Information processing device, determination method, determination program, and information processing system

Abstract

To effectively propose an application capable of providing more useful information that utilizes a childcare record.SOLUTION: According to this application, an information processing device includes an acquisition part for acquiring a use history obtained by using a childcare record application being an application for providing information about a childcare record, and a determination part for determining an advertisement aspect of advertisement information which guides a user to a childcare related application being an application for providing information about an analysis result obtained by analyzing the childcare record on the basis of the use history acquired by the acquisition part and is displayed by the childcare record application.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, a determination method, a determination program, and an information processing system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, a technique has become known in which a sleep score indicating the degree of sleep development of an infant or toddler is calculated and child-rearing advice corresponding to the calculated sleep score is displayed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-10417 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the above-mentioned conventional techniques do not necessarily make it possible to effectively propose applications that can provide more useful information by utilizing childcare records.

[0005] For example, the above-mentioned conventional technology merely calculates a sleep score that indicates the level of sleep development of an infant based on sleep data including the time the infant falls asleep and wakes up within a predetermined period, and displays childcare advice corresponding to the calculated sleep score. Therefore, the above-mentioned conventional technology does not necessarily effectively propose an application that can provide more useful information by utilizing childcare records.

[0006] The present application has been made in view of the above, and aims to effectively propose an application that can provide more useful information by utilizing childcare records. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The information processing device of the present application is characterized by having an acquisition unit that acquires usage history resulting from the use of a childcare record app, which is an application that provides information regarding childcare records, and a determination unit that determines the advertising format of advertising information to be displayed in the childcare record app, which is advertising information for guiding users to a childcare-related app, which is an application that provides information regarding the analysis results of an analysis of childcare records, based on the usage history acquired by the acquisition unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the embodiment, it is possible to effectively propose an application that can provide more useful information that utilizes childcare records. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of information processing according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example (1) of advertising information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example (2) of the advertisement information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example (3) of the advertisement information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a control process for controlling the advertising information to be displayed. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a server device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a childcare record database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the application usage database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a server device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the advertisement information database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an information processing procedure according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an overall image of the control process according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of content according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a server device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of information provision according to the second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an information processing procedure according to the second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] At least the following matters will become clear from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0011] An information processing device characterized by having an acquisition unit that acquires usage history from the use of a childcare record app, which is an application that provides information about childcare records, and a decision unit that determines the advertising format of advertising information to be displayed in the childcare record app, which is advertising information for guiding users to a childcare-related app, which is an application that provides information about the analysis results of an analysis of childcare records, based on the usage history acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0012] According to this information processing device, a usage history of a childcare record app that provides information related to childcare records is acquired, and based on the acquired usage history, an advertising format of advertising information to be displayed in the childcare record app is determined, which is advertising information for directing users to a childcare-related app that provides information related to the analysis results of the childcare records. This allows the information processing device to effectively suggest applications that can provide more useful information that utilizes the childcare records.

[0013] In addition, the information processing device further has a judgment unit that judges whether the user is a recipient of the advertising information based on the user's usage of the childcare record app, and if the judgment unit judges that the user is a recipient, it determines the advertising format of the advertising information for the user based on the usage history corresponding to the user.

[0014] According to such an information processing device, it is determined whether or not a user is a target for providing advertising information based on the user's usage of the childcare record app, and if it is determined that the user is a target, the advertising format of the advertising information is determined for that user based on the usage history corresponding to that user.Therefore, advertising information with content appropriate for a user who is presumed to want to know (desire) more information about childcare can be provided, thereby effectively increasing the effectiveness of the advertising.

[0015] In addition, when the determination unit determines that the user is a target for provision, the information processing device further has an analysis unit that analyzes the user's past childcare records indicated by the usage history, and determines, from the analysis results by the analysis unit, information regarding the analysis results that correspond to the content currently being viewed by the user and related to the childcare records provided by the childcare record app, as the advertising format to be displayed as the advertising information.

[0016] According to such an information processing device, when it is determined that a user is a target for the service, the device analyzes the user's past childcare records as indicated by the usage history, and determines, from the analysis results, information relating to the analysis results that correspond to the content related to childcare records that the user is viewing and that is provided by the childcare record app, as the advertising format to be displayed as advertising information.This makes it possible to provide advertising information with content that is more likely to attract the user's interest, thereby effectively increasing the effectiveness of the advertising.

