. Anyone who wants to view their driving history can enter their own identification information, which they used as the encryption key, into the rental car company's terminal, and their driving history will be displayed on that terminal. In this way, the identification information is used as a key when viewing the driving history.

[0386] This allows rental car users to prevent their driving history from being viewed by third parties without their knowledge.

[0387] In the second embodiment, the driving history recording function records the driving history to the rental car company's terminal via a memory card. However, when the rental car approaches the store, the driving history may be transmitted to the rental car company's terminal via a wireless transceiver 13 using short-range wireless communication such as wireless LAN for recording. This eliminates the need for store staff to remove the memory card from the drive recorder 2 and insert it into the memory card reader on the store's terminal.

[0388] [Third embodiment] Next, a navigation device 1 as an electronic device according to the third embodiment will be described. The following description will omit details of components common to the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0389] Figure 4 shows the processing flow performed by the control unit 18 (Figure 2) of the navigation device 1 (Figures 1 and 2) according to the third embodiment. When the power of the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1 is turned on, the navigation device 1 is started up, and the control unit 18 acquires location information indicating the vehicle's current location from the GPS receiver 12 (step S01), and displays a map of the area around the current location on the display unit 5 (Figures 1 and 2). The location information indicating the vehicle's current location can be used as information indicating the navigation device 1's current location and information indicating the user's current location, and can be called user information.

[0390] The control unit 18 extracts keywords for selecting an application based on map data stored in the database 19 (Figure 2) and the vehicle's current location information (step S02). The map data stores location information (point or area information) such as latitude and longitude, associated with prefecture names, city / ward / town / village names, public facility names, tourist destinations and tourist facilities names, shop and shopping street names, road names, railway station names, etc. For example, the control unit 18 extracts keywords such as the prefecture and city / ward / town / village names of the administrative division to which the vehicle's current location belongs, and the names of public facilities, tourist destinations, tourist facilities, shops, shopping streets, roads, railway stations, etc. that exist within a predetermined area centered on the vehicle's current location.

[0391] The control unit 18 sends a search request to the application search server 62 using the extracted keywords as search keys (step S03). The search request can be made, for example, by the control unit 18 sending a search request signal to the application search server 62 via the wireless transceiver 13 and the internet.

[0392] The app search server 62 searches a database containing multiple applications executable by the navigation device 1 using a search key and selects some applications. The database of the app search server 62 contains so-called "local apps" that are highly useful in tourist areas, shopping districts, etc. After the search, the app search server 62 returns information identifying the selected applications to the navigation device 1 (step S04). Examples of such app search servers 62 include servers that provide application distribution services, such as Google Play® and the App Store®. The information identifying the applications includes, for example, the name of the application, a brief description of the application's functions, and image information of the icon representing the application. The control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 displays the information identifying the applications selected by the app search server 62 overlaid on the map displayed on the display unit 5 (step S05). The search key may be generated by a process that performs the same task on a search application as a human would perform on a server providing an application distribution service (for example, a process such as entering a string into a dialog box for entering a search key, pressing a search start button, and obtaining information that identifies the application in the search results displayed in the search application through scraping, etc., using robotic process automation (RPA)). Alternatively, the search application may send data similar to the search key sent to the application search server 62 through a human operation, receive a response, and extract information that identifies the application in the search results. However, if the application search server 62 publishes an API such as a Web API for searching applications, it is preferable to send the name of the prefecture and city / town / village to which the vehicle's current location belongs, and the names of public facilities, tourist spots, tourist facilities, shops, shopping streets, roads, railway stations, etc., located within a predetermined area centered on the vehicle's current location, as search keys to the API and receive information that identifies the application in the response from the API. The same applies to the following interactions with the application search server.

[0393] Figure 5 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5. In the example shown in Figure 5, the display unit 5 displays a map of the area around Ueno Station. The map scale can be changed sequentially by performing a setting operation (touching the button area labeled "200m" in the upper left of the screen in Figure 5). The names are associated with information indicating whether or not to display them for each scale, and the names that are to be displayed at the current map scale are displayed on the screen. The control unit 18 extracts names from the map data that exist in the location area corresponding to the currently displayed screen range and that are currently displayed on the screen at the current map scale, as keywords to be used as search keys. In the example in Figure 5, names of railway stations such as "Ueno Station" and "Inaricho Station," names of tourist spots such as "Shinobazu Pond," and names of tourist facilities such as "Ueno Zoo," "National Museum," and "Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum" are extracted, and the names of municipalities such as "Tokyo" and "Taito Ward" are extracted from the current address. Based on these keywords, the application search server 62 selects applications such as "Ueno Zoo Navi," "Asakusa Tourist Guide," and "Ueno Okachimachi Tourist Guide." The control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 displays icons 65 of these applications on the display unit 5, overlaid on the map. Searches for these applications are performed whenever the names displayed on the map change as the vehicle moves. The icon display is also updated whenever there is a change in the information identifying the application in the search results. In this way, the user can display icons of applications related to the name of the area including the current location displayed on the screen. Furthermore, simply pressing the zoom button changes the displayed application icons to the appropriate range. Since the search results are based on the text displayed on the screen, the user can easily see what keywords were used to search for the applications. The number of icons should be displayed in rows of up to 6 from the top right to the left, with a new row below displaying icons in the same manner, up to a maximum of 4 icons downwards, for a total of approximately 24 icons. The display control should be such that the zoom button and menu button in Figure 5 are not obscured by the icons. If any area other than the icons is touched, the icons are cleared and the display returns to the original map display.

[0394] The user of the navigation device 1 specifies the application to download by looking at the icons 65 displayed on the display unit 5 and selecting the icon 65 of the application they wish to download (step S06). The selection of the icon 65 can be done, for example, by tapping the corresponding position on the touch panel 8 (Figure 2). The control unit 18 identifies the application specified by the user's operation (step S07) and sends a download request signal for that application to the application search server 62 (step S08).

[0395] The application search server 62 delivers the application that was the target of the download request to the navigation device 1 (step S09). The control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 stores the downloaded application in a storage device and executes the installation process (step S10). The application download and installation process is performed in the background by the control unit 18 while the navigation function is running.

[0396] When the user performs an operation to display a list of installed applications (step (S11)), the control unit 18 displays the icons of the installed applications on the display unit 5 (step S12). The user specifies the application they want to run by tapping the icon of the application they want to run (step S13). The control unit 18 runs the application specified by the user's operation (step S14).

[0397] [Effects of the third embodiment] Next, we will describe the excellent effects of the third embodiment. When the navigation device 1 is used in a manner that moves with the user, the location information indicating the current location of the navigation device 1 can effectively indicate the user's current location. The control unit 18 uses the application search server 62 to select an application based on the location information indicating the current location of the navigation device 1. Therefore, the user can find out about the existence of highly useful applications near their current location by looking at the icons 65 displayed on the display unit 5, without having to perform an application search operation themselves.

[0398] Users can download and run applications by selecting an application of their interest from the applications indicated by the icons 65 displayed on the display unit 5.

[0399] When traveling independently by car or on foot, there were no devices that provided detailed information about tourist attractions. At best, there were navigation devices that contained information on tourist attractions listed in tourist guidebooks and had a function to link navigation with tourist attraction information. Therefore, compared to guided tours with a tour guide, it is difficult for independent travelers to obtain detailed tourist information at tourist destinations. It is possible for map data providers and navigation device manufacturers to create and include detailed tourist information for tourist destinations in navigation devices, but creating tourist information for tourist destinations all over the country would require enormous costs and is not practical.

[0400] On the other hand, local apps are becoming increasingly popular as smartphone and tablet applications, rather than navigation devices, provided by various providers such as tourism associations, local governments, shopping districts, and individuals at the regional level. There are also businesses that create these local apps. Local apps created for each region include applications that provide tourist guide information for tourist spots, tourist facilities, and shopping districts; applications that utilize augmented reality (AR) technology in conjunction with location information; applications for participating in stamp rallies that visit various locations in the region; and applications that offer games related to the region.

[0401] Visitors to tourist destinations may become aware of these applications by chance seeing brochures or signs provided at the destination, or by searching for them on application provider websites using the name of the region. However, those who do not notice the brochures or signs, or who do not actively search for the applications, will not be aware of their existence. Travelers may regret not realizing the existence of these local apps while on their trip, only to discover them after their trip is over. Furthermore, despite many of these local apps being offered for free, the number of downloads for these applications is not growing.

[0402] Users of navigation device 1 can easily become aware of the existence of these local apps based on their current location information. For application providers, this can be expected to increase the number of downloads of their local apps.

