Information processing device

Abstract

A nudge recommendation system according to the present invention comprises: a verification group storage unit for storing a verification group management table; a user information storage unit for storing a user management table; a user nudge storage unit for storing a user nudge definition table; a nudge change unit configured so as to change recommendation information to information that is different from a nudge of interest, and to change the recommendation information to the nudge of interest after the aforementioned change; and an update unit for acquiring the result of recommendation of the nudge of interest to each user and updating the user management table such that the result of recommendation of the nudge of interest is newly defined in the user management table.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a system that encourages users to change their behavior by using nudges, a mechanism based on cognitive bias that encourages people to voluntarily take actions that are desirable for individuals and society. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-140596 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In behavioral economics, the above-mentioned nudges are considered to wear out. Here, wear-out of a nudge refers to the fact that the behavior change effect of a nudge decreases as a result of repeated interventions (recommendations to users). In addition, even if a nudge wears out once as a result of repeated interventions, it is thought that the behavior change effect will recover after a certain period of time has passed. Until now, no appropriate means have been proposed for verifying the wear-out and recovery effects of such nudges.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to appropriately verify the effects of nudge wear and recovery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing device for verifying the wear-out effect of a nudge, which is a mechanism for encouraging a user to voluntarily take a desired action, by being recommended multiple times, and verifying the recovery effect by allowing a period of time to pass after wear-out, and includes a verification group storage unit that stores a verification group management table that defines multiple verification groups, each of which includes a multiple nudge groups with different target nudges; a user information storage unit that stores a user management table that defines, for each of a multiple number of users, information specifying the verification group and nudge group to which the user belongs; and a table that defines recommendation information, which is information recommended to each of a multiple number of users, and a recommendation information storage unit that stores the recommendation information. The system comprises a user nudge memory unit that stores a user nudge definition table that defines a target nudge as a starting value, a nudge change unit that is configured to change the recommendation information in the user nudge definition table to information different from the target nudge when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of recommendations during which multiple recommendations are possible, and to change the recommendation information in the user nudge definition table to the target nudge when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of recommendations during which multiple recommendations are possible after the change, and an update unit that acquires recommendation results of the target nudge for each user, and updates the user management table so that the recommendation results of the target nudge are newly defined in the user management table.

[0007] An information processing device according to an aspect of the present invention is an information processing device related to verification of the wear and recovery effects of a nudge. In this information processing device, a plurality of verification groups including a plurality of nudge groups are defined, and a verification group and a nudge group to which each of a plurality of users belongs are defined. Then, for each of the plurality of users, a target nudge (a target nudge different for each nudge group to which each user belongs) is defined as a value at the start of recommendation of the recommendation information, and when a predetermined period during which multiple recommendations are possible has elapsed, the recommendation information is changed to information different from the target nudge, and when a predetermined period during which multiple recommendations are possible has elapsed, the recommendation information is changed again to the target nudge. Here, it is assumed that the target nudge gradually wears out as a result of multiple recommendations being implemented in a state in which the target nudge is defined as a value at the start of recommendation. In this way, the recommendation result of the target nudge that gradually wears out is acquired and defined in the user management table, so that information suitable for verifying the wear of the target nudge can be appropriately acquired. In addition, it is assumed that after the target nudge wears out, other information is recommended multiple times for a predetermined period of time, thereby recovering the effect of the target nudge that has worn out. Then, the target nudge is recommended again thereafter, and the recommendation results are acquired and specified in the user management table, so that information suitable for verifying the recovery of the target nudge can be appropriately acquired. With this configuration, it is possible to appropriately acquire information suitable for verifying the effects of nudge wear and recovery, and contribute to the appropriate verification of the effects of nudge wear and recovery. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, the wear and recovery effects of a nudge can be properly verified. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the process of encouraging users to change their behavior through nudges. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the wear of the nudge. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a demonstration experiment for verifying the wear and recovery effects of the nudge. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating each verification group in the demonstration experiment shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the nudge management device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user nudge definition table. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a verification group management table. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user management table. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user registration management table. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the specification of the distribution destination. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a change (switch) of the target nudge. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing the allocation process for a new user. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing a process of changing (switching) a target nudge. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the nudge management device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0011] First, the nudge described in this embodiment and the promotion of behavioral change in users using the nudge will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a diagram explaining a series of steps for promoting behavioral change in users by using a nudge. Fig. 2 is a diagram explaining the wear of a nudge.

[0012] A nudge is a mechanism or device based on cognitive bias that encourages a user to voluntarily take actions that are desirable for individuals and society. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a nudge is a display such as a message displayed on a communication terminal such as a smartphone. In FIG. 1, a scene is assumed in which a user Y is heading to a bus stop 800 to board a bus 500. As shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the bus 500 (next bus) that the user Y is expected to board is now highly crowded. In this case, for example, a push notification is sent to the communication terminal 100 such as a smartphone of the user Y through a predetermined application (for example, a bus app that assists with boarding a bus). The push notification is a notification related to a nudge that encourages a user to change his / her behavior, specifically, a notification related to a nudge that encourages a user to board a bus (recommended bus) other than the crowded next bus 500.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, when user Y transitions from the push notification notified to communication terminal 100 to the nudge screen, messages such as "Wait for an available following bus for a comfortable ride" and "10 points will be added to those who help see the bus off" are displayed along with information indicating that the next bus 500 is crowded, and information indicating the scheduled departure time and congestion status of the recommended bus. This state in which the nudge screen transitions in response to the push notification is a state in which the user has "nudged." User Y checks the nudge screen and selects whether or not to change his or her originally planned action and take the action of "boarding the recommended bus."

[0014] In order to effectively encourage user Y to change his / her behavior (in the above example, to "take the recommended bus"), it is important to intervene with user Y with the most effective nudge at the appropriate timing. The appropriate timing for performing nudge intervention may be determined based on, for example, information acquired through an application of the communication terminal 100 ("bus app" in the above example) and location information of user Y. In this embodiment, detailed explanation of the timing for performing nudge intervention is omitted. For an effective nudge, for example, a nudge that has the highest behavior change effect in the current scene may be selected based on information acquired through an application of the communication terminal 100 ("bus app" in the above example). For example, in the above example where the bus 500 to be boarded is crowded, when there are nudges that encourage a change in transportation means, nudges that encourage the user to forgo boarding, and nudges that encourage the user to take a detour, it is possible to select a nudge that encourages the user to forgo boarding, which is generally considered to be the most likely to be selected by the user.

[0015] Here, in behavioral economics, it is assumed that the behavior change effect of a nudge is not constant but changes. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, it is considered that the behavior change effect of a nudge that is administered to a user on a daily basis (continuously and over the long term) will gradually decrease. In the following, such a decrease in the behavior change effect of a nudge administered to a user through user intervention may be referred to as "nudge wear." When a nudge has worn out, the user will not want to see the nudge (information), making it difficult to encourage the user to change their behavior. On the other hand, when a nudge has not worn out, the user is likely to show interest in the nudge (information), and it is possible to effectively encourage the user to change their behavior. By identifying the wear of a nudge, it can be said that it is possible to select a nudge that has a higher behavior change effect.

[0016] It should be noted that even if a nudge has worn down due to repeated user intervention, the behavior change effect of the nudge may gradually recover if no intervention is made for a certain period of time. In the following, such recovery of the behavior change effect of a nudge may be referred to as "nudge recovery." It can be said that by identifying nudge recovery, it is possible to select a nudge with a higher behavior change effect.

[0017] As described above, it is important to consider the wear and recovery of a nudge in order to appropriately select a nudge to be recommended. Therefore, it is possible to conduct a demonstration experiment to verify the wear and recovery effects of each nudge in advance. A demonstration experiment verifying the wear and recovery effects of multiple nudges will be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining a demonstration experiment related to the verification of the wear and recovery effects of a nudge. Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining each verification group in the demonstration experiment shown in Fig. 3.

[0018] The demonstration experiment is carried out in multiple nudge groups, each of which has a different target nudge, which is a nudge for verifying the effects of wear and recovery. Figure 3 shows examples of nudge group P, whose target nudge is nudge p, nudge group A, whose target nudge is nudge a, nudge group B, whose target nudge is nudge b, and nudge group C, whose target nudge is nudge c. Each nudge group has multiple users (approximately 300 in the example of Figure 3) who are the recipients of the target nudge.

[0019] As shown in Figure 3, in the demonstration experiment, the demonstration period is divided into three sections (periods): the first section, the second section following the first section, and the third section following the second section. In the first section, the target nudge is recommended multiple times to each user in each nudge group. For example, the target nudge, nudge a, is recommended multiple times to each of the approximately 300 users in the nudge A group. This first section, in which the same nudge is repeatedly recommended for a certain period of time, is a section related to verifying the wear of the target nudge.

[0020] In the second section, information different from the target nudge is recommended to each user of each nudge group. In the example shown in FIG. 3, a common nudge p is shown as information different from the target nudge. Here, the nudge p is described as a nudge for convenience of explanation, but it may be a simple message without a nudge element. In addition, the second section may be a section in which the target nudge is not recommended, for example, a section in which no nudge is recommended. Among the nudge groups shown in FIG. 3, the nudge P group is different from the other nudge groups in that the nudge is not switched depending on the section, and the nudge p is always recommended. Such a nudge p in the nudge P group is not a nudge for verifying the wear and recovery effect of itself, but is used as reference information when evaluating (verifying) the other target nudges, for example, nudges a, b, and c.

[0021] In the third section, the target nudge is recommended multiple times again to each user in each nudge group. For example, nudge a, which is the target nudge, is recommended multiple times to each of the approximately 300 users in the nudge A group. The second and third sections described above are sections related to verifying the recovery of the target nudge that was worn out in the first section (the recovery of the target nudge due to the recommendation of information different from the target nudge in the second section). In this way, in the demonstration experiment, the demonstration period is divided and nudges are determined on a section-by-section basis, so it is necessary to switch the nudge recommended to the user at an appropriate time (details will be described later).

[0022] In the demonstration experiment, it is desired to avoid bias in the number of users (learning data) for each nudge group from the viewpoint of appropriately verifying the wear and recovery effects of each target nudge. In the example shown in FIG. 4, a verification group including a plurality of nudge groups is treated as one unit, and new users (user1 to user4...) are assigned to each nudge group (nudge A group, nudge B group, nudge C group, nudge P group) included in one verification group (for example, the first verification group). When the number of users belonging to each nudge group included in the first verification group reaches a target value, the verification group to which the new user is registered is changed to the next verification group (for example, the second verification group), and the new user is assigned to each nudge group (nudge D group, nudge E group, nudge F group, nudge G group) included in the second verification group. In this way, in the demonstration experiment, when a new user is registered, it is necessary to appropriately assign the new user to each nudge group so that bias does not occur in the number of users for each nudge group (details will be described later). The following mainly describes the nudge group allocation process for new users and the section switching process, which are performed to properly conduct the demonstration experiment.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a nudge management device 10 included in a nudge recommendation system 1 (information processing device) according to an embodiment. The nudge recommendation system 1 is a system that recommends nudges to a user, and in particular, is a system that performs the above-mentioned demonstration experiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the nudge recommendation system 1 includes an application 101 of a communication terminal 100, a user nudge storage unit 200, and a nudge management device 10. Note that the nudge recommendation system 1 actually includes applications 101 of multiple communication terminals 100 of different users, but for convenience of explanation, only the application 101 of one communication terminal 100 will be explained here.

[0024] The communication terminal 100 may be any terminal capable of wireless communication, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a PC terminal, etc. The application 101 may be any application that can be activated on the communication terminal 100, such as the above-mentioned bus app that assists with boarding a bus.

[0025] The user nudge storage unit 200 is a database that stores a user nudge definition table 200a that specifies recommended information, which is information to be recommended, for each of a plurality of users. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the user nudge definition table 200a. As shown in FIG. 6, in the user nudge definition table 200a, a user ID, a nudge ID1, and a nudge ID2 are specified in association with each other. The user ID is information that uniquely identifies a user. The nudge ID1 is information that uniquely identifies a psychological bias related to the recommended nudge. The psychological bias is, for example, a loss aversion bias, a conformity bias, etc. The nudge ID2 is information that uniquely identifies a type of the recommended nudge. The type of nudge is information that indicates which type of nudge it is among the nudges of the psychological bias indicated by the nudge ID1. For example, if nudge ID1=1 is loss aversion bias, it is possible that multiple loss aversion bias nudges (nudges with nudge ID1=1) exist, but the information in nudge ID2 uniquely identifies which type of nudge it is among the multiple loss aversion bias nudges. In this way, recommendation information is identified by nudge ID1 and nudge ID2.

[0026] As shown in example 3 (user ID=003) in FIG. 6, for a user newly registered in application 101, nudge ID1=nudge ID2=0 are defined as initial values. As will be described later, when the nudge determiner 15 determines the nudge group to which the user belongs and the target nudge, the values ​​of nudge ID1 and nudge ID2 that uniquely identify the target nudge are defined as recommendation information at the start of recommendation. When the above-mentioned section switching process is performed, the recommendation information is changed by changing the values ​​of nudge ID1 and nudge ID2 in user nudge definition table 200a (details will be described later).

[0027] The user nudge storage unit 200 may store information on a plurality of types of nudges. The user nudge storage unit 200 may store, as information associated with the above-mentioned nudge ID1 and ID2, for example, an intervention condition, a content of the action to be encouraged, a behavior change effect, and an incentive in association with each other. The intervention condition is information indicating what kind of case is a candidate for a nudge to be intervened in, and is defined, for example, as "when the bus to be boarded is crowded". The content of the action to be encouraged is specific content of the action that the nudge encourages the user to take, and is defined, for example, as "take a subsequent bus that is not crowded". The behavior change effect is information indicating the degree (probability) that the user will take the action encouraged by the nudge when the nudge intervention is performed, and is defined, for example, as "10%". The incentive is an incentive that the user receives when the user performs the action encouraged by the nudge, and is defined, for example, as "10 points". By storing such information, a nudge recommendation is made to the application 101 of each user based on the nudge ID1 and ID2 defined in the user nudge definition table 200a.

[0028] Returning to FIG. 5, the nudge management device 10 is a device for verifying the effect of wear caused by multiple recommendations of nudges, which are mechanisms for encouraging users to voluntarily take desirable actions, and the effect of recovery caused by the passage of time after wear. The nudge management device 10 is a device that performs the above-mentioned nudge group allocation process for new users and the section switching process. The nudge management device 10 includes a verification group storage unit 11, a user information storage unit 12, an allocation destination management unit 13, an allocation ratio determination unit 14, a nudge determination unit 15, a nudge change unit 16, and an update unit 17.

[0029] The verification group storage unit 11 is a database that stores a verification group management table 11a that defines a plurality of verification groups including a plurality of nudge groups each having a different target nudge. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the verification group management table 11a. As shown in FIG. 7, in the verification group management table 11a, for example, a verification group ID that uniquely identifies a verification group, a nudge group ID that uniquely identifies a nudge group, a first section nudge ID1, ID2, a second section nudge ID1, ID2, a third section nudge ID1, ID2, ... an Nth section nudge ID1, ID2 are linked to each other and defined. The nudge ID1 is information that uniquely identifies a psychological bias related to the recommended nudge. The nudge ID2 is information that uniquely identifies a type of the recommended nudge. In this way, the recommended information is specified by the nudge ID1 and the nudge ID2. 7, two nudge groups, Nudge Group ID: A and Nudge Group ID: B, which belong to the same verification group ID, are shown. For each nudge group, a nudge ID to be recommended in each of the first to third sections is specified.

[0030] The user information storage unit 12 is a database that stores a user management table 12a that specifies information for identifying a verification group and a nudge group to which each of a plurality of users belongs. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the user management table 12a. As shown in FIG. 8, in the user management table 12a, for example, a user ID, a nudge group ID, a first section nudge ID1, ID2, a second section nudge ID1, ID2, a third section nudge ID1, ID2, ... an Nth section nudge ID1, ID2, a demonstration start date, a first section cumulative number of push notifications, a first section cumulative number of nudge interventions, a first section cumulative number of behavioral changes, ... are linked to each other and specified. The demonstration start date is the date on which an intervention by a nudge was first performed. The first section cumulative number of push notifications is the cumulative number of push notifications of the first section nudge to the user in the first section. The first section cumulative number of nudge interventions is the cumulative number of interventions of the first section nudge to the user in the first section. The first section cumulative number of behavioral changes is the cumulative number of behavioral changes in response to the first section nudge of the user in the first section. In FIG. 8, only the cumulative number of push notifications, the cumulative number of nudge interventions, and the cumulative number of behavioral changes in the first section are specified, but in reality, for example, if there are a first section to a third section, the cumulative number of push notifications, the cumulative number of nudge interventions, and the cumulative number of behavioral changes are specified for the first section to the third section, respectively. The user ID, nudge group ID, first section nudge ID1, ID2, second section nudge ID1, ID2, third section nudge ID1, ID2, ..., and N section nudge ID1, ID2 in FIG. 8 are information determined and registered by the nudge determination unit 15 at the time of initial registration of the user, and are basically information that is not changed. The other information in FIG. 8 (the demonstration start date, the cumulative number of push notifications, the cumulative number of nudge interventions, and the cumulative number of behavioral changes) is information updated by the update unit 17 according to the result of recommendation to the user.

[0031] The allocation destination management unit 13 identifies a verification group (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a current verification group) to which a new user is allocated when registering from among a plurality of verification groups. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a user registration management table 13a. The allocation destination management unit 13 stores the user registration management table 13a shown in FIG. 9, and identifies the current verification group based on the user registration management table 13a. As shown in FIG. 9, in the user registration management table 13a, the current verification group ID, the target number of samples of each nudge group, and ON / OFF of the group ID automatic switching mode are linked to each other and specified. The current verification group ID is information that uniquely specifies the verification group to which the user is allocated. The target number of samples of each nudge group is the target number of samples (target value) of each nudge group included in the verification group indicated by the current verification group ID. The group ID automatic switching mode is information that specifies whether the current verification group ID is automatically switched (ON) or not (OFF) when a condition is satisfied.

[0032] The allocation destination management unit 13 judges whether the number of users belonging to a plurality of nudge groups included in the current verification group has reached a target value. That is, the allocation destination management unit 13 identifies the nudge group ID of the current verification group and the nudge ID linked to each nudge group ID from the verification group management table 11a. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10, the nudge group IDs: A, B, and P linked to the current verification group ID: 1 are identified in the verification group management table 11a. Then, the allocation destination management unit 13 extracts the user IDs of the users linked to each of the identified nudge group IDs in the user management table 12a, and judges whether the number of users has reached a target value. The target value here is the target sample number defined in the user registration management table 13a. The target sample number may be manually changeable by the system operator.

[0033] Then, when the number of users reaches the target value, the allocation destination management unit 13 performs a process of changing the current verification group. The change process here is a process of sending a change prompting email or the like to prompt the system operator to manually change the verification group when the group ID automatic switching mode is turned OFF. Also, the change process here is a process of automatically changing the current verification group ID defined in the verification group management table 11a when the group ID automatic switching mode is turned ON.

[0034] The allocation ratio determination unit 14 derives the number of users (the number of active users) in which the target nudge has intervened once or more for each nudge group in the current verification group, and determines the allocation ratio to each nudge group according to the number of active users. For example, when a new user is registered, the allocation ratio determination unit 14 first identifies the current verification group from the user registration management table 13a (see FIG. 9) of the allocation destination management unit 13. Then, the allocation ratio determination unit 14 identifies the nudge group ID of the current verification group and the nudge ID linked to each nudge group ID from the verification group management table 11a. Then, the allocation ratio determination unit 14 extracts the user ID of the active user who is linked to each nudge group ID identified above and has a first interval cumulative nudge intervention count of once or more in the user management table 12a (see FIG. 8). The allocation ratio determination unit 14 determines the allocation ratio to each nudge group according to the number of active users in each nudge group. For example, assume that the numbers of active users (sample numbers) of nudge groups A, B, and P shown in Fig. 10 are 11, 12, and 5, respectively. In this case, the allocation ratios to nudge groups A, B, and P are 1 / 11, 1 / 12, and 1 / 5.

[0035] When a new user is registered, the nudge determination unit 15 determines the nudge group to which the new user belongs based on the above-mentioned allocation ratio. For example, if the allocation ratios to nudge group IDs: A, B, and P determined by the allocation ratio determination unit 14 are 1 / 11, 1 / 12, and 1 / 5, the nudge determination unit 15 determines the nudge group to which the new user belongs based on the allocation ratios (the nudge group to which the new user belongs is determined with such a probability).

[0036] The update unit 17 updates the user management table 12a (see FIG. 8) for the new user based on the information determined by the nudge determiner 15. Specifically, the update unit 17 registers the user ID of the new user in the user management table 12a, and also registers the nudge group ID and the nudge ID of each section determined by the nudge determiner 15. The update unit 17 also registers the user ID of the new user and information on nudge ID1 and ID2 of the first section in the user nudge definition table 200a (see FIG. 6).

[0037] The nudge change unit 16 changes the recommendation information in the user nudge definition table from the target nudge to information different from the target nudge when a predetermined period (e.g., 14 days) during which multiple recommendations are possible has elapsed since the start of the recommendation. That is, when it is assumed that multiple recommendations have been completed for the target nudge (first section nudge), the nudge change unit 16 rewrites the recommendation information in the user nudge definition table 200a to information of the second section nudge ID1, ID2 in the user management table 12a, as shown in Figures 11(a) and 11(b).

[0038] Furthermore, after the above change, the nudge change unit 16 changes the recommendation information in the user nudge definition table to the target nudge again when a predetermined period (e.g., 14 days) during which multiple recommendations are possible has elapsed. That is, the nudge change unit 16 rewrites the recommendation information in the user nudge definition table 200a to information on the target nudge (first section nudge) again when it is assumed that multiple recommendations have been completed in the second section nudge. The nudge change unit 16 changes to the nudge for the next section when the predetermined period has elapsed in this way, and does not need to change (switch) if the nudge for the next section has not been registered.

[0039] The update unit 17 acquires the recommendation result of the target nudge for the user, and updates the user management table 12a so that the recommendation result of the target nudge is newly defined in the user management table 12a (see FIG. 8). Specifically, the update unit 17 updates the cumulative number of push notifications, the cumulative number of nudge interventions, and the cumulative number of behavioral changes in the user management table 12a (see FIG. 8) for at least the section in which the target nudge is recommended.

[0040] Next, the allocation process for a new user will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a sequence diagram showing the allocation process for a new user.

[0041] 12, first, the allocation destination management unit 13 extracts the nudge group IDs of the current verification group and the nudge IDs linked to each nudge group ID from the verification group management table 11a (step S1). Then, the allocation destination management unit 13 extracts the user IDs of the users linked to each of the nudge group IDs identified above in the user management table 12a (step S2).

[0042] Then, the number of users in each nudge group of the current validation group is counted (step S3), and it is determined whether the number of users has reached the target value. If the target value has been reached, the allocation destination management unit 13 sends a change promotion email to the system operator to prompt the system operator to manually change the validation group (step S4). In this case, the system operator may, for example, manually update the validation group (step S5). In addition, the system operator may manually update the validation group management table 11a as necessary (step S6).

[0043] In this state where the current verification group has been determined, when a new user is registered from the application 101 (step S7), information on the new user is first registered in the user nudge definition table 200a. Then, a new user confirmation request is made to the allocation ratio determination unit 14 (step S8), the current verification group is identified in the allocation ratio determination unit 14 (step S9), and the nudge group ID of the current verification group and the nudge IDs linked to each nudge group ID are extracted from the verification group management table 11a (step S10).

[0044] Then, the allocation ratio determination unit 14 extracts the number of users (the number of active users) in which the target nudge has intervened at least once for each nudge group in the current verification group (step S11).Then, the allocation ratio determination unit 14 calculates an allocation ratio for each nudge group according to the number of active users in each nudge group (step S12).The allocation ratio determination unit 14 outputs the calculated allocation ratio to the nudge determination unit 15 (step S13).

[0045] Next, the nudge determiner 15 determines the nudge group to which the new user belongs based on the above-mentioned allocation ratio (step S14). In this case, the updater 17 registers the user ID of the new user in the user management table 12a, and also registers the nudge group ID and the nudge ID of each section determined by the nudge determiner 15 (step S15). The updater 17 also registers the user ID of the new user and information on the nudge ID1 and ID2 of the first section in the user nudge definition table 200a (see FIG. 6) (step S15).

[0046] When the information on nudge ID1 and ID2 in the first section is registered as recommendation information in the user nudge definition table 200a, recommendation of the target nudge to the application 101 is started (step S17). Then, the recommendation result is acquired (step S18), and the user management table 12a is updated based on the acquired information (step S19).

[0047] Next, referring to FIG. 13, the change (switch) process of the target nudge will be described. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing the change (switch) process of the target nudge. As shown in FIG. 13, when the information of the target nudge in the first section is registered as recommendation information, the recommendation of the target nudge to the application 101 is started (step S101), the recommendation result is acquired (step S102), and the user management table 12a is updated based on the acquired information (step S103). Then, the nudge change unit 16 judges whether or not a predetermined period (for example, 14 days) during which multiple recommendations are possible has elapsed (step S104). If the predetermined period has not elapsed, the nudge change is not implemented. On the other hand, if the predetermined period has elapsed, the nudge change unit 16 changes the recommendation information in the user nudge definition table 200a to information of the second section nudge ID1, ID2, which is information other than the target nudge (step S105). After the recommended information is changed, a recommendation is made again based on the new recommended information.

[0048] Next, the effects of the nudge recommendation system 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0049] The nudge recommendation system 1 is an information processing device for verifying the wear-out effect of a nudge, which is a mechanism for encouraging a user to voluntarily take a desired action, caused by being recommended multiple times, and verifying the recovery effect caused by the passage of time after wear-out, and includes a verification group storage unit 11 that stores a verification group management table 11a that defines multiple verification groups each including a multiple nudge group with different target nudges; a user information storage unit 12 that stores a user management table 12a that defines information for identifying the verification group and nudge group to which each of a multiple number of users belongs; and a table that defines recommendation information, which is information recommended to each of a multiple number of users, and stores a value of the recommendation information at the start of recommendation. The system includes a user nudge memory unit 200 that stores a user nudge definition table 200a that specifies a target nudge, a nudge change unit 16 configured to change the recommendation information in the user nudge definition table 200a to information different from the target nudge when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of the recommendation during which multiple recommendations are possible, and to change the recommendation information in the user nudge definition table 200a to the target nudge when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of the recommendation during which multiple recommendations are possible, after the change, and an update unit 17 that acquires a recommendation result of the target nudge for each user and updates the user management table 12a so that the recommendation result of the target nudge is newly specified in the user management table 12a.

[0050] The nudge recommendation system 1 according to the present embodiment is an information processing device for verifying the effects of wear and recovery of a nudge. In the nudge recommendation system 1, a plurality of verification groups including a plurality of nudge groups are defined, and a verification group and a nudge group to which each of a plurality of users belongs are defined. Then, for each of a plurality of users, a target nudge (a target nudge different for each nudge group to which each user belongs) is defined as a value at the start of recommendation of the recommendation information, and when a predetermined period during which multiple recommendations are possible has elapsed, the recommendation information is changed to information different from the target nudge, and when a predetermined period during which multiple recommendations are possible has elapsed, the recommendation information is changed again to the target nudge. Here, it is assumed that the target nudge gradually wears out as a result of multiple recommendations being implemented in a state in which the target nudge is defined as a value at the start of recommendation. In this way, the recommendation result of the target nudge that gradually wears out is acquired and defined in the user management table 12a, so that information suitable for verifying the wear of the target nudge can be appropriately acquired. In addition, it is assumed that after the target nudge wears out, other information is recommended multiple times for a predetermined period of time, thereby recovering the effect of the target nudge that has worn out. Then, the target nudge is recommended again thereafter, and the recommendation result is acquired and specified in the user management table 12a, so that information suitable for verifying the recovery of the target nudge can be appropriately acquired. With this configuration, it is possible to appropriately acquire information suitable for verifying the effects of nudge wear and recovery, and to contribute to the appropriate verification of the effects of nudge wear and recovery.

[0051] The nudge recommendation system 1 further includes an allocation management unit 13 that identifies a verification group to which a new user is assigned when the new user registers from among multiple verification groups, determines whether the number of users belonging to multiple nudge groups included in the verification group to which the new user is assigned has reached a target value, and, if so, performs processing to change the verification group to which the new user is assigned. With this configuration, when the number of users related to the verification reaches a target value, the verification group to which the new user is registered is switched. This makes it possible to prevent bias in the number of users included in each verification group. This makes it possible to obtain information suitable for verifying the effects of wear and recovery evenly for various target nudges.

[0052] The nudge recommendation system 1 further includes an allocation ratio determination unit 14 that derives the number of all users in each nudge group of the assigned verification group in which the target nudge has intervened at least once and determines the allocation ratio to each nudge group according to the number of users, and a nudge determination unit 15 that determines the nudge group to which the new user belongs based on the allocation ratio when a new user is registered, and the update unit 17 updates the user management table 12a for the new user based on the information determined by the nudge determination unit 15. In this way, the allocation ratio to each nudge group is determined based on the number of users (active users) in which the target nudge has intervened at least once, the nudge group to which the new user belongs is determined based on the ratio, and the user management table 12a for the new user is updated, thereby preventing the number of active users in each nudge group from being biased within the same verification group. This makes it possible to obtain information suitable for verifying the effects of wear and recovery evenly for various target nudges.

[0053] Next, the hardware configuration of the above-mentioned nudge management device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 14. The nudge management device 10 may be physically configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, and the like.

[0054] In the following description, the term "apparatus" may be interpreted as a circuit, a device, a unit, etc. The hardware configuration of the nudge management device 10 may be configured to include one or more of the devices shown in the figures, or may be configured to exclude some of the devices.

[0055] Each function of the nudge management device 10 is realized by loading specific software (programs) onto hardware such as a processor 1001 and a memory 1002, causing the processor 1001 to perform calculations and control communications via a communication device 1004 and the reading and / or writing of data in the memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0056] The processor 1001, for example, operates an operating system to control the entire computer. The processor 1001 may be configured as a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control device, an arithmetic unit, a register, etc. For example, the control function of the nudge change unit 16, etc. may be realized by the processor 1001.

[0057] Moreover, the processor 1001 reads out programs (program codes), software modules, and data from the storage 1003 and / or the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002, and executes various processes according to the programs. As the programs, those that cause a computer to execute at least a part of the operations described in the above-mentioned embodiments are used.

[0058] For example, the control functions of the nudge change unit 16 and the like may be realized by a control program stored in the memory 1002 and running on the processor 1001, and the other functional blocks may be realized in a similar manner. Although the above-mentioned various processes have been described as being executed by one processor 1001, they may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented in one or more chips. The program may be transmitted from a network via a telecommunication line.

[0059] The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be composed of at least one of, for example, a Read Only Memory (ROM), an Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), etc. The memory 1002 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory (primary storage device), etc. The memory 1002 can store a program (program code), software modules, etc. that are executable to implement a wireless communication method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be composed of at least one of, for example, an optical disk such as a CDROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray® disk), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy disk, a magnetic strip, and the like. Storage 1003 may be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned storage medium may be, for example, a database, a server, or other suitable medium including memory 1002 and / or storage 1003.

[0061] The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for performing communication between computers via a wired and / or wireless network, and is also called, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, or a communication module.

[0062] The input device 1005 is an input device (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that accepts input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (e.g., a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that performs output to the outside. The input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one device (e.g., a touch panel).

[0063] Furthermore, each device such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002 is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured as a single bus, or may be configured as different buses between the devices.

[0064] The nudge management device 10 may also be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented by at least one of these pieces of hardware.

[0065] Although the present embodiment has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to the embodiment described in this specification. The present embodiment can be implemented as a modified or altered form without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the description of the claims. Therefore, the description in this specification is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present embodiment.

[0066] Each aspect / embodiment described herein may be applied to systems utilizing LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4G, 5G, FRA (Future Radio Access), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, UWB (Ultra-Wide Band), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or other suitable systems and / or next generation systems enhanced based thereon.

[0067] The steps, sequences, flow charts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described herein may be reordered unless inconsistent, For example, the methods described herein present elements of various steps in an example order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

[0068] The input and output information may be stored in a specific location (e.g., memory) or may be managed in a management table. The input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added to. The output information may be deleted. The input information may be transmitted to another device.

[0069] The determination may be based on a value represented by a single bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

[0070] Each aspect / embodiment described in this specification may be used alone, in combination, or switched according to execution. In addition, notification of specific information (e.g., notification that "X is the case") is not limited to being done explicitly, but may be done implicitly (e.g., not notifying the specific information).

[0071] Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0072] Additionally, software, instructions, etc. may be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies, such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), and / or wireless technologies, such as infrared, radio, and microwave, these wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

[0073] The information, signals, etc. described herein may be represented using any one of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0074] In addition, terms explained in this specification and / or terms necessary for understanding this specification may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings.

[0075] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in this specification may be expressed as absolute values, may be expressed as relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or may be expressed as other corresponding information.

[0076] A communications terminal may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobile communications terminal, subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communications device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable terminology.

[0077] As used herein, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0078] When designations such as "first," "second," etc. are used herein, any reference to an element is not intended to generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used herein as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed therein or that the first element must precede the second element in some way.

[0079] To the extent that the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are used herein in the specification or claims, these terms are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Further, the term "or" as used herein is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0080] In this specification, a plurality of devices is also included unless the context or the technical basis clearly indicates that only one device is present.

[0081] Throughout this disclosure, the plural is intended to be included unless the context clearly indicates the singular. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1...Nudge recommendation system (information processing device), 11...Verification group memory unit, 11a...Verification group management table, 12...User information memory unit, 12a...User management table, 13...Allocation destination management unit, 14...Allocation ratio determination unit, 15...Nudge determination unit, 16...Nudge change unit, 17...Update unit, 200...User nudge memory unit, 200a...User nudge definition table.

Claims

1. An information processing device for verifying the effect of wear caused by multiple recommendations of a nudge, which is a mechanism for encouraging a user to voluntarily take a desired action, and the effect of recovery caused by the passage of a period after wear, comprising: a verification group storage unit that stores a verification group management table that defines a plurality of verification groups each including a plurality of nudge groups each having a different target nudge; a user information storage unit that stores a user management table that specifies information that identifies the verification group and the nudge group to which each of a plurality of users belongs; a user nudge storage unit that stores a user nudge definition table that is a table that defines recommendation information, which is information recommended to each of the plurality of users, and that defines the target nudge as a value at the start of recommendation of the recommendation information; a nudge change unit configured to change the recommendation information in the user nudge definition table to a nudge other than the target nudge when a predetermined period during which multiple recommendations are possible has elapsed since the start of a recommendation, and to change the recommendation information in the user nudge definition table back to the target nudge when a predetermined period during which multiple recommendations are possible has elapsed after the change; an update unit that acquires from the terminal a recommendation result of the target nudge that is recommended to each of the users by being notified to the terminal through an application used by the user, and updates the user management table based on the recommendation result of the target nudge; The information processing device, wherein the update unit obtains, as the recommendation result, the number of times behavioral changes occurred during a period in which the target nudge is recommended, and updates a cumulative number of times behavioral changes occurred defined in the user management table.

2. An allocation destination management unit further includes: a user registration management table in which information uniquely identifying the verification group to which a current allocation destination is assigned and a target value for the number of users in the multiple nudge groups included in the verification group to which the current allocation destination is assigned are linked and specified; and an allocation destination management unit identifies the current allocation destination verification group to which a new user is assigned from among the multiple verification groups based on the user registration management table, and determines whether the number of users belonging to the multiple nudge groups included in the verification group to which the current allocation destination is assigned has reached the target value specified in the user registration management table, and if so, performs processing to change the verification group to which the user is assigned; 2 . The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the allocation destination management unit performs, as the change process, a process of outputting a change promotion email for prompting a manual change of the verification group, or a process of changing the verification group of the current allocation destination in the user registration management table.

3. An allocation ratio determination unit which identifies the verification group to which the current allocation is to be made based on the user registration management table, identifies each of the nudge groups included in the identified verification group to which the current allocation is to be made based on the verification group management table, derives the number of users to which the identified nudge group is linked and in which the target nudge has intervened at least once based on the user management table for each of the nudge groups, and determines the allocation ratio to each of the nudge groups depending on the number of users. a nudge determination unit that determines, when a new user is registered, a nudge group to which the new user belongs, as defined in the user management table, based on the allocation ratio; The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the update unit updates the user management table for the new user based on the information determined by the nudge determination unit.

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