[0017] In addition, the information processing device determines, based on the current situation of the user estimated from the content entered by the user in the content related to the childcare record provided by the childcare record app, which of the information related to the analysis results by the analysis unit and product information related to the infant or young child being cared for by the user will be used as the advertising information to be displayed.

[0018] With such an information processing device, it is determined which of the information on the analysis results and the product information on the infants and young children being cared for by the user will be displayed as advertising information based on the user's current situation estimated from the information entered by the user in the content related to childcare records provided by the childcare record app.Therefore, for example, it is possible to provide advertising information that encourages the user to carefully consider the childcare record app at times when it is estimated that the user is free from childcare, and to provide useful information related to childcare at times when it is estimated that the user is engaged in childcare.

[0019] In addition, the information processing device determines the advertising format to be displayed as the advertising information to be content that suggests the childcare-related app and that corresponds to the judgment result of whether a sufficient amount of childcare records have been input for the analysis unit to perform the analysis.

[0020] According to such an information processing device, the advertising format to be displayed as advertising information is determined to be content that corresponds to the result of determining whether a sufficient amount of childcare records has been input when analyzing the childcare records and that suggests childcare-related apps, so that advertising information that can effectively increase interest in childcare-related apps can be provided.

[0021] The information processing device also determines whether the user is a recipient of the advertising information based on whether the usage status satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0022] Such an information processing device determines whether a user is a target to receive advertising information based on whether their usage status meets certain conditions, thereby making it possible to appropriately extract users who wish to know more information about child-rearing.

[0023] In addition, the information processing device determines whether the user is a recipient of the advertising information based on whether the usage status of the access content, which is content accessed by the user among the content related to the childcare record provided by the childcare record app, satisfies specified conditions.

[0024] According to such an information processing device, it is determined whether a user is a target to which advertising information should be provided based on whether the usage status of the accessed content, which is content accessed by the user from among the content related to childcare records provided by the childcare record app, satisfies specified conditions.Therefore, for example, advertising information can be displayed together with content related to childcare records provided by the childcare record app that is more likely to be used, thereby increasing the effectiveness of advertising and, as a result, it becomes possible to effectively guide users to childcare-related apps.

[0025] The information processing device also determines whether the user is a target to which the advertising information should be provided based on whether at least one of the usage status information, information regarding the amount of information entered by the user into the access content, information regarding the number of times the user has accessed the access content, or information regarding the viewing time for which the access content was viewed by the user, satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0026] According to such an information processing device, whether a user is a target to whom advertising information should be provided is determined based on whether at least one of the following information meets a predetermined condition: the amount of information entered by the user into the accessed content, information regarding the number of times the user has accessed the accessed content, or information regarding the viewing time for which the accessed content was viewed by the user.Therefore, for example, advertising information can be displayed together with content related to childcare records provided by a childcare record app that is more likely to be used, thereby increasing the effectiveness of advertising and, as a result, making it possible to effectively guide users to childcare-related apps.

[0027] The information processing device also has a detection unit that detects, based on the usage history acquired by the acquisition unit, differences between items recommended by the childcare-related app to help infants achieve regular sleep and sleep-related events that have occurred in the user's infant for the items, and an information determination unit that determines information to be provided to the user based on the differences detected by the detection unit.

[0028] According to such an information processing device, based on the acquired usage history, the difference between the items recommended for achieving regular sleep for infants, which are determined by childcare-related apps, and the sleep-related events that occur to the user's infant in relation to these items is detected, and the information to be provided to the user is determined based on the detected difference, so that both behavioral and mental support for the user can be provided so that sleep training can be continued so that the infant can sleep in a certain sleep pattern.

[0029] In addition, the information processing device detects the difference between the target value set for the item related to achieving regular sleep for infants and young children, which is the target value determined by the childcare-related app, and the index value that indicates the current sleeping situation indicated by the event.

[0030] Such an information processing device detects the difference between the target value set for an item related to ensuring regular sleep for infants and young children, which is determined by a childcare-related app, and the index value that indicates the current sleep status indicated by the event, making it possible to visualize the user's progress in achieving each goal set for an item related to ensuring regular sleep for infants and young children.