[0403] Since the application download and installation run in the background while the navigation function is running, users can continue to use the navigation function even during the download and installation process.

[0404] Users can select only the desired applications from the installed applications and run them at the desired time. For example, if a user removes the navigation device 1 from the vehicle and carries it with them, they can select and run a local application related to that tourist destination or facility upon arriving at the destination or facility.

[0405] Since so-called local apps are stored in the database of the app search server 62, the navigation device 1 can select an application according to user information without storing application information in the memory device of the navigation device 1 itself. When adding or updating applications, there is no need to add or update the database for each navigation device 1. This reduces the maintenance work on the database of the navigation device 1.

[0406] The control unit 18 extracts keywords based on the user's current location, allowing it to inform the user of highly useful applications in their vicinity.

[0407] [First modified example of the third embodiment] Next, a first modification of the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the control unit 18 displayed an icon identifying the application sent from the application search server 62 on the display unit 5 without screening (step S05), but in the first modification, screening is performed.

[0408] As a first screening method, the control unit 18 extracts only those applications that are already installed from the applications notified by the application search server 62 and displays their icons 65 on the display unit 5. Users can select the application they want to run from among the applications that can be run immediately without needing to download and install anything new.

[0409] As a second screening method, the control unit 18 extracts only those applications that are not installed from the application search server 62 and displays their icons 65 on the display unit 5. Users can then become aware of the existence of new applications they had not noticed before.

[0410] As a third screening method, the control unit 18 displays the icons 65 of all applications notified by the application search server 62, regardless of whether they are installed or not, in a manner that allows the user to understand whether or not they are installed. The settings screen includes a selection option for the user to choose which screening method to use, and the display processing is performed according to the screening method selected on that screen. This selection screen also includes an option to turn on or off the display of an application identification icon, and the system determines whether to perform or not perform the icon display process accordingly.

[0411] Figure 6 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 when the settings are configured to display icons to identify applications and when the third screening method is employed. The control unit 18 places a checkmark overlay icon 66 on the icons 65 of installed applications and a cloud overlay icon 67 on the icons 65 of applications that are not installed. In this way, the two are displayed in a way that makes them distinguishable.

[0412] Compared to the first and second screening methods, this method allows for the presentation of more applications to the user, resulting in a greater number of application choices for the user. Users can look at overlay icons 66 and 67 to determine whether the application indicated by the icon is already installed. Using this information as a reference, users can select an application of interest from among multiple applications. For example, if the current communication environment is not suitable for downloading an application, the user can select an application of interest from among the already installed applications.

[0413] [Second variation of the third embodiment] Next, a second modification of the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the control unit 18 displays an icon 65 indicating an application notified by the application search server 62 on the display unit 5, but in the second modification, in addition to the icon 65, an install button and an execute button are displayed.

[0414] Figure 7 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the second modification of the third embodiment. The control unit 18 displays an icon 65, along with an execute button 68 and install buttons 69 and 70 in its vicinity. The install button 70, which corresponds to the icon 65 indicating an installed application, is displayed grayed out so that the user cannot select it.

[0415] When a user taps the install button 69, the control unit 18 downloads and installs the corresponding application. When the user taps the run button 68 corresponding to an application that is not installed, the control unit 18 downloads and installs the corresponding application and then automatically runs it. When the user taps the run button 68 corresponding to an already installed application, the control unit 18 runs the corresponding application.

[0416] Users can run applications that are not installed with a single operation. Furthermore, the grayed-out install button 70 indicates to the user that the application corresponding to that button is already installed. Alternatively, for already installed applications, the install button 70 may not be displayed, and only the run button 68 may be shown.

[0417] [Third modified example of the third embodiment] Next, a third modification of the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the control unit 18 selects an application based on the user's current location information. However, in the third modification of the third embodiment, the control unit 18 selects an application based on the destination location information and the location information of intermediate points along the route to the destination, in addition to the current location. The function of setting a destination and the function of searching for a route to the destination are basic functions of the navigation device 1.

[0418] Next, the procedure by the control unit 18 for selecting an application when a destination is set and a route is searched will be described. The control unit 18 extracts keywords based on the location information of the destination and the location information of intermediate points along the route to the destination, and sends a search request signal to the application search server 62 (Figure 4) using these keywords as search keys. The control unit 18 can obtain information that identifies the application selected by the application search server 62 for each destination and intermediate point along the route.

[0419] Figure 8 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to a third modification of the third embodiment. The control unit 18 displays on the display unit 5 a symbol 74 indicating the current location (hereinafter simply referred to as "current location"), a symbol 75 indicating the destination (hereinafter simply referred to as "destination"), and a curve indicating the route 76 to the destination, along with a map. The control unit 18 displays an icon 77 indicating an application selected based on the location information of the current location 74 near the current location 74, and an icon 78 indicating an application selected based on the location information of the destination 75 near the destination 75. Furthermore, the control unit 18 displays an icon 79 indicating an application selected based on the location information of multiple points along the route 76 (for example, an application searched based on the names of points within a width of 5 km to the left and right of the route) near the point corresponding to that application.

[0420] If there are too many icons corresponding to a single location to display them side-by-side, multiple icons will be displayed partially overlapping. If zooming in on the map provides enough space to display the icons side-by-side, then multiple icons will be displayed side-by-side.

[0421] The processing after the user taps the icon to specify the application is the same as the processing when the icon 65 shown in Figure 5 is tapped in the third embodiment.

[0422] When the control unit 18 detects that the vehicle has entered an area where the installed applications are of high value, it notifies the user of information indicating the presence of high-value applications near the current location. For example, it selects up to four locations corresponding to applications searched based on names within a range of 5 km on both sides of the road (5 km to the left and 5 km to the right perpendicular to the direction of travel) along the route from the current location to the destination, in order of proximity to the current location, and displays the app icons for those locations. For example, the control unit 18 displays a guidance window on the display unit 5 that shows information identifying useful applications.

[0423] Figure 9 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5. The control unit 18 displays a guidance window 80 on the display unit 5. Icons 81 corresponding to applications of high utility value in the vicinity of the current location are displayed within the guidance window 80. When the user selects an application by tapping an icon 81 in the guidance window 80, the control unit 18 executes the selected application.

[0424] For example, the area where the application has high utility value can be determined from the map data stored in the navigation device 1 and the name of the application. For example, if the name representing the application includes the name of a tourist destination or tourist facility, the area where the application has high utility value can be defined as a circular area with a predetermined radius centered on a point identified by the location information associated with the name of the tourist destination or tourist facility included in the map data. For example, if the name representing the application includes the name of a local government, the area within the administrative district identified by the name of the local government included in the map data can be defined as the area where the application has high utility value.

[0425] According to the third modification of the third embodiment, users can learn about the existence of highly useful applications at their destination and at intermediate points along the route to their destination when they depart for their destination. For example, users can learn about tourist attractions and facilities located along the route to their destination and plan to stop at tourist attractions and facilities that interest them.

[0426] When a vehicle enters an area where the application is highly useful, a guidance window 80 (Figure 9) is displayed, reminding the user of the useful application if they have forgotten about it.

[0427] Information identifying the selected application based on location information at intermediate points along the route to the destination may be displayed in order of the earliest estimated arrival time at the points along the route associated with the application.

[0428] Figure 10 shows an example of an image when application icons are displayed on the display unit 5 in order of the earliest estimated arrival time. A list window 83 is displayed on the display unit 5, and within the list window 83, application icons 84 are displayed in order of the earliest estimated arrival time, associated with the estimated arrival time. Furthermore, the name of the region closely related to the application may also be displayed along with the application icon 84.

[0429] By displaying application icons in order of estimated arrival time, users can intuitively understand the order in which they will stop at tourist spots and facilities along their route to their destination.

[0430] If the control unit 18 detects that the vehicle's power has been turned off within an area where the applications installed on the navigation device 1 are of high value, it may be configured to automatically execute the application corresponding to the location where the power was turned off. This can prevent situations where the user forgets about the application and goes sightseeing without executing it.

[0431] If multiple applications are installed that correspond to the location where the vehicle's power was turned off, it is advisable to allow the user to select the application to run from among the multiple applications. For example, icons identifying the multiple applications corresponding to the location where the vehicle's power was turned off could be displayed on the display unit 5, and the user could be asked to select one icon. Since these applications are already installed, they can be launched immediately.

[0432] [Fourth modified example of the third embodiment] Next, a fourth modification of the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the navigation device 1 uses the database of the app search server 62 to select an application related to the current location. In the fourth modification of the third embodiment, information identifying multiple applications is stored in the storage device of the navigation device 1 as a location information application correspondence table 86, associated with location information for each application.

[0433] Figure 11 shows the processing flow performed by the control unit 18 (Figure 2) of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth modification of the third embodiment. Hereafter, we will omit explanations of procedures that are common to the processing performed by the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 according to the third embodiment shown in Figure 4.

[0434] When the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 acquires current location information (step S01), the control unit 18 selects some applications from among the multiple applications registered in the location information application correspondence table 86 based on the current location information and the location information application correspondence table 86 (step S20). For example, the control unit 18 compares the current location information with the location information registered in the location information application correspondence table 86 and selects an application corresponding to the location information that satisfies the condition that the distance between the points indicated by the two location information is shorter than a predetermined distance.

[0435] The process from step S05 onwards, which involves displaying an icon indicating the selected application on the display unit 5, is the same as the process in the third embodiment (Figure 4).

[0436] Information identifying popular applications and applications considered highly convenient for users can be stored in the navigation device 1's memory in advance. This allows for the selection and provision of highly convenient applications to users. Users can exclude applications they deem unhelpful from the selection and receive only information identifying potentially useful applications. This reduces the effort required to find applications they want to use.

[0437] [Fifth modified example of the third embodiment] Next, a fifth modification of the third embodiment will be described. In the fifth modification of the third embodiment, when the control unit 18 finds that the predetermined uninstallation conditions for an installed application have been met, it displays information on the display unit 5 asking the user whether or not to uninstall the application that has met the uninstallation conditions. The predetermined uninstallation conditions may be, for example, that the current location of the navigation device 1 has moved out of the area where the application is of high utility value, but it is preferable to use the condition that the user has moved to a location significantly farther than this area. For example, this could be when the user moves to a different prefecture, or when the user is more than 200 km away. As the area where the application is of high utility value, for example, the area within the administrative divisions of each local government, such as prefectures or cities and towns, that can be identified from the name of the application can be used. If the name of a local government cannot be identified from the application, for example, the area where the application is of high utility value can be an area within a predetermined distance from a facility, shopping street, or other location that can be identified from the name of the application.

[0438] Figure 12 shows an example of an image where information asking the user whether or not to uninstall an application is displayed on the display unit 5. The control unit 18 displays an uninstall application candidate window 88 on the display unit 5. Icons indicating applications whose uninstallation conditions have been met are displayed within the uninstall application candidate window 88.

[0439] When a user performs an uninstallation operation by tapping the icon indicating the application they want to uninstall, the control unit 18 uninstalls the application that was the target of the uninstallation operation.

[0440] Users can easily identify applications that meet the uninstallation criteria by viewing the icons displayed in the uninstallation candidate window 88. When the number of installed applications becomes too large, for example, a large number of icons appear on the launcher, making it difficult to find the desired application among many installed applications. Uninstalling applications that meet the uninstallation criteria can prevent the number of installed applications from becoming excessive. Furthermore, it can reduce the amount of storage capacity occupied by applications on the storage device where applications are stored.

[0441] If the navigation system 1 is installed in a rental car, the uninstallation condition may include the condition that the vehicle equipped with the navigation system 1 has returned to the rental location. For example, if the vehicle is rented out at a store near an airport or train station, the control unit 18 determines that this uninstallation condition has been met when the distance between the current location of the navigation system 1 and the store where the vehicle was rented out falls below a predetermined distance.

[0442] The navigation device 1 may be configured to register the user's home location, and the condition that the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1 has returned to the user's home may be included as a predetermined uninstallation condition. Alternatively, for each installed application, the period during which the navigation device 1's current location was not included in an area where the application was of high value may be calculated, and the condition that this calculated period lasted for a predetermined time, for example, one month, may be included as a predetermined uninstallation condition. This allows applications with low value to be presented to the user as candidates for uninstallation.

[0443] The uninstall application candidate window 88 (Figure 12) may display "Yes" and "No" buttons along with an icon representing the application. If the user taps the "Yes" button, the control unit 18 starts the process of uninstalling that application. If the user taps the "No" button, the control unit 18 removes the icon representing that application from the uninstall application candidate window 88.

[0444] If the predetermined uninstallation conditions are met, the control unit 18 may automatically uninstall the application without contacting the user. This eliminates the hassle of the user having to decide whether or not to uninstall the application, and also eliminates the effort required to perform the uninstallation operation.

[0445] [Sixth Modification of the Third Embodiment] Next, a sixth modified example of the third embodiment will be described.

[0446] In the sixth modification of the third embodiment, when the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 detects that the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1 has entered an area where it can connect to a free wireless LAN, it displays information on the display unit 5 to inform the user that it can connect to a free wireless LAN. Examples of free wireless LANs include those referred to as "local WiFi." For example, local WiFi is provided by tourist destinations, tourist facilities, shopping streets, etc.

[0447] Figure 13 shows an example image of the display unit 5 with information displayed to inform the user that a free wireless LAN connection is available. The display unit 5 displays a wireless LAN connection notification window 89. The wireless LAN connection notification window 89 displays the identification name (SSID) of the free wireless LAN and a connect button.

[0448] When a user taps the connect button to specify a wireless LAN and connect to it, the control unit 18 executes a procedure to enable communication via the specified wireless LAN. Once this process is complete, various applications installed on the navigation device 1 become able to communicate via the wireless LAN.

[0449] Users will be able to use the Wi-Fi free of charge. When the network used by the navigation device 1 switches from the mobile communication network to the Wi-Fi, high-speed communication can be performed without consuming the data communication capacity of the user's contracted mobile communication service. Furthermore, even if the user's contracted mobile communication service is bandwidth-limited, high-speed communication can be performed via the Wi-Fi.

[0450] The navigation device 1 may have its storage device pre-stored with the SSID of a local WiFi network and location information defining the area where that wireless LAN can be used. When the control unit 18 detects that the current location of the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1 has entered the area where the wireless LAN is available as stored in the storage device, it notifies the user that it is possible to connect to that wireless LAN.

[0451] Depending on the local Wi-Fi network, users may be required to enter their information, such as their email address, before using the network. The control unit 18 may be configured to have a function that automatically enters the information to be entered before using the local Wi-Fi network, by pre-registering the information to be entered for each local Wi-Fi network in the storage device of the control unit 18. By adopting this configuration, users can use the local Wi-Fi network without having to perform cumbersome information entry operations.

[0452] [Other variations of the third embodiment] If the number of applications selected based on the current location information (step S04 in Figure 4) exceeds a predetermined number, the display unit 5 may display icons representing a predetermined number of applications from the beginning of the multiple applications listed in the search results. This reduces the effort required for the user to review all the provided applications.

[0453] As the navigation device 1, a dedicated in-vehicle navigation device, a portable navigation device that can be used outside the vehicle, etc. may be used as the navigation device 1. Alternatively, a smartphone or tablet device with a navigation application installed may be used as the navigation device 1. As the navigation device 1, a device equipped with an OS such as Android® or iOS® may be used.

[0454] In the third embodiment, the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 downloads and installs an application selected according to the current location information of the vehicle on which the navigation device 1 is installed, based on user operation. However, it may also be configured to automatically download and install an application selected according to the current location information without any user operation.

[0455] [Fourth embodiment] Next, a navigation device 1 as an electronic device according to the fourth embodiment will be described. Hereafter, the configuration common to the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment will be omitted from the description. In this embodiment, the search for whether a prefecture accepts donations and for the search for return gifts may be performed using the same processing as in the application search in the third embodiment.

[0456] The navigation device 1 according to the fourth embodiment is used in a manner that moves with the user. As the navigation device 1, an in-vehicle navigation device or a portable navigation device called a "pedestrian navigation" device can be used. It can also be implemented as a smartphone application. User information of the user of the navigation device 1 includes the location information of the navigation device 1's current location. Based on the location information of the navigation device 1's current location, the control unit 18 displays information on the display unit 5 that identifies some of the municipalities selected from among multiple municipalities that provide return gifts.

[0457] Figure 14 shows the processing flow executed by the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth embodiment. The control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 acquires current location information from the GPS receiver 12 (Figure 2) (step S31). The control unit 18 acquires the names of the prefectures and municipalities corresponding to the administrative divisions that encompass the point indicated by the current location information from the current location information and map data (step S32). The control unit 18 sends a search request signal to the hometown tax donation introduction server 90 using the names of the municipalities as search keys (step S33).

[0458] As the Furusato Tax Introduction Server 90, for example, a server of a website that introduces municipalities that offer return gifts based on the Furusato Tax system on the internet can be used. The Furusato Tax Introduction Server 90 includes a database that stores information identifying municipalities that offer return gifts under the Furusato Tax system, and information identifying the return gifts that those municipalities offer. The navigation device 1, for example, provides the name of the municipality to the Furusato Tax Introduction Server 90 as information to be given to the search window of the introduction site (search query) and makes a search request.

[0459] The Furusato Tax Introduction Server 90 searches this database using the name of the municipality that has been received as a search key, and selects a municipality that offers a return gift. For example, if the municipality identified by the name of the municipality that has been received offers a return gift, the Furusato Tax Introduction Server 90 selects that municipality. Furthermore, if there is a neighboring municipality that offers a return gift, it selects that municipality as well.

[0460] The Furusato Tax Introduction Server 90 returns information identifying the selected municipality to the Navigation Device 1 (Step S34). The Navigation Device 1 displays the information identifying the municipality received from the Furusato Tax Introduction Server 90 on the display unit 5 (Step S35).

[0461] Figure 15 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth embodiment. The display unit 5 displays a municipality introduction window 91. The municipality introduction window 91 displays the names 92 of the municipalities that offer return gifts, including the municipality to which the current location belongs and neighboring municipalities. In addition, a donation application button 93 is displayed along with the names 92 of the municipalities.

[0462] The user specifies the recipient municipality by tapping the donation application button 93 corresponding to the name 92 of the municipality to which they wish to donate (step S36). The control unit 18 executes the donation procedure to the recipient municipality specified by the user (step S37). Personal information, credit card information, etc., necessary for the donation procedure are stored in advance in the memory device of the navigation device 1. The control unit 18 uses the user information stored in the memory device to perform the donation procedure.

[0463] [Effects of the fourth embodiment] Next, we will describe the excellent effects of the fourth embodiment. Users can find out which municipalities offer the return gifts based on their current location on the navigation device 1.

[0464] The Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) system was originally established to make it easier for people to donate to their hometowns or to prefectures, cities, towns, and villages they have an attachment to. In order to solicit donations using the Furusato Nozei system, many municipalities offer return gifts related to their area to donors. There is a tendency for donations to concentrate in municipalities that offer cost-effective return gifts or popular items as return gifts. As a result, donations tend to be one-time events, and the current situation is far removed from the original purpose of making donors feel a sense of "hometown" in the municipality they donate to.

[0465] Users of Navigation Device 1 can easily find out whether the municipality they are currently visiting or a neighboring municipality offers return gifts by receiving information that identifies a selection of municipalities based on the current location information of Navigation Device 1. Based on the information provided to the user, the user can decide whether or not to make a donation to the municipality they are actually visiting or a neighboring municipality. Because the recipient municipality is the one they are currently visiting or a neighboring municipality, they can make a donation with a greater sense of attachment to that municipality compared to donating to a municipality with which they have no connection. For the municipality, this has the effect of expanding donations, fostering a sense of attachment to the area, and leading to continued donations.

[0466] Furthermore, users can complete the donation process on the spot by tapping the donation application button 93.

[0467] [First Modification of the Fourth Embodiment] Next, a first modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. In the first modification of the fourth embodiment, the hometown tax donation introduction server 90 provides the navigation device 1 with information that identifies the return gifts offered by the local government, in addition to the name of the local government. Examples of information that identifies the return gifts include the category of the return gift, the product name, and an illustration representing the return gift. Examples of return gift categories include "meat," "rice," "fruit," "vegetables," "alcohol," "confectionery," and "handicrafts."

[0468] The control unit 18 displays the name of the local government and a donation application button, as well as the categories of return gifts, on the display unit 5.

[0469] Figure 16 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the first modification of the fourth embodiment. In addition to the name of the local government 92 and the donation application button 93, the categories 94 of the return gifts offered by the local government are displayed in the local government introduction window 91.

[0470] Users can learn about the municipalities offering return gifts, as well as the categories of return gifts they offer. Based on the categories of return gifts, users can decide whether or not to make a donation.

[0471] [Second variation of the fourth embodiment] In the second modification of the fourth embodiment, the user information includes information that identifies the category of the return gift. For example, information that identifies the category of return gifts that the user is interested in is registered in the user information. The control unit 18 selects a municipality that provides a return gift belonging to the category of return gift identified by the user information from among the municipalities identified by the information received from the Furusato Tax Introduction Server 90. The control unit 18 displays the name of the selected municipality, the category of the return gift, and a donation application button in the municipality introduction window 91 (Figure 16).

[0472] Users can easily find municipalities that offer items of their interest as return gifts.

[0473] If information identifying the category of the return gift is not pre-registered as user information, the user may be allowed to specify the category of the return gift from the names of the municipalities and the categories of return gifts displayed in the municipality introduction window 91. The control unit 18 screens for municipalities that provide return gifts belonging to the category of return gifts specified by the user, and displays the names of the municipalities selected by the screening on the display unit 5.

[0474] [Third modified example of the fourth embodiment] Next, a third modification of the fourth embodiment will be described. The navigation device 1 has a function to set the destination to which the user is going, and a function to search for a route from the current location to the destination. The control unit 18 has a function to select some municipalities from a plurality of municipalities that provide return gifts based on the location information of the destination and the location information of points along the route to the destination, and to display information identifying the selected municipalities on the display unit 5.

[0475] Figure 17 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the third modification of the fourth embodiment. The current location 74, destination 75, and route 76 from the current location 74 to the destination 75 are displayed on the display unit 5, and the names 95 of the municipalities that offer return gifts among the municipalities that the route 76 passes through are also displayed on the display unit 5.

[0476] When a user selects a municipality by tapping the name of a municipality 95, the control unit 18 pops up a window 96 displaying the contents of the return gifts offered by that municipality. Figure 17 shows an example where the user selects "Chonan Town" and a window 96 displaying the contents of the return gifts offered by Chonan Town pops up.

[0477] Users can find out which municipalities offer return gifts, both in the municipality where their destination is located and in the municipalities they pass through on their way to their destination. Furthermore, they can learn about the contents of the return gifts offered by each municipality. Users can use this information to decide whether or not to make a donation.

[0478] In the third modified example of the fourth embodiment, as shown in Figure 15, a donation application button 93 may be displayed near the name of the local government 95 displayed on the display unit 5. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 16, a category 94 of the return gifts may be displayed.

[0479] [Fourth modified example of the fourth embodiment] Next, a fourth modification of the fourth embodiment will be described. The control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth modification of the fourth embodiment has the function of displaying the name of a municipality selected based on the current location information on the display unit 5, and also displaying information on the display unit 5 indicating the location where products corresponding to the return gifts offered by that municipality are sold. For example, when a user selects a municipality by tapping the name 92 of one municipality (Figures 15 and 16) displayed on the display unit 5, the control unit 18 displays information on the display unit 5 indicating the location where products corresponding to the return gifts offered by that municipality are sold. Examples of locations where products corresponding to return gifts are sold include stores and roadside stations.

[0480] Figure 18 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth modification of the fourth embodiment. On the map displayed on the display unit 5, the location of stores selling products corresponding to the return gifts is indicated by the store's symbol, along with the store's name. Furthermore, the category of return gifts sold at each store is displayed.

[0481] If the store or roadside station displayed on the display unit 5 does not have a parking lot, the display unit 5 has a function to display the location of nearby parking lots along with the information of the store, etc. When the user selects a store by tapping the name of the store, etc. displayed on the display unit 5, the control unit 18 searches for a route from the current location to that store and displays it on the display unit 5.

[0482] When a user makes a donation by operating the navigation device 1, the server that received the donation transmits electronic data of a certificate proving the donation to the navigation device 1. The user can then display this certificate on the display unit 5 and present it at a store or other location to receive a thank-you gift on the spot. If the thank-you gift is an accommodation voucher, a ticket for an activity such as horseback riding, the user can exercise the right to the accommodation or activity experience on the spot. When a store or other location provides a thank-you gift to a user of the navigation device 1, the store clerk enters the information that the thank-you gift has been provided into the system that manages the provision of thank-you gifts to donors. This registers in the system that the thank-you gift has been provided.

[0483] Users of the navigation device 1 according to the fourth modification of the fourth embodiment can easily visit stores and other locations displayed on the display unit 5. Users can see the actual products corresponding to the return gifts and decide whether or not to make a donation. In addition, since nearby parking lots are displayed on the display unit 5, users can avoid the trouble of searching for nearby parking when visiting stores that do not have their own parking lots. If the return gift is an experience ticket or the like, users can avoid the trouble of having to go to the location in order to exercise the rights based on the experience ticket or the like after obtaining it.

[0484] Once a store provides a return gift, the system managing the provision of return gifts registers that the gift has been provided, thus preventing situations where the same return gift is provided twice.

[0485] The ability to immediately receive a thank-you gift after making a donation can be an incentive for donors to contribute to local governments. For local governments offering thank-you gifts, this can lead to an increase in donations.

[0486] If the quantity of return gifts offered for donations is insufficient for the donor, the donor can receive the return gifts at the store and purchase additional items corresponding to the return gifts. Furthermore, they can also purchase products other than the return gifts. For the store, this allows them to increase sales, thereby contributing to the development of the region.

[0487] For example, if a municipality offering a return gift is a fruit-producing region and the gift is apples, which are less prone to spoilage, a retailer that also sells peaches and grapes can increase sales of those fruits. Alternatively, a retailer could sell apples, peaches, and grapes as a set and offer a discount equivalent to the price of the apples to the donor, effectively providing a return gift.

[0488] For example, if the return gift is local sake, the user can purchase other brands of sake in addition to the local sake they received as a return gift. Furthermore, retailers can sell the local sake received as a return gift along with other brands of sake as a set.

[0489] [Fifth modified example of the fourth embodiment] Next, a fifth modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. In the fifth modification of the fourth embodiment, when executing a donation procedure, information that serves as a criterion for determining whether or not to proceed with the procedure, such as an upper limit on the total donation amount, an upper limit on the individual donation amount, and an upper limit on the number of recipient municipalities, is registered in the storage device of the control unit 18. The control unit 18 has a function to notify the user of a message asking whether or not to proceed with the donation procedure if the user's request to execute the donation procedure does not meet these criteria.

[0490] For example, when a user makes a donation, the control unit 18 compares the donation amount specified by the user with the upper limit for individual donation amounts. If the specified donation amount exceeds the upper limit for individual donation amounts, it displays a message to the user on the display unit 5 to inform them of this. The control unit 18 also calculates the total amount of individual donations, and when this total exceeds the upper limit for the total amount of donations, it displays a message to the user on the display unit 5 to inform them of this. The control unit 18 also counts the number of recipient municipalities, and when a donation operation is made that exceeds the upper limit for the number of recipient municipalities, it displays a message to the user on the display unit 5 to inform them of this. After these notifications, the control unit 18 allows the user to choose whether to proceed with or cancel the donation process, and executes the donation process only if the user chooses to proceed.

[0491] Figure 19 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the fifth modification of the fourth embodiment. The display unit 5 displays the upper limit of the total donation amount, the upper limit of the individual donation amount, and the upper limit of the number of recipient municipalities, as well as the total donation amount after the current donation, the current donation amount, and the total number of recipient municipalities after the current donation.

[0492] Furthermore, the control unit 18 displays a message 97 on the display unit 5 asking whether the donor wishes to proceed with the donation process, even though the current donation does not meet the criteria for determining whether or not to proceed with the donation process, along with "Yes" and "No" buttons.

[0493] If the user taps the "Yes" button, the control unit 18 executes the donation procedure. If the user taps the "No" button, the control unit 18 cancels the donation procedure.

[0494] According to the fifth modification of the fourth embodiment, it is possible to prevent unexpected donations from being made due to user memory errors or operational mistakes.

[0495] The "Furusato Tax One-Stop Special Exemption System" is in place, which eliminates the need to file a tax return if the number of recipient municipalities is five or less. For example, it is preferable to set the upper limit of the number of recipient municipalities to "5," which is the upper limit for the number of recipient municipalities that can be used with the Furusato Tax One-Stop Special Exemption System. Users can recognize that they will no longer be able to use the Furusato Tax One-Stop Special Exemption System by noticing the message displayed on display unit 5.

[0496] The control unit 18 may subtract the total amount of past donations from the upper limit of the total donation amount and inform the user of the remaining amount available for donation. The user can use the remaining amount available for donation as a factor in deciding whether or not to donate to the currently featured municipality.

[0497] Under the current hometown tax donation system, whether the amount remaining after deducting the 2,000 yen self-payment from the donation amount is fully tax deductible depends on the donor's income, etc. The control unit 18 may have a function to calculate the upper limit of the donation amount that can be fully tax deducted based on the user's estimated income and notify the user. The user's estimated income can be calculated, for example, by having the user input the contents of their payslip and using the entered values.

[0498] [Sixth variation of the fourth embodiment] Next, a sixth modification of the fourth embodiment will be described. Figure 20 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the sixth modification of the fourth embodiment. The control unit 18 displays a municipality introduction window 91 on the display unit 5, and within it, it displays buttons for each municipality such as "Apply for Donation," "Interested," "Display Sales Locations," and "Share on SNS."

[0499] When a user taps the "Apply for Donation" button, the control unit 18 processes the donation and obtains electronic data of a certificate proving the donation from the donation management server. When a user taps the "Interested" button, the control unit 18 adds information indicating the municipality and the return gift to the favorites list in the storage device. The contents of the favorites list can be read later by the user, for example, after returning the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1 to the rental car company. When a user taps the "Show Sales Location" button, the control unit 18 displays a map on the display unit 5 and performs a route search using the sales location as a waypoint or destination. When a user taps the "Share on SNS" button, the control unit 18 automatically inputs information indicating the municipality and the return gift into the SNS posting screen.

[0500] Next, we will explain in detail what happens when a user taps the "Interested" button. When a vehicle equipped with navigation device 1 is returned, the control unit 18 displays a message on the display unit 5 asking the user whether to upload information about municipalities of interest to a cloud accessible to the user or to delete it. If the user selects to upload to the cloud, the control unit 18 uploads the information accumulated in the favorites list to the cloud. If the user selects to delete, the control unit 18 deletes the information accumulated in the favorites list.

[0501] The cloud accessible to users is managed by the rental car company, and the rental car company notifies users of key information, such as a security code, to access information about the municipalities of interest to them from the cloud. By accessing the rental car company's cloud and entering the key information, users can access information about the municipalities they have specified.

[0502] Even after returning the vehicle equipped with the navigation system 1, users of the navigation system 1 can retrieve information about the municipalities they specified as of their time using the system. This information can be preserved as travel memories and may also serve as motivation to revisit those municipalities.

[0503] When a vehicle is returned, information about the municipalities of interest to the user could be automatically uploaded to the cloud. Even if a user doesn't think they need this information when returning the rental car, they might change their mind later and want to know it. In this case, the user can retrieve the information about the municipalities of interest that has been uploaded to the cloud.

[0504] The criteria for determining whether the current time is the time of vehicle return could be, for example, that the fuel tank is full, the vehicle's current location coincides with the vehicle return location, and the time the vehicle has been stopped at that location exceeds a predetermined period, such as 5 minutes. Alternatively, the criteria could be that the rental car's engine has been turned off at the return location.

[0505] [Seventh Modification of the Fourth Embodiment] Next, a seventh modification of the fourth embodiment will be described. Some local governments allow donors to specify how their donations will be used. Examples of uses include industrial development, environmental conservation, cultural property protection, childcare, welfare, and disaster relief. Multiple uses for the donations are pre-assigned in priority, and this priority is stored in the memory device of the control unit 18 as part of the user information.

[0506] Figure 21 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the seventh modification of the fourth embodiment. Figure 21 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 when a user operates the navigation device 1 to apply for a donation to a certain local government. The control unit 18 displays a use specification window 98 on the display unit 5. Within the use specification window 98, the control unit 18 displays buttons indicating the uses that can be selected by the recipient local government, and a button indicating no use specified. If a priority order for uses has been set according to the user information, the buttons indicating the uses are displayed in order of priority. When the user specifies a use by tapping one of the buttons indicating a use, the control unit 18 transmits the use specified by the user to the hometown tax donation acceptance system.

[0507] According to the seventh modification of the fourth embodiment, users can make donations to local governments by specifying their desired use. Since the buttons indicating the uses are sorted and displayed according to priority, users can easily find the use they want from among multiple options.

[0508] The control unit 18 may display multiple uses on the display screen with the highest priority use selected as the default value. This eliminates the user's need to specify their desired use from among the multiple uses.

[0509] [Eighth variation of the fourth embodiment] Next, an eighth modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. Figure 22 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the eighth modification of the fourth embodiment. When the control unit 18 finishes processing the donation procedure for one local government, it displays the Recommended Local Government Introduction Window 99 on the display unit 5, as shown in Figure 22. The Recommended Local Government Introduction Window 99 displays the names of other local governments (hereinafter referred to as "recommended local governments") to which the person who donated to the local government to which the donation procedure has already been completed has donated. This mechanism can be realized by applying a known recommendation engine to the local government's donation destinations. The control unit 18 prioritizes providing the user with information that identifies local governments near the current location as recommended local governments. For example, it prioritizes local governments within the same prefecture as the local government to which the donation procedure was completed. Regardless of the location of the local government, it may also prioritize informing the user of local governments with a large number of donors. It may also inform the user of both information prioritizing nearby local governments and information prioritizing local governments with a large number of donors.

[0510] For users, this offers the benefit of having more potential recipient municipalities. For municipalities, it offers the benefit of leading to an increase in donations.

[0511] [Ninth Modification of the Fourth Embodiment] Next, a ninth modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. The navigation device 1 according to the ninth modification of the fourth embodiment has a function to switch between corporate mode and individual mode. When the control unit 18 is switched to corporate mode, it performs the donation procedure according to the procedure for corporate donations, and when it is switched to individual mode, it performs the donation procedure according to the procedure for individual donations.

[0512] The donation procedure differs depending on whether the donor is an individual or a corporation. By providing both a corporate mode and an individual mode, users can donate as either an individual or a corporation. For example, if navigation device 1 is installed in a company car, it should be switched to corporate mode, and if navigation device 1 is installed in a private car, it should be switched to individual mode.

[0513] There are differences between the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) made by individuals and the corporate version of Furusato Nozei made by companies, such as the municipalities to which donations are made, the presence or absence of return gifts, and the method of tax deduction. The control unit 18 should use different criteria for selecting municipalities according to user information when operating in corporate mode and when operating in individual mode. For example, when the control unit 18 is operating in corporate mode, it should select candidate municipalities only from those that are eligible to receive donations in the corporate version of Furusato Nozei.

[0514] Furthermore, it is advisable to change the information displayed on the display unit 5 depending on whether the control unit 18 is operating in corporate mode or personal mode. For example, in the corporate version of the hometown tax donation system, donations are made to "community, people, and job creation donation utilization projects" planned by each local government. In addition to information identifying the local government, the control unit 18 should display the details of the "community, people, and job creation donation utilization projects." Users can use the information displayed on the display unit 5 as a basis for deciding whether or not to make a donation.

[0515] [Tenth variation of the fourth embodiment] Next, a tenth modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. In the tenth modification of the fourth embodiment, the control unit 18 of the navigation device 1 has a function to register a person other than the individual identified in the user information as another user. When performing the donation procedure, the control unit 18 identifies the user who will be the principal donor from among the multiple registered users and performs the donation procedure with the identified user as the principal donor.

[0516] Figure 23 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 5 of the navigation device 1 according to the tenth modification of the fourth embodiment. When a user makes a donation application, the control unit 18 displays a donor selection window 100 on the display unit 5. The donor selection window 100 displays a list of names of multiple users that have been registered in advance.

[0517] When a user selects a user to be a donor by tapping the name of one user from the list of users displayed in the donor selection window 100, the control unit 18 proceeds with the donation process, primarily using the selected user.

[0518] Credit card information used for donations is pre-registered in the storage device of the control unit 18 for each of multiple users. If the donor's name and the name on the credit card do not match, the donation may not be eligible for tax deduction. The control unit 18 has a function to compare the registered user's name with the name on the credit card registered in association with that user, and notify the user if they do not match.

[0519] When using the navigation device 1 according to the tenth modification of the fourth embodiment, when traveling with multiple people, each traveler can make a donation via the navigation device 1. The control unit 18 notifies the user if the name of the user making the donation does not match the name on the credit card, thus preventing the user from making a donation using a credit card with a different name and thus being unable to receive a tax deduction.

[0520] Users may choose one user to make a donation from among multiple registered users by holding a near-field communication (NFC) compatible card they own over a reader. Examples of NFC compatible cards include transportation cards and driver's licenses. Alternatively, personal authentication systems such as fingerprint recognition or facial recognition may be used to identify the user making the donation.

[0521] [Fifth Example] Next, as an electronic device according to the fifth embodiment, we will describe a printer installed in a print service store. Examples of print service stores include convenience stores and the like, which can be found throughout Japan. This printer is used by an unspecified number of people.

[0522] Figure 24 shows a functional block diagram of the printer 105 according to the fifth embodiment. The printer 105 includes a control unit 110, a communication device 111, a short-range wireless communication device 112, a display device 113, and an input device 114.

[0523] The control unit 110 is composed of a microcontroller equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, non-volatile memory, and I / O interface. The CPU of the control unit 110 executes a program stored in the memory to realize the function of providing information to the user. For example, EEPROM can be used as the non-volatile memory. In addition to the program, the non-volatile memory stores various data necessary for the control unit 110 to realize the function of providing information to the user, such as location information of the print service provider where the printer 105 is installed. The location information of the print service provider is registered with the printer 105 by the installer when the printer 105 is installed.

[0524] The user visits a print service provider to receive information from printer 105. Since the location information of the print service provider matches the location information of the user's current location, the location information of the print service provider can be considered one of the pieces of information about the user receiving the information service (user information). The information that printer 105 provides to the user includes a map of an area that includes the user's current location (location of the print service provider).

[0525] The communication device 111 has the function of communicating data with the management server 120 via the communication network 140. For example, the internet is used as the communication network 140. The management server 120 stores map data and, upon request from the printer 105, sends map data including the location of the print service provider where the printer 105 is installed to the printer 105.

[0526] The short-range wireless communication device 112 has the function of communicating data with the user's mobile terminal 130. As the wireless communication standard, for example, NFC or Bluetooth can be adopted. The mobile terminal 130 is, for example, a smartphone or tablet.

[0527] The display device 113 displays various images under control from the control unit 110. For example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display can be used as the display device 113.

[0528] The input device 114 is used by the user to input various commands to the control unit 18. For example, a touch panel or operation buttons can be used as the input device 114.

[0529] Figure 25 shows the process flow in which the printer 105 provides information to the user. First, the user requests the printer 105 to print out a map by operating the input device 114 (Figure 24) of the printer 105 (step S30). When the control unit 110 of the printer 105 receives the printout request, it sends a signal to the management server 120 requesting map data (step S31). This signal includes location information of the print service provider where the printer 105 is installed.

[0530] The management server 120 distributes map data containing the location of the print service provider to the printer 105 based on the location information of that location (step S32). The control unit 110 of the printer 105, upon receiving the map data, prints out the map based on the distributed map data (step S33).

[0531] Figure 26 shows an example of a printed map. The map is printed on paper of A4, B4, A3, etc. The paper size is instructed to the printer 105 by the user operating the input device 114. The words "Top," "Bottom," "Left," and "Right" are printed near the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the paper, respectively. Furthermore, the control unit 18 prints a two-dimensional barcode 150 on the paper, which contains information for displaying a map of the same area as the printed map on the mobile terminal 130.

[0532] The two-dimensional barcode 150 represents a string that identifies the URL of the management server 120. Instead of the two-dimensional barcode, a string indicating a shortened URL may be printed as information that identifies the URL. On the printed map, a marker 151 such as a star is printed at the location of the print service provider that printed the map.

[0533] [Effects of the Fifth Embodiment] Users can obtain a paper map of an area including their current location without having to input location information for the printer 105. For example, if all convenience stores of a particular chain were equipped with this printer 105, users could always obtain a map that includes the location of that convenience store simply by finding that store and printing using the printer 105 there. In particular, by printing the map with the convenience store's location near the center, as shown in Figure 26, users can visit multiple convenience stores and always obtain a map centered on their own location. Compared to maps displayed on smartphones and tablet devices, larger maps such as A4, B4, and A3 sizes can be obtained. Larger maps are suitable for use in situations where multiple people need to view and discuss the map simultaneously. Furthermore, a wide area on the map can be viewed at once without scrolling. In addition, printed maps can be easily marked by writing on them, folding them, etc. In particular, when traveling with multiple people, they can print out maps at a print service provider at their travel destination and refer to the printed maps during their trip.

[0534] Users can easily determine their current location on a printed map by finding markers indicating the locations of print service providers. Alternatively, instead of markers, the symbols representing print service providers on the map may be colored differently from the symbols representing other facilities. Furthermore, placing print service providers in the center of the map may make their locations easier to find.

[0535] Users can easily access the management server 120 using their mobile terminal 130 by scanning the two-dimensional barcode 150 printed along with the map, and download map data from the management server to the mobile terminal 130. The mobile terminal 130 then displays the downloaded map data on its screen.

[0536] It would be beneficial to equip the mobile device 130 with a function that provides the user with information identifying the area on a map to which the mobile device 130's current location belongs, based on the mobile device 130's current location information. For example, the mobile device 130 could perform a process to indicate the location on the map using the terms "center" and / or "up, down, left, or right," such as "Your current location is to the upper right of the center." This type of processing is particularly useful in map applications and route guidance applications.

[0537] Users can easily find their current location on a map with the help of area-specific information. The mobile terminal 130 typically has a function that displays a map of a certain area around the current location on the display screen, with the mobile terminal 130's current location fixed to a specific point on the display screen. When the mobile terminal 130's current location moves, the mobile terminal 130 automatically scrolls the map on the display screen to prevent the current location from moving. Therefore, while the map displayed on the mobile terminal 130 is convenient for users to know the situation around their current location, it is unsuitable for understanding their relative position in a specific area larger than the area displayed on the screen. In contrast, by using a printed map (Figure 26), users can easily understand their relative position within a specific area represented on the map by finding their current location on that map.

[0538] As information to identify a specific area on a map, for example, the entire printed map may be divided into multiple matrices, and information to identify the rows and columns may be used. For example, the columns could be identified from left to right with letters A, B, C, D, etc., and the rows from top to bottom with numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Each section on the map can be identified using a combination of letters and numbers. For example, a mobile device can notify the user of their current location using information that identifies the section, such as, "Your current location is in section A1."

[0539] It would be beneficial to equip the mobile device 130 with a compass detection function. The mobile device 130, which has a compass detection function, should also have a function to notify the user of the correspondence between the current top direction on the mobile device 130's screen and the top, bottom, left, and right directions on a printed map. For example, the mobile device 130 could have a function to notify the user that "the top of the screen is the right direction on the map." This is particularly effective when the mobile device's app displays the map using heading-up, as it reduces the likelihood of losing track of the correspondence with a printed paper map.

[0540] The management server 120 (Figure 24) may store the printer's identification information and location information in association. The printer 105 can obtain its location information from the management server 120 by querying the management server 120 for its location information. In this way, it becomes unnecessary to set the location information on the printer 105 at the site when the printer is installed, and it is possible to prevent forgetting to set the location information or setting it incorrectly.

[0541] Instead of having the mobile terminal 130 read the two-dimensional barcode 150 (Figure 26) printed along with the map, information identifying the URL may be transferred from the printer 105 to the mobile terminal 130 via short-range wireless communication.

[0542] In the fifth embodiment, the printer 105 is equipped with a function to provide information that identifies the area on the map to which the mobile terminal's current location belongs, for example, a function to print the words "up," "down," "left," and "right." However, this function may also be provided to the management server 120 that distributes map data to the printer 105.

[0543] [First modified example of the fifth embodiment] Next, a printer 105 according to the first modification of the fifth embodiment will be described. In the first modification of the fifth embodiment, the control unit 110 of the printer 105 has the function of printing out advertisements for stores within the area of ​​the map to be printed, along with the map. The advertisement data to be printed is distributed to the printer 105 from the management server 120 along with the map data. The management server 120 provides advertisement creation support services to the advertisers.

[0544] Figure 27 shows an example of a printed map and advertisements. Multiple advertisements 152 are printed on the edge of the paper.

[0545] Users can obtain information about nearby stores (souvenir shops, restaurants, etc.) by looking at the printed advertisement 152. The store advertisement 152 should include information indicating the right to receive a benefit at that store, such as a coupon. For users who print out the map, such as tourists or business travelers, this provides the benefit of receiving a benefit at the store, such as a 200 yen discount on food and drinks. Part or all of the cost of printing the map can be offset by an amount equivalent to the benefit received by the user. For stores, this provides the benefit of attracting tourists and others to their store.

[0546] Advertisers, such as stores, can easily create advertisements by receiving ad creation support services from the management server 120. The ad creation support service could, for example, be a service that allows users to create advertisements using ad templates. For instance, advertisers could create advertisements simply by inserting photos and text into a template. Multiple templates could be prepared, allowing advertisers to select their preferred template. Advertisers could download template data from the management server 120 to their terminals, create advertisements using the templates on their terminals, and upload the created advertisement data back to the management server 120 to store the advertisement data. Alternatively, advertisers could directly create advertisements using templates on the management server 120 via a browser on their terminals, and store the advertisement data on the management server 120.

[0547] While it's acceptable to charge businesses for advertising, making it free is especially beneficial. Free advertising offers significant advantages to businesses providing ads. For businesses offering map printout services, this can lead to an increase in advertisers.

[0548] As the number of advertisements provided increases, it becomes difficult to print out all of them on the map. In such cases, the control unit 110 of the printer 105 can filter the advertisements according to predetermined filtering conditions to extract some of the advertisements that should be printed from the large number of advertisements. The predetermined filtering conditions should be provided to the printer 105 by the user operating the printer 105. For example, the user could be able to select the type of business of the stores offering the advertisements they want to print out. The control unit 110 of the printer 105 can extract advertisements from stores of the type of business selected by the user from the large number of advertisements and print out the extracted store advertisements along with the map.

[0549] Alternatively, filtering conditions may be pre-set on the management server 120 that provides support services for creating advertisements and on the user's mobile terminal 130, and the configured filtering conditions may be applied to extract advertisements that should be printed from a large volume of advertisements.

[0550] [Second variation of the fifth embodiment] Next, a printer 105 according to a second modification of the fifth embodiment will be described. The printer 105 according to the second modification of the fifth embodiment prints out map identification information along with the map. The map identification information is unique to that map, and the identification information assigned to the map will differ depending on the user printing the map.

[0551] As information to identify the map, for example, a unique number to identify the map can be used. The information to identify the map is sent by the management server 120 to the printer 105 along with the map data when the map data is distributed (step S32). The control unit 110 of the printer 105 prints out the received identification information along with the map in the form of a barcode or the like.

[0552] Figure 28 shows an example of a map printed on paper and a one-dimensional barcode 153. For example, a one-dimensional barcode 153 is printed in the corner of the paper. This one-dimensional barcode 153 represents information that identifies the printed map.

[0553] When a map user loads identification information into an information acquisition device installed within the area represented on the map, the map's identification information is transferred from the information acquisition device to the management server 120. Upon receiving the map's identification information from the information acquisition device, the management server 120 stores the map's identification information in association with the location information of the location where the information acquisition device is installed (the visited location). When the printer 105 requests the provision of the visited location information by identifying the map's identification number, the management server 120 has the function to send the visited location information associated with that map's identification information to the printer 105.

[0554] When the printer 105 receives location information of a visited location from the management server 120, the control unit 110 of the printer 105 has the function of printing out a new map in a manner that allows the user's visited location to be identified.

[0555] Figure 29 shows an example of a new map printed in a manner that allows for the identification of the user's visited locations. The visited locations on the new printout map are marked with circled numbers in the order they were visited.

[0556] Map users can see a new map (Figure 29) printed in a manner that allows them to identify the visited locations, and recognize the places they visited after carrying the map from the print service provider where they initially printed it. The printer 105 that printed the first map and the printer 105 that printed the new map do not need to be the same printer. It is convenient to install multiple printers 105, each with the function of printing the first map and the function of printing the new map, at multiple print service providers. For example, a user can print the first map (Figure 28) at a print service provider at their travel destination, and after returning from their trip, print a new map (Figure 29) at a print service provider near their home that allows them to recognize the places they visited. This new map can then be kept as a memento of their trip.

[0557] As information acquisition devices, humanoid robots with information reading capabilities and digital signage can be used. Users can input map identification information into the information acquisition device by having the barcode reader or camera read identification information such as barcodes printed along with the map. Humanoid robots and digital signage are installed, for example, in stores.

[0558] It would be beneficial if a humanoid robot installed in a store could read the map's identification information and then speak to the map user, introducing the store to them. For example, it could retrieve the name of the print service provider that printed the map from the map's identification information and then say something like, "You came from store XX, right? We recommend XX."

[0559] The name of the print service provider that prints out the map can be obtained, for example, by having a humanoid robot read the map's identification information and querying a management server 120 that stores the map's identification information in association with the name of the print service provider. Alternatively, the name of the print service provider can be obtained by performing image recognition on the entire map.

[0560] The user's payment card information may be registered with the management server 120, and the management server 120 may acquire the location information of the store where the user made a purchase using the registered payment card and store this store location information as the location information of the visited location. Even if the visited store does not have an information acquisition device installed, when a purchase is made using the payment card, the management server 120 can record that the user visited that store.

[0561] The management server 120 may also have a function to store identification information that identifies the user's terminal in association with the map identification information, and to distribute to the user's terminal the location information of the visited locations associated with the map identification information, and the location information of the printer 105 that printed the map.

[0562] Map users can recognize locations they have visited while carrying the map, based on location information delivered to their devices. Users can also upload information about these locations to a social networking service (SNS) server and share it with multiple people by operating their devices. The location information may also be delivered to the devices of companions who traveled with the map user.

[0563] [Third modified example of the fifth embodiment] Next, a printer 105 according to a third modification of the fifth embodiment will be described. The printer 105 according to the third modification of the fifth embodiment has the function of receiving augmented reality information acquired by the user using a mobile terminal 130 within the area shown on the map from the management server 120, and printing out a new map by combining the augmented reality information received from the management server 120 with a map covering the same area as the map that was initially printed out.

[0564] The management server 120 has the function of obtaining augmented reality information acquired by the user using a terminal within the area shown on the map, and storing it in association with the map's identification information. Furthermore, it has the function of transmitting the map's identification information and the augmented reality information to the printer 105 upon request.

[0565] Figure 30 shows an example of a map printed out by synthesizing augmented reality information. An image 155 of a character captured in the augmented reality world is printed on the map at the location where the character was captured.

[0566] By viewing the newly printed map (Figure 30) from printer 105, users can recognize augmented reality information obtained at the locations they visited. This map can then be kept by the user as a memento of their trip.

[0567] [Sixth embodiment] Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. The functions of the electronic device according to the sixth embodiment are realized by multiple electronic devices such as a home computer, a dashcam installed in a vehicle, a camera carried on a trip, and a server connected to the internet.

[0568] Figure 31 shows the processing flow performed by these multiple electronic devices. The personal computer 160 has a storage device for storing the travel itinerary 165. The server 163 has a photo database 167 for publicly releasing photos corresponding to each tourist spot. The personal computer 160, drive recorder 161, camera 162, and server 163 have the function of exchanging data with each other. Data may be exchanged between these electronic devices using wireless communication or wired communication, or data may be exchanged via contactless IC cards or removable memory cards.

[0569] In the sixth embodiment, the user of the electronic device decides which tourist spots they want to visit by operating a personal computer 160 at home or elsewhere before traveling (step S41). Once the user has decided which tourist spots they want to visit, they add those tourist spots to the travel itinerary 165 as planned tourist spots (step S42). The travel itinerary 165 includes information that identifies the tourist spots, such as the name of the tourist spot, the location information of the tourist spot, and a photograph of the tourist spot.

[0570] The user registers the location information of the planned tourist spots, which are registered in the travel itinerary 165, to the drive recorder 161 by transferring the location information of the planned tourist spots from the PC 160 to the drive recorder 161 (step S43).

[0571] The drive recorder 161 has a function to continuously record the area around the vehicle, for example, the scenery in front. When the video recording area is full, it overwrites the area where older footage is recorded with new footage. Furthermore, when the drive recorder 161 detects that the vehicle is approaching a planned tourist spot, it records the scenery around the vehicle in a recording area for the tourist spot (step S44). The recording area for the tourist spot is set to not be overwritten, so the footage recorded in the tourist spot recording area will not be automatically overwritten and erased.

[0572] The user gets out of the vehicle at the planned tourist spot and takes pictures of the tourist spot using camera 162. The captured images are recorded in the camera's memory (step S45).

[0573] When the trip is over, the user transfers the video recorded in the sightseeing area of ​​the drive recorder 161 to the PC 160 (step S46). Furthermore, the user transfers the video taken with the camera 162 to the PC 160 (step S47).

[0574] When the user operates the PC 160, the PC 160 automatically creates an album by remixing the video footage taken by the drive recorder 161, the video footage taken by the camera 162, and publicly available photos of tourist spots etc. stored in the database 167 of the server 163 (step S48). It is also possible to include photos and videos that the user has previously taken and uploaded to a photo backup site as the photos and videos to be included in the album creation.

[0575] For example, when a user selects the Remix button displayed on the PC 160 screen, the PC 160 automatically creates an album by combining and laying out photos and videos. The combination of photos and videos can be based, for example, on the location information of where the photos and videos were taken.

[0576] The user selects the photos and videos they have taken that they wish to make public, and then selects the public release button displayed on the screen of the PC 160 to select the photos and videos to make public (step S49). The PC 160 uploads the selected photos and videos to the server 163 (step S50). The server 163 stores the uploaded photos and videos in the database 167 of photos to be made public (step S51).

[0577] Figure 32 shows an example of the image displayed on the PC 160 screen when creating an album (step S48). The PC 160 displays thumbnails 170 of photos publicly available on the server 163, photos taken with the camera 162, videos taken with the drive recorder 161, and photos previously uploaded by the user to the photo backup site, categorized by visited tourist spots and displayed in a table format on the screen. Furthermore, the display screen shows an album creation button 171, a remix button 172, and a public sharing button 173.

[0578] After the user selects some thumbnails from the list displayed on the screen, and then selects the "Create Album" button 171, the computer 160 determines the layout of the photos and videos corresponding to the thumbnails selected by the user and creates an album. The created album is displayed on the computer 160's screen. If the user selects the "Remix" button 172, the computer 160 changes the combination and layout of photos and videos and creates a new album. The user can also select some of the photos that make up the created album and replace them with other photos.

[0579] After the user selects some thumbnails from the list displayed on the screen, and then selects the public release button 173, the PC 160 uploads the photos and videos corresponding to the thumbnails selected by the user to the server 163 as photos and videos for public release (step S50).

[0580] [Effects of the 6th embodiment] By using the PC 160, drive recorder 161, camera 162, and server 163 according to the sixth embodiment, users can easily create albums using photos and videos taken with the drive recorder 161 and camera 162 during their trip. Furthermore, they can create a prototype of the album in a short time and improve the quality of the album by replacing photos and videos as needed.

[0581] [Modified version of the sixth embodiment] Photos and videos uploaded to server 163 for public viewing should be made available for sale to third parties for a fee. In the thumbnail list shown in Figure 32, thumbnails 170 of publicly available photos should be displayed in a way that distinguishes whether they are free or paid. For example, the text "Paid" or "Free" could be added to the edge of the thumbnail.

[0582] The thumbnail list shown in Figure 32 may include thumbnail screenshots of images displayed on the display unit 5 (Figures 1 and 2) while an application installed on the navigation device 1 according to the third embodiment is running. Users can then add image information related to the applications they used during their sightseeing to an album.

[0583] The thumbnail list shown in Figure 32 may include thumbnails of images related to donations made under the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) system using the navigation device 1 according to the fourth embodiment. For example, thumbnails of the name of the municipality and images of the return gifts can be included. Users can add the name of the municipality to which they made a donation and images of the return gifts provided at that time to an album while sightseeing.

[0584] In the sixth embodiment, album creation (step S48) was performed using the personal computer 160, but the server 163 may also be equipped with the album creation function. In this case, the photos taken by the camera 162 and the videos taken by the drive recorder 161 are uploaded to the server 163, and the album is created via the browser of the personal computer 160 connected to the server 163.

[0585] The electronic device according to the sixth embodiment consists of multiple electronic devices such as a personal computer 160, a camera 162, a drive recorder 161, and a server 163. This specification discloses inventions for individual electronic devices such as the personal computer 160, camera 162, drive recorder 161, and server 163, as well as inventions for devices that combine these electronic devices in any way.

[0586] It is preferable to combine the first to sixth embodiments described above. In particular, it is preferable to combine the contents described in th...

Claims

1. A system including electronic devices usable inside a vehicle, The aforementioned electronic device is used in a manner that moves with the user and provides information based on information including location information indicating the current location. When the electronic device receives information from the server, an advertisement is also sent from the server to the electronic device, and a transaction regarding the advertisement information is sent to the blockchain. Furthermore, with respect to the information transmitted and received between the electronic device and the server, the content of the information is transmitted to a blockchain system on the internet, and the transaction corresponding to the information is recorded on the blockchain. A system characterized by the following features.

2. In the system described in claim 1, A server transmits the link destination information as advertising information to the electronic device and also transmits the transaction for the advertisement to the blockchain, and the advertising information and the transaction are transmitted from the server to the electronic device and the blockchain. A system characterized by the following features.

3. In the system described in claim 2, The server selects advertising information to deliver based on transaction information when the electronic device is the recipient of the information first, and transmits the advertising information to the electronic device when the electronic device is the recipient of the information later. A system characterized by the following features.

4. A program for a computer to implement the functions of the electronic equipment of the system described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images