Information provision device, information provision method, information provision program, and information provision system

Abstract

Encourage them to go to the toilet voluntarily when it is recommended. [Solution] An information providing device that provides information to a user, comprising a controller. The controller acquires user information relating to the user's use of toilets, acquires toilet information relating to toilets near the user's travel route, determines the next toilet to be used, which is located near the travel route ahead of the user's current location, based on the user information and the toilet information, and provides incentive information to encourage the use of the toilet to be used.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Conventionally, techniques for providing information regarding toilet breaks for a traveling vehicle have been proposed. For example, a technique has been proposed that estimates the next time a toilet break will be needed based on the estimated amount of water ingested by an occupant and the elapsed time from when the last toilet break was acquired, and provides information based on that time (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Prior Art Documents Patent Documents

[0003] Patent Document 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-261704 Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, for example, young children in situations where there is a particularly interesting matter, they rarely feel the urge to urinate until just before it is urgent, and there has been a problem that they refuse to go to the toilet even when it is a good timing to stop for a toilet break. This leads to situations where they feel the urge to urinate when it is not easy to stop at a toilet afterward, which raises concern that it will confuse the child and the people around them.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of inducing a person to voluntarily go to the toilet when it is recommended to go to the toilet. Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An exemplary information-providing device of the present invention is an information-providing device that provides information to a user and includes a controller. The controller acquires user information relating to the user's use of toilets, acquires toilet information relating to toilets near the user's travel route, determines a toilet that should be used next, which is located near the travel route ahead of the user's current location, based on the user information and the toilet information, and provides incentive information to encourage the use of the toilet that should be used. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the user is provided with information that encourages them to use the next toilet they should use, thereby making the user feel like going to the toilet. As a result, the user will be more inclined to go to the toilet they should use on their own, enabling appropriate toilet use during travel. Consequently, comfortable and efficient travel becomes possible. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Overall configuration diagram of the information provision system of this embodiment [Figure 2] Block diagram showing the configuration of the information provision system in Figure 1. [Figure 3] A diagram showing an example of a user information table. [Figure 4] A diagram showing an example of a facility service information table. [Figure 5] A diagram showing an example of a candidate toilet information table. [Figure 6] This diagram shows an example of a display screen that shows information about multiple toilets. [Figure 7] A diagram showing an example of a service application information table. [Figure 8] A flowchart illustrating the information provision process performed by the information provision device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0010] <1. Information Provision System> Figure 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the information provision system 1 of this embodiment. The information provision system 1 is a system that generates and guides the user on a travel route from their starting point to their destination. In this embodiment, the information provision system 1 not only guides the user on a travel route but also provides information regarding toilet breaks to encourage the user to use the toilet and prevent problems related to toilet use. For example, a person (e.g., a child) riding in vehicle V1 is the person T1 who is to be encouraged to use the toilet.

[0011] The information provision system 1 includes an information provision device 10 mounted on the vehicle V1, a road information provision device 20 consisting of a server device, a service provision device 30 consisting of a server device, a display device 3, and a speaker 4 (see Figures 1 and 2). The information provision device 10, the road information provision device 20, and the service provision device 30 are connected via a communication network N, such as a mobile communication network, enabling bidirectional communication.

[0012] The information providing device 10 is an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle V1. The information providing device 10 may be a device permanently installed in the vehicle V1, or it may be a portable device that can be carried inside or outside the vehicle V1. The information providing device 10 may be an in-vehicle device such as a drive recorder, or it may be a portable mobile device such as a tablet or mobile terminal.

[0013] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the information providing device 10 is a device used in vehicle V1, as shown in Figure 1, but it is not limited to this. The information providing device 10 can be used as a mobile terminal when the user is traveling by train or when taking a walk.

[0014] In this embodiment, the information providing device 10 is a so-called navigation device that generates and guides the vehicle V1 from its starting point to its destination. More specifically, the information providing device 10 guides the user along the travel route and provides information regarding toilet breaks to encourage the user (target person T1) to use a toilet. More specifically, the information providing device 10 acquires user information regarding the user's (target person T1's) toilet use and toilet information near the travel route, and determines the next toilet to use based on this information. The information providing device 10 then provides incentive information to encourage the user (target person T1) to the determined toilet.

[0015] The attractive information includes, for example, information about user-available benefits provided as images or videos. Examples of images and videos as benefits include digital data such as character images, funny videos, relaxing videos of animals, and digital data of coupons usable at commercial facilities, etc.

[0016] The incentive information (reward information) is not the reward itself, but rather information about the content of the reward and that the reward will be provided if a specific action (in this case, going to the toilet) is performed. This makes the user (target person T1) aware that if they perform a specific action (in this case, going to the toilet), they will be provided with a reward (for example, electronic data such as character images, funny videos, soothing videos of animals, etc., or coupons usable at commercial facilities, etc.). Then, when the user (target person T1) performs the specific action (in this case, going to the toilet), the reward is actually provided to the user (target person T1) (for example, electronic data such as character images, funny videos, soothing videos of animals, etc., or coupons usable at commercial facilities, etc. are displayed on the display device 3). Therefore, compared to simply providing directions to the toilet, it is possible to increase the effect of making the user (target person T1) want to go to the toilet themselves. In other words, it becomes possible to more effectively induce the user to go to the toilet voluntarily.

[0017] The road information providing device 20 is a device that provides road information related to a movement route to the information providing device 10, and is configured by a server device or the like. The road information includes various types of road-related information such as toilet information and traffic congestion information, and a traffic congestion information table 21 (see FIG. 2) is stored in the storage unit. The road information providing device 20 constantly collects various types of information such as traffic congestion data, and the latest traffic congestion data is updated and recorded in the traffic congestion information table 21. The information providing device 10 acquires various road-related information such as toilet information and traffic congestion information from the road information providing device 20 via the communication network N.

[0018] The service providing device 30 is a device that provides attraction information for attracting a user (target person T1) to a toilet to the information providing device 10, and also provides benefits to the information providing device 10 or a benefit providing device of a related facility, and is configured by a server device or the like. A facility service information table 31 and a service application information table 32 (both see FIG. 2) are stored in the storage unit of the service providing device 30. The information providing device 10 acquires benefit information and the like from the service providing device 30 via the communication network N.

[0019] The display device 3 and the speaker 4 are provided in the vehicle V1. The display device displays images related to the movement route, toilet information, attraction information, and benefits provided to the driver D1 and the like. The speaker 4 outputs audio related to the above information. Note that the display device 3 and the speaker 4 may be configured to be included in a drive recorder, a tablet terminal, a mobile terminal, or the like.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information providing system 1 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, components necessary for explaining the features of the present embodiment are shown, and descriptions of general components are omitted.

[0021] <2. Information Providing Apparatus> The information providing device 10 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a controller 13. The information providing device 10 also includes an operation unit (not shown) that receives operation inputs from the driver D1 and fellow passengers.

[0022] The communication unit 11 is an interface for communicating data with other devices via a communication network. The communication unit 11 includes various communication devices for wired and wireless communication with other devices. The wireless communication device consists of, for example, a transceiver for a 5G (fifth-generation mobile communication system) mobile telephone network.

[0023] The memory unit 12 is configured to include volatile memory and non-volatile memory, and stores various information necessary for various processes such as route guidance processing, incentive information and benefit provision processing. The volatile memory is composed of, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory). The non-volatile memory is composed of, for example, ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, and hard disk drive. Programs and data that can be read by the controller 13 are stored in the non-volatile memory. At least a portion of the programs and data stored in the non-volatile memory may be obtained from other computer devices connected by wired or wireless connections, or from portable recording media.

[0024] The memory unit 12 stores the information provision program 121, map data 122, user information table 123, candidate toilet information table 124, and travel route data 125. The contents of these programs, data tables, etc., stored in the memory unit 12 are described separately. In addition, the memory unit 12 stores multiple data tables, etc., for various processing.

[0025] The controller 13 consists of a processor that performs calculations and other processing, and controls various operations in the information providing device 10. The processor includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The controller 13 executes the information providing program 121 stored in the storage unit 12 and performs the process of generating a travel path. The information providing program 121 includes various programs that realize various functions of the information providing device 10.

[0026] The controller 13 includes, as its functions, a destination setting unit 131, a route generation unit 132, a target information acquisition unit 133, a road information acquisition unit 134, a toilet determination unit 135, and a guidance unit 137. In this embodiment, the functions of the controller 13 are realized by the processor executing calculation processing according to the information provision program 121 stored in the storage unit 12.

[0027] The destination setting unit 131 receives input for the destination of vehicle V1 from the driver D1 or the like via the operation unit and sets the destination. More specifically, the destination setting unit 131 extracts destination candidates by referring to map data 122 stored in the memory unit 12 based on keywords such as the type of destination facility and region entered by the driver D1 or the like, and outputs them to the display device 3. Then, the destination setting unit 131 sets the destination candidate selected by the driver D1 or the like as the destination. The destination setting unit 131 stores information related to the destination in the memory unit 12 as needed for subsequent processing. Information related to the destination is used to generate (search for) a travel route.

[0028] The route generation unit 132 generates a travel route for vehicle V1 from its starting point to its destination. More specifically, the route generation unit 132 searches for a travel route for vehicle V1 from its starting point to its destination using Dijkstra's algorithm or the like based on map information, and extracts candidate travel routes (recommended routes under multiple predetermined conditions such as the shortest distance route, the shortest time route, and the highway priority route).

[0029] The route generation unit 132 then selects a travel route candidate from the extracted travel route candidates, chosen by the driver D1 or the like, and sets (determines) that travel route data 125 in the storage unit 12. The starting point of vehicle V1 is, for example, the current location of vehicle V1. The destination of vehicle V1 is the destination set by the destination setting unit 131. The route generation unit 132 stores information related to the travel route candidates in the storage unit 12 for subsequent processing.

[0030] The target information acquisition unit 133 acquires user information related to the user's (target person T1) use of the toilet. The information provision device 10 also has a "toilet support mode" that guides the user to the toilet when guiding the vehicle V1's travel route. When the driver D1 or a passenger requests the start of this toilet support mode via the operation unit, the information provision device 10 acquires user information using the target information acquisition unit 133. The user information related to the target person T1's use of the toilet is stored in the user information table 123 of the storage unit 12.

[0031] This user information includes information entered by the user using a keyboard, touch panel, or other control panel, or information stored on the user's smartphone (information previously entered by the user using the smartphone's control panel). It is also possible to estimate and apply appropriate data (values) based on the user's past history.

[0032] Figure 3 shows an example of a user information table 123. As shown in Figure 3, the items in the user information table 123 include "Target ID", "Limit Time", "Most Restroom Time", "Limit Time", and "Current Location Data".

[0033] The "Target Person ID" in User Information Table 123 is identification information used to identify the user information dataset. The Target Person ID is set individually for each passenger of Vehicle V1 (the person to be lured to the toilet (Target Person Tn)) (for example, by identifying the passenger through facial recognition and setting each passenger as a target person), and a user information data record is constructed for each Target Person ID.

[0034] The "Limit Time" column in User Information Table 123 represents the estimated maximum time interval between when Subject T1 typically uses the toilet and when they use it again. In other words, the limit time is the maximum amount of time Subject T1 can hold their bladder. The "Most Restroom Time" column in User Information Table 123 represents the time when Subject T1 most recently used the toilet relative to the current time.

[0035] The "Limit Time" in User Information Table 123 is data that shows the time calculated by "Most Restroom Time" + "Limit Time". In other words, the Limit Time is the time when subject T1 is estimated to be unable to hold their bladder any longer. The "Current Location Data" in User Information Table 123 is data that shows the current location of subject T1, who is identified by the subject ID.

[0036] The current location information can be obtained from a position detector in the information providing device 10, such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver. Also, since the position of all passengers in vehicle V1 is the same as the position of vehicle V1, in this embodiment (a configuration in which the in-vehicle information providing device 10 has a built-in user information table 123), the "current location data" in the user information table 123 may be omitted, and the detected value (position) from the position detector in the information providing device 10 may be used instead.

[0037] The road information acquisition unit 134 acquires information on toilets located near the user's (target person T1's) travel route from their starting point to their destination (for example, toilets installed along the travel route). More specifically, the road information acquisition unit 134 acquires the necessary data from the facility service information table 31 of the service provision device 30.

[0038] Specifically, the road information acquisition unit 134 obtains toilet information near the user's (target person T1) travel route from their current location to their destination from the acquired facility service information table 31. The road information acquisition unit 134 then executes (transmits) a request for facility service information, including travel route data 125, to the service provision device 30 via the communication unit 11 and the communication network N, and obtains the necessary data from the facility service information table 31.

[0039] The service provider 30 receives requests for facility service information from the information provider 10 used by the user. The requests for facility service information include information about the travel route (travel route data 125). Based on the request from the information provider 10, the service provider 30 transmits information about toilets near the travel route to the information provider 10.

[0040] Figure 4 shows an example of a facility service information table 31. The facility service information table 31 is stored in the storage unit of the service provision device 30. As shown in Figure 4, the items in the facility service information table 31 include "location data," "toilet facility ID," "benefit information," "service application data," and "application method data."

[0041] The "Location Data" in Facility Service Information Table 31 is data indicating the location of the toilet facility identified by the "Toilet Facility ID". For example, it is the longitude and latitude information of the toilet facility.

[0042] The "Toilet Facility ID" in the Facility Service Information Table 31 is identification information for identifying toilet facilities, and is set individually for each toilet facility. A data record in the Facility Service Information Table 31 is generated for each "Toilet Facility ID". On expressways and other roads exclusively for motor vehicles, toilet facilities are, for example, facilities such as service areas and parking areas. On general roads and in urban areas, toilet facilities are, for example, facilities such as convenience stores and large commercial facilities.

[0043] The facility service information table 31 stores "benefit information," which is information about benefits related to the use of toilet facilities identified by the toilet facility ID; "service application data," which is information for applying for the benefit; and "application method data," which is information for applying for the benefit, such as the URL information for the benefit application destination. The "service application data" includes identification data of the service applicant and is used to determine whether or not to provide the benefit when the benefit is provided.

[0044] The road information acquisition unit 134 then stores toilet information near the travel route from the facility service information table 31 into the candidate toilet information table 124 stored in the storage unit 12. At this time, the road information acquisition unit 134 compares the travel route determined by the route generation unit 132 with the location data of toilet facilities stored in the facility service information table 31 and stores the toilet information of toilet facilities near the travel route into the candidate toilet information table 124. To make it easier for the user to compare, it is desirable to acquire toilet information for multiple toilet facilities located within a predetermined distance from the current location of the subject T1.

[0045] The candidate toilet information table 124 is structured by adding the item "travel time required" to the facility service information table 31. "Travel time required" is the time information required for the subject T1 to travel from their current location to the target toilet facility. Specifically, the destination setting unit 131 calculates the travel time required to arrive at the destination from the current location using the location data as the destination, and stores it in the candidate toilet information table 124. The specific method can be carried out using the conventional travel time calculation method. In addition, traffic congestion information may be taken into consideration when calculating the travel time.

[0046] Figure 5 shows an example of a candidate toilet information table 124. As shown in Figure 5, the items in the candidate toilet information table 124 include "toilet facility ID", "location data", "estimated travel time", "benefit information", "service application data", and "application method data".

[0047] The "Toilet Facility ID," "Location Data," "Benefit Information," and "Application Method Data" in the candidate toilet information table 124 are toilet information obtained from the facility service information table 31 of the road information provision device 20, and are data relating to candidate toilet facilities proposed to the user. "Required Travel Time" is information on the time required for the subject T1 to travel from their current location to the target toilet facility.

[0048] The "Benefit Information" in the candidate toilet information table 124 is data related to benefits that a user can obtain when using the corresponding toilet facility. The "Service Application Data" is data on the details of the benefit (service) application that the user sent to the service provision device 30 when obtaining the benefit (service).

[0049] Specifically, for example, when a user connects to a website using a browser via the URL data for benefit application stored in the "Application Method Data," a screen for entering applicant information is displayed. After entering the necessary information according to the instructions on this screen, the application data is registered in the service provider device 30 (the "Service Application Data" in the facility service information table 31), and the user becomes eligible to receive benefits at the relevant facility. This application data is then stored as "Service Application Data" in the candidate toilet information table 124.

[0050] The toilet determination unit 135 determines the next toilet to be used, located near the vehicle V1's travel path and ahead of its current location. More specifically, the toilet determination unit 135 determines the next toilet to be used based on the user information stored in the user information table 123 and the toilet information stored in the candidate toilet information table 124.

[0051] The user information table 123 stores the deadline time when subject T1 must next use the toilet, relative to the current time. The candidate toilet information table 124 stores the travel time required to reach the toilet facility. The toilet determination unit 135 determines the next toilet that subject T1 should use based on these deadline times and travel time.

[0052] More specifically, the toilet determination part 135 is, "(Deadline time) - Offset (e.g., 30 minutes) < (Current time + Travel time required) < (Deadline time)" The toilet that satisfies the following criteria is determined to be the next toilet to be used. In other words, the toilet determination unit 135 determines the next toilet to be used to be one that is located in a position that can be reached by moving before the subject T1 reaches their toilet limit time.

[0053] Furthermore, toilets that can be reached too early before the deadline are not considered suitable for selection, so the range is limited by an offset. Also, if no toilets that meet the above conditions exist, it is preferable to temporarily adjust the offset to a longer value. In this way, the next toilet to be used is determined based on user information related to toilet use (deadline time) and the estimated arrival time at the toilet facility (current time + travel time), making it possible to take toilet breaks efficiently during the journey to the destination.

[0054] Furthermore, if there are multiple toilets that satisfy the condition "(limit time) - offset < (current time + travel time required) < (limit time)", the toilet determination unit 135 presents toilet information to the user (target person T1) for each of these toilets. Figure 6 shows an example of a display screen that presents information on multiple toilets. As shown in Figure 6, the toilet determination unit 135 presents the user (target person T1) with information on the toilet facility, the estimated arrival time to the toilet facility (current time + travel time required), and information on the benefits that can be obtained for each of the multiple toilets. The display screen shown in Figure 6 is output to the display device 3 by the guidance unit 137.

[0055] The toilets presented to the user (target person T1) must satisfy the condition (current time + required travel time) < (deadline time), and the information may be limited to a predetermined number of toilets (e.g., 3) that are passed in the years leading up from the deadline time. For example, if the deadline time is 15:00, the information would include three toilets that would be passed in the years leading up from 15:00: toilet facility A scheduled to be passed at 14:50, toilet facility B scheduled to be passed at 14:30, and toilet facility C scheduled to be passed at 14:10. Alternatively, the information could include toilets that would be passed within a predetermined time (e.g., 1 hour) before the deadline time.

[0056] Furthermore, the reward rank increases the further away the toilet is from the user's (target person T1) current location (within a range that can be reached by the deadline). The hierarchy of reward ranks is determined by factors such as the quantity of rewards obtainable, rarity, importance, usefulness, and utility. This allows the user (target person T1) to be enticed to the toilet as far away as possible from their current location. By enticing the user (target person T1) to the toilet as far away as possible, the number of toilet breaks required on the way to the destination can be reduced, and in some cases, a toilet break can be taken at the destination. As a result, the journey to the destination can be carried out more efficiently.

[0057] Furthermore, the longer the travel time or distance between a toilet break immediately after exceeding the time limit and a toilet break immediately before exceeding the time limit, the higher the reward rank for the toilet break immediately before exceeding the time limit may be. For example, on highways or other routes with few toilets along the way, a toilet break before the time limit can be more strongly encouraged.

[0058] The service processing unit 136 processes the receipt of benefits when a user (target person T1) uses the toilet. More specifically, the service processing unit 136 determines that target person T1 has entered (or approached) the toilet based on the target person T1's current location information and the toilet's location information, and outputs (transmits) toilet usage information (target person ID, toilet facility ID, etc.) to the service provision device 30. Various determination methods can be applied to determine toilet usage, such as acquiring user identification results from a camera installed at the toilet entrance via wireless communication. The service processing unit 136 then receives benefits related to target person T1's toilet use from the service provision device 30. The benefits are stored in the storage unit 12 as needed.

[0059] Figure 7 shows an example of a service application information table 32. The service application information table 32 is stored in the storage unit of the service provision device 30. As shown in Figure 7, the items in the service application information table 32 include "Target Person ID" and "Toilet Facility ID".

[0060] The service provider 30 obtains data from the information provider 10 to identify the applicant T1 and the toilet in question, namely the applicant ID and toilet facility ID. Since the facility service information table 31 of the service provider 30 stores the toilet facility ID and service application data in association, the service application information table 32 may be generated and stored based on this data.

[0061] Then, when the service provider 30 obtains information that the target person T1 has used the toilet, it determines, based on the data in the service application information table 32, whether an application for a benefit for using the toilet has been made for the target person T1, and if an application has been made, it provides the benefit to the target person T1. Through this process, the target person T1 can not receive the benefit unless they actually go to the toilet, so it is possible to more effectively make the target person T1 want to go to the toilet.

[0062] The guidance unit 137 outputs the travel route determined by the route generation unit 132, toilet information determined by the toilet determination unit 135, and reward information for using the toilet to the display device 3 and speaker 4. The travel route, toilet information (information on toilet facilities, estimated arrival time (current time + travel time)), and reward information are output as images to the passengers of vehicle V1, such as the driver D1, via the display device 3 (see Figure 6). In addition, the travel route, toilet information, and reward information are output as audio to the passengers of vehicle V1, such as the driver D1, via speaker 4. In other words, the guidance unit 137 provides the target person T1 with reward information (explanation of the reward content, etc.), which is incentive information to lure the target person T1 to the toilet.

[0063] Then, when the information unit 137 receives information from the service provider 30 regarding the benefits related to the use of the toilet by the target person T1, it outputs the benefit, such as images or videos, to the display device 3 and speaker 4.

[0064] In this way, the information providing device 10 (information providing system 1) generates and guides the vehicle V1 from its departure point to its destination. The information providing device 10 (information providing system 1) also provides information regarding toilet breaks, such as the location of toilets and the benefits of using toilets, thereby enticing the user (target person T1) to use the toilets.

[0065] Furthermore, the information provision device 10 will alert the driver D1, etc., via the display device 3 and speaker 4 if a sudden change in circumstances occurs along the travel route. For example, if the driver D1, etc. encounters an accident or traffic congestion caused by the accident while driving, the information provision device 10 will alert the driver D1, etc. Then, if necessary, the information provision device 10 will change the travel route and, in conjunction with the change in the travel route, change the next toilet to be used and guide the driver D1, etc.

[0066] According to the above configuration, when guiding a user (target person T1) from their departure point to their destination, the system determines the next toilet to use near the route based on the user's toilet usage history, and further encourages the user to use the toilet by providing incentives and suggesting benefits. In other words, it uses incentive information to encourage toilet use and makes the user feel the need to use the toilet themselves. As a result, it is expected that passengers, especially children, will use the toilet at appropriate times. Consequently, a comfortable and efficient journey can be expected.

[0067] <3. Examples of information provision device operation> Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the information provision process performed by the information provision device 10. The operation shown in this flowchart is realized by a computer program (information provision program 121) executed by the controller 13 (the computer that constitutes the controller 13).

[0068] The computer program that implements the information provision method according to this embodiment in a computer device is installed in a computer device such as the information provision device 10 to realize the various functions described above. Furthermore, such a computer program is provided to the computer device via a computer-readable non-volatile recording medium. For example, optical discs on which the computer program is recorded are distributed and sold, or computer programs stored on the hard disk of a server device are distributed and sold via a network environment. In addition, the computer program that implements the information provision method according to this embodiment in a computer device may consist of only one program, or it may consist of multiple programs.

[0069] The process shown in Figure 8 is initiated, for example, when the information provision device 10 is activated and the driver D1 or a passenger requests the start of "toilet support mode." The process shown in Figure 8 is then repeatedly executed while the vehicle is in "toilet support mode."

[0070] Before starting the "toilet support mode," the controller 13 receives input for the destination of vehicle V1 from the driver D1 or the like via the destination setting unit 131, and generates a travel route from the vehicle V1's starting point to the destination via the route generation unit 132.

[0071] In step S101, the controller 13 (target information acquisition unit 133) acquires user information regarding the toilet use of the user (target person T1) via the operation unit, and proceeds to step S102. The controller 13 (target information acquisition unit 133) stores the acquired user information regarding the toilet use of target person T1 in the storage unit 12.

[0072] In step S102, the controller 13 (road information acquisition unit 134) acquires toilet information near the travel route that has been pre-generated and guided by the route generation unit 132, and then proceeds to step S103. More specifically, the controller 13 (road information acquisition unit 134) acquires toilet information near the travel route from the target person T1's current location to the destination from the service provision device 30. The controller 13 (road information acquisition unit 134) then stores the acquired toilet information in the candidate toilet information table 124 of the storage unit 12.

[0073] In step S103, the controller 13 (toilet determination unit 135) determines the next toilet to be used, which is located ahead of the current location in the direction of travel, near the travel route that has been previously generated and guided by the route generation unit 132, and proceeds to step S104. More specifically, the controller 13 (toilet determination unit 135) determines the next toilet that the subject T1 should use, based on the limit time for the subject T1's toilet use stored in the user information table 123 and the time required to travel to the toilet facility stored in the candidate toilet information table 124, using the method described above.

[0074] In step S104, the controller 13 (guidance unit 137) outputs the toilet information (facility name, location information, etc.) determined in step S103, along with information about benefits for using the toilet, to the display device 3 and speaker 4, and then proceeds to step S105. The toilet information and benefit information are output (provided) to the driver D1, etc., via the display device 3 and speaker 4, and are used for guidance.

[0075] Furthermore, in step S104, if the scheduled time of passing the nearest toilet to be used from the current location (current time + travel time) is approaching, the driver D1 may be notified a predetermined time before the scheduled time (for example, 10 minutes before), provided that vehicle V1 is approaching the toilet.

[0076] In step S105, the controller 13 (service processing unit 136) determines, based on the user's decision input, whether or not the toilet to be used has been selected and the application for the benefit has been submitted, with respect to the toilet determined in step S103. If so, the process moves to step S106; otherwise, it returns to step S105 and repeats the process.

[0077] In step S106, the controller 13 (service processing unit 136) determines whether the toilet that was decided to be used by the subject T1 has been used, based on the location information of the subject T1 (vehicle V1), etc. If it has been used, the unit proceeds to step S107; otherwise, it returns to step S106 and repeats the process.

[0078] In step S107, the controller 13 (service processing unit 136) transmits information to the service provision device 30 that the toilet that has been selected for use has been used, and then proceeds to step S108.

[0079] In step S108, the controller 13 (service processing unit 136) receives the benefit related to the toilet use by subject T1 from the service provision device 30 and proceeds to step S109. The controller 13 also updates the most recent toilet time for subject T1 in the user information table 123. Specifically, it updates it to the time when it was determined in step S106 that the toilet was used.

[0080] In step S109, the controller 13 (guidance unit 137) outputs the benefits related to toilet use by the subject T1, which were acquired in step S108, to the display device 3 and speaker 4, and terminates the process shown in Figure 8. The images and videos (movies) that constitute the benefits are output (provided) to the driver D1, etc., via the display device 3 and speaker 4, and are used for guidance.

[0081] <4. Things to keep in mind> The various technical features disclosed as embodiments herein can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the technical creation. That is, the above embodiments are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the above descriptions of embodiments, and includes all modifications that fall within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. Furthermore, the multiple embodiments shown herein may be combined as appropriate to the extent possible.

[0082] Furthermore, although the above embodiment explains that various functions are implemented in software through CPU arithmetic processing according to a program, at least some of these functions may be implemented by electrical hardware resources. These hardware resources may be implemented entirely or partially by, for example, ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays). Conversely, at least some of the functions implemented by hardware resources may be implemented in software.

[0083] Furthermore, the system may include a computer program that enables a processor (computer) to implement at least some of the functions of the information provision system 1 (information provision device 10). Such a computer program can be stored on a computer-readable non-volatile recording medium (for example, in addition to the non-volatile memory mentioned above, it can also be provided (sold, etc.) from an optical recording medium (e.g., optical disc), a magneto-optical recording medium (e.g., magneto-optical disc), a USB memory stick, or an SD card, etc.), and it can also be provided from a server device via a communication line such as the Internet, a method known as download provision. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1. Information Provision System 3 Display device 4 speakers 10 Information provision device 11 Communications Department 12 Storage section 13 Controllers 20 Road information provision device 21 Traffic Information Table 30 Service provision device 31 Facility Service Information Table 32 Service Application Information Table 121 Information Provision Program 122 Map data 123 User Information Table 124 Candidate Toilet Information Table 125 Travel Path Data 131 Destination Setting Section 132 Route generation unit 133 Target Information Acquisition Unit 134 Road information acquisition department 135 Toilet Decision Section 136 Service Processing Unit 137 Information Department

Claims

1. An information providing device that provides information to users, Equipped with a controller, The aforementioned controller, The user information relating to the user's use of the toilet is obtained, Toilet information regarding toilets near the user's travel route is obtained. Based on the user information and the toilet information, the next toilet to be used, which is located near the travel path ahead from the current location, is determined. To provide information that encourages the use of the aforementioned toilets that require use, Information provision device.

2. The controller provides the user with the attraction information when it detects that the user has entered the toilet that needs to be used. The information providing device according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned incentive information is information regarding benefits available to the user. The information providing device according to claim 1.

4. The controller presents to the user a plurality of toilets that need to be used, located in the direction of travel from the current location near the travel path. The further away the aforementioned toilets are from the current location, the higher the rank of the aforementioned benefit. The information providing device according to claim 3.

5. The user information includes the time limit until the user can use the toilet. The aforementioned toilet information includes the time required to travel from the current location to the target toilet. The controller determines which toilet to use based on the time limit and the required travel time. The information providing device according to claim 1.

6. A method of providing information to users, The user information relating to the user's use of the toilet is obtained, Toilet information regarding toilets near the user's travel route is obtained. Based on the user information and the toilet information, the next toilet to be used, which is located near the travel path ahead from the current location, is determined. To provide information that encourages the use of the aforementioned toilets that require use, Information provision method.

7. An information provision program that provides information to users, The user information relating to the user's use of the toilet is obtained, Toilet information regarding toilets near the user's travel route is obtained. Based on the user information and the toilet information, the next toilet to be used, which is located near the travel path ahead from the current location, is determined. The process of providing incentive information to encourage the use of the aforementioned toilets that need to be used, Let the computer controller do it. Information provision program.

8. An information provision system that provides information to users, It comprises a service provision device and an information provision device, The service provider transmits facility service information to the information provider based on a request from the information provider. The aforementioned information providing device includes a controller, The aforementioned controller, The user information relating to the user's use of the toilet is obtained, The service provider obtains toilet information regarding toilets near the user's travel route from the service provider. Based on the user information and the toilet information, the next toilet to be used, which is located near the travel path ahead from the current location, is determined. To provide information that encourages the use of the aforementioned toilets that require use, Information provision system.

Images