[0031] In addition, the information processing device further has an evaluation unit that evaluates the user's child-rearing achievement status for each item by determining whether the index value exceeds the target value based on the difference, and the information determination unit determines the content according to the evaluation result by the evaluation unit as the information to be provided to the user.

[0032] With this type of information processing device, the user's childcare achievement status is evaluated for each item by determining whether or not the index value exceeds the target value based on the difference, and the content to be provided to the user is determined based on the evaluation results.Therefore, among the items related to achieving regular sleep for infants and young children, information can be provided for items for which the user has achieved the goal and items for which the user has not achieved the goal.For example, it is possible to praise the points that have been achieved, while providing content that provides mental support so that the user does not become depressed if there are points that have not been achieved.

[0033] In addition, if there is an item that the user is evaluated as having achieved because the index value exceeds the target value, the information processing device determines that the information to be provided to the user is content praising the user for having achieved that item.

[0034] With this type of information processing device, if there is an item for which the user has been evaluated as having been achieved because the index value exceeds the target value, the information to be provided to the user will be content praising the user for having achieved that item, allowing the user to experience the results of their sleep training.

[0035] In addition, if there is an item that the user has been evaluated as not having achieved because the index value is below the target value, the information processing device determines that content suggesting that there is an item that has not been achieved is the information to be provided to the user.

[0036] According to such an information processing device, if there is an item that is evaluated as not being achieved by the user because the index value is below the target value, the information to be provided to the user will be content suggesting that there is an item that has not been achieved.This means that the user will not be discouraged by being directly notified that there is an item that has not been achieved, and at the same time, the user will be made aware of the existence of an item that has not been achieved in a gradual manner.

[0037] In addition, if there is an item that is evaluated as not being achieved by the user because the index value is below the target value, the information processing device identifies countermeasures that can achieve the item based on the usage history, and determines the content of the proposed identified countermeasures as the information to be provided to the user.

[0038] With this type of information processing device, if there is an item that is evaluated as not being achieved by the user because the index value is below the target value, countermeasures that can achieve that item are identified based on the usage history, and the content of the proposed identified countermeasures is determined as the information to be provided to the user, so that a training method suitable for the user's infant or toddler can be provided for each user.

[0039] In addition, if there is an item that is evaluated as not being achieved by the user because the index value is below the target value, the information processing device determines that the content to be provided to the user is based on the change in the user's emotions that is inferred from the failure to achieve the item.

[0040] With this type of information processing device, if there is an item that the user has been evaluated as not having achieved because the index value is below the target value, the information to be provided to the user will be determined to be content that corresponds to the change in the user's emotions that is inferred from the failure to achieve the item, thereby providing mental support to the user so that they can continue their training.

[0041] Furthermore, the information processing device further determines information to be provided to related parties who have a predetermined relationship with the user, based on the change in emotion.

[0042] Such an information processing device further determines the information to be provided to parties who have a predetermined relationship with the user based on changes in emotions, thereby helping the user to feel more secure by receiving understanding and support from those around them.

[0043] The information processing device also determines difference information indicating the difference between the target value and the index value as information to be provided to the user.

[0044] With such an information processing device, difference information indicating the difference between the target value and the index value is determined as the information to be provided to the user, so that it is possible to visualize what has been achieved and what has not been achieved as infants and young children are trained to sleep in a certain sleep pattern.

[0045] The information processing device also determines that the information to be provided to the user is an evaluation value calculated based on the difference, which is an evaluation value that evaluates how regularly the user's infant is sleeping, and advice information corresponding to the evaluation value.

[0046] According to such an information processing device, the evaluation value calculated based on the difference, which evaluates how regularly the user's infant sleeps, and advice information corresponding to that evaluation value are determined as the information to be provided to the user, so that the user can know how much their infant's sleep has improved overall.

[0047] The information processing device further includes a prediction unit that predicts the future sleeping state of the user's infant based on the usage history.

[0048] Such an information processing device predicts the future sleeping conditions of the user's infant based on the usage history, making it easier for the user to schedule childcare.

[0049] The information processing device also predicts the time from when the infant falls asleep to when he or she wakes up this evening, or the sleeping conditions of the infant when the infant grows to a predetermined age different from the current age.

[0050] Such an information processing device predicts the time from when an infant falls asleep tonight until they wake up, or the sleeping conditions when the infant grows to a specified age different from the current age, making it easier for users to schedule their infant's activities throughout the day and also allowing them to understand how much their infant will sleep in the long term.

[0051] An example of a form for implementing an information processing device (hereinafter referred to as an "embodiment") will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the information processing device, determination method, determination program, and information processing system are not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, the same components in the following embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0052] (First embodiment) 1. Overview of Information Processing According to the First Embodiment First, an overview of information processing according to the first embodiment will be described based on the premise. For example, a childcare application for inputting a childcare record of an infant is known. Also, a technology is known for calculating and presenting a score of the degree of sleep development based on information indicating the sleep timing of an infant. Also, a technology is known for encouraging the introduction of a certain application by displaying advertising information about the other application via the application.

[0053] These technologies can record information about infant care, evaluate the level of sleep development and provide advice according to that development, and effectively guide users to specific applications.

[0054] However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, for example, in order to receive more detailed information regarding childcare (e.g., analysis results and advice based on childcare records), the childcare records must be input into a single application that can analyze the childcare records and provide advice based on the analysis results, and it is not necessarily possible to coexist this application with other applications that are easier to use regarding childcare records.

[0055] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, the advertising information merely promotes the use of other applications in accordance with the user's individual usage situation, and therefore it is not necessarily possible to make the above-mentioned two applications coexist by, for example, proposing (advertising) an application that can provide more useful information that utilizes the childcare records entered by the user.

[0056] Therefore, in this embodiment, we focus on displaying advertising information for an application that provides information about childcare records to guide users to a childcare-related app that is an application that provides information about the analysis results of childcare records, and we have decided to perform the following information processing as the information processing related to the first embodiment. Specifically, in the first embodiment, a usage history of the use of the childcare record app that is an application that provides information about childcare records is obtained, and based on the obtained usage history, an advertising format of the advertising information to be displayed in the childcare record app is determined.

[0057] Such information processing can effectively suggest applications (childcare-related apps) that utilize childcare records to provide more useful information, so that, for example, it is possible for a childcare record app and other childcare-related apps to coexist on a single user's terminal device. Furthermore, in this state where a childcare record app and other childcare-related apps coexist, the user can use the childcare record app that is most convenient for them, while also obtaining more useful information that cannot be obtained from the childcare record app and that is based on the childcare records entered into the childcare record app, thereby improving the convenience of the applications.

[0058] 2. Information Processing System According to the First Embodiment Next, an information processing system according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall image of information processing according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment includes a terminal device 10, a server device 100, and a server device 200. The terminal device 10, the server device 100, and the server device 200 are connected to each other via a network N (not shown) so as to be able to communicate with each other via wired or wireless communication. Note that the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 may include a plurality of terminal devices 10, a plurality of server devices 100, and a plurality of server devices 200.

[0059] The terminal device 10 is an information processing terminal used by a user. The terminal device 10 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), a desktop PC, a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), etc. In this embodiment, the terminal device 10 will be described as being a smartphone.

[0060] The server device 100 is an example of an information processing device according to the first embodiment, and is a server device that performs part or all of the information processing according to the first embodiment. The server device 200 is also an example of an information processing device according to the first embodiment, and is a server device that performs part or all of the information processing according to the first embodiment. The server devices 100 and 200 may be configured as a single server device. For example, the processing described in FIG. 1 as being performed by the server device 100 may be performed by the server device 200, and conversely, the processing described as being performed by the server device 200 may be performed by the server device 100.

[0061] 3. An example of information processing according to the first embodiment An example of information processing according to the first embodiment will now be described with reference to Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, user U1 is illustrated as an example of a user. User U1 is the mother of an infant. Terminal device 10 shown in Fig. 1 is an information processing terminal used by user U1.

[0062] 1, terminal device 10 has installed thereon "app AP1" as a childcare record app that provides information about childcare records. Based on the usage history of app AP1, server devices 100 and 200 perform information processing to determine the advertising format of advertising information to be displayed in app AP1, which is advertising information for guiding user U1 to "app AP2," a childcare-related app that provides information about the analysis results of an analysis of childcare records. Displaying such advertising information effectively entices user U1 to install app AP2 on terminal device 10.

[0063] 1, server device 100 corresponds to application AP1 and belongs to provider T1, while server device 200 corresponds to application AP2 and belongs to provider T2, which is different from provider T1.

[0064] 1, user U1 may input a childcare record as needed using terminal device 10 that has application AP1 installed but not application AP2 installed. For example, user U1 launches application AP1 from terminal device 10 and inputs a childcare record into application AP1.

[0065] Examples of childcare records compatible with app AP1 include sleep records, meal records, excretion records, body temperature records, and growth diaries, but the childcare records are not limited to these. Taking sleep records as an example, when a baby starts to sleep, user U1 inputs the time the baby started to sleep into app AP1. When the baby wakes up from sleep, user U1 inputs the time the baby woke up from sleep into app AP1. The childcare records are then transmitted from terminal device 10 to server device 100 via app AP1, and are stored in server device 100.

[0066] 1, user U1 inputs a childcare record into app AP1 (step S11). For example, user U1 inputs the childcare record into record screen C2 (FIG. 3) within app AP1 and presses the send button. Terminal device 10 then associates a user ID (identifier), which is identification information for identifying user U1, with the childcare record that has just been input, and transmits the associated data to server device 100 via app AP1 (step S12).

[0067] In this way, the server device 100 acquires the childcare records from each user, including user U1, and stores the acquired childcare records for each user (step S13). For example, the server device 100 stores the childcare records in a predetermined storage unit in association with the input date and time and the childcare records entered at the relevant input date and time for each user ID. As such, the childcare records can be considered a usage history of the use of the app AP1. The server device 100 can also store information, such as when and for how long a predetermined screen corresponding to the app AP1 (for example, a "record summary screen C1" or a "record screen C2," described below) was viewed, as a usage history of the use of the app AP1 in a predetermined storage unit.

[0068] Next, it is assumed that the server device 100 has determined that it has received access (e.g., a distribution request) from the user U1 to a predetermined screen corresponding to the application AP1. In this case, the server device 100 determines whether the user U1 is a target to which advertising information is to be provided, based on whether the usage status indicated by the usage history of the application AP1 by the user U1 satisfies a predetermined condition (step S14).

[0069] For example, the server device 100 determines whether or not the user U1 is a target to which advertising information is to be provided, based on whether or not the viewing time (an example of usage status) during which the user U1 views a predetermined screen corresponding to the application AP1 is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. The viewing time here may be an average viewing time obtained by averaging the time from when a predetermined screen is displayed once until it transitions to another screen (or the time from when a predetermined screen is displayed once until it is closed). Alternatively, the viewing time may be an accumulated time obtained by accumulating the time from when a predetermined screen is displayed once until it transitions to another screen (or the time from when a predetermined screen is displayed once until it is closed).

[0070] Then, if the viewing time of a specific screen corresponding to application AP1 by user U1 satisfies the condition of "a specific time or more," server device 100 determines that user U1 is a target to which advertising information will be provided.

[0071] Furthermore, for example, the server device 100 may determine whether or not the user U1 is a target to which advertising information is to be provided, based on whether or not the frequency with which a predetermined screen corresponding to the application AP1 is viewed by the user U1 (an example of a usage status) is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency. For example, the server device 100 determines that the user U1 is a target to which advertising information is to be provided if the frequency with which a predetermined screen corresponding to the application AP1 is viewed by the user U1 satisfies a condition that the frequency is "a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times / day) or more." Furthermore, for example, the server device 100 may determine that the user U1 is a target to which advertising information is to be provided if the frequency with which a predetermined screen corresponding to the application AP1 is viewed by the user U1 satisfies a condition that the frequency is "a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times / week) or more in a predetermined period (e.g., one week)."

[0072] Here, the determination process performed in step S14 is a process for extracting users who are presumed to want to know (desire) more information about child-rearing, and by providing such users with advertising information about app AP2, they can be effectively guided to app AP2.

[0073] 1, it is assumed that the server device 100 determines that the user U1 is eligible for provision because the usage status of the user U1 satisfies a predetermined condition. Then, the server device 100 transmits the childcare records of the user U1 that have been accumulated so far to the server device 200 (step S15).

[0074] When server device 200 acquires the childcare record from server device 100, it performs a sleep analysis of the infant (infant of user U1) that is the subject of the childcare record based on the acquired childcare record (step S16). For example, server device 200 calculates a sleep score that indicates the level of sleep development of the infant based on a sleep record included in the acquired childcare record, the sleep record including the time the infant went to sleep and the time the infant woke up from sleep within a predetermined period. Server device 200 also generates childcare advice corresponding to the calculated sleep score.

[0075] Next, based on the analysis results of the sleep analysis in step S16 (e.g., sleep score or child-rearing advice), server device 200 determines the advertising format of the advertising information to be displayed in app AP1, which is advertising information for guiding user U1 to app AP2 (step S17). For example, server device 200 determines the content to be advertised in the advertising information (advertising content) based on the analysis results of the sleep analysis in step S16 and the display content displayed on a predetermined screen corresponding to the access in step S14. Furthermore, based on the determined advertising format, server device 200 generates advertising information to be displayed in app AP1, which is advertising information for guiding user U1 to app AP2.

[0076] For example, the server device 200 determines the analysis result of the sleep analysis in step S16 as the advertisement content. For example, the server device 200 determines at least one of the sleep score and the child-rearing advice as the advertisement content, and generates advertisement information in which the determined advertisement content is displayed. The server device 200 also transmits the generated advertisement information to the server device 100 (step S18).

[0077] Here, an example of the advertising process from steps S15 to S17 will be described. For example, server device 100 acquires all of the childcare records input by user U1 from a storage unit and transmits the acquired childcare records to server device 200. In this case, server device 200 acquires all of the childcare records input by user U1 from server device 100. In this state, server device 200 may generate advertising information from the analysis results obtained by performing a sleep analysis using all of the acquired childcare records (full childcare records), or may generate advertising information from the analysis results obtained by performing a sleep analysis using only a portion of the acquired childcare records (simplified childcare records).

[0078] Furthermore, for example, server device 100 may acquire from the storage unit a portion (a simplified child-rearing record) of the child-rearing records that have been input by user U1, and transmit the acquired child-rearing records to server device 200. In this case, server device 200 acquires the simplified child-rearing records from server device 100. In this state, server device 200 generates advertisement information from the analysis results obtained by performing a sleep analysis using the acquired simplified child-rearing record.

[0079] A simple childcare record is, for example, a childcare record that falls into a specific category (such as sleep, excretion, meals, etc.), or a childcare record that is limited by specific conditions (for example, every two hours, records with different time granularity such as morning, noon, or night, or records limited to a certain time period such as only daytime hours or only nighttime hours).

[0080] In addition, although the examples described above show the case where the server device 200 generates the advertisement information based on the analysis results, the server device 100 may generate the advertisement information based on the analysis results. For example, the server device 100 acquires the analysis results from the server device 200, and generates the advertisement information based on the acquired analysis results.

[0081] An example of the advertising information will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. The advertising information includes information that can only be obtained by using the app AP2 (for example, a sleep score or parenting advice), and also includes a link to a page where the app AP2 can be downloaded. This allows the user U1 to temporarily experience the app AP2. For this reason, the information processing according to the first embodiment can be said to be information processing that provides a trial version of the app AP2. Therefore, this information processing makes it possible to effectively propose (advertise) the app AP2 that can provide more useful information (for example, a sleep score or parenting advice) that utilizes the childcare records.

[0082] Furthermore, the advertising information generated in this embodiment is a banner advertisement, and the medium to be used on each predetermined screen is specified in advance. In this case, the server device 200 may specify the medium to be used to the server device 100, for example, based on the access in step S14. Then, the server device 100 generates advertising information using the medium specified by the server device 200 and the analysis results by the server device 200. Note that the advertising information according to the first embodiment does not necessarily have to be a banner advertisement, and may be, for example, an overlay advertisement.

[0083] Returning to the description of Fig. 1, the server device 100 transmits the generated advertising information to the terminal device 10 so that the advertising information is displayed on a predetermined screen corresponding to the access and displayed in the application AP1 (step S19). For example, the server device 100 transmits the predetermined screen and the advertising information to the terminal device 10 in a state where the predetermined screen and the advertising information are associated with each other.

[0084] Then, the terminal device 10 displays the advertisement information together with a predetermined screen corresponding to the access (step S20). For example, the terminal device 10 displays the predetermined screen with the advertisement information inserted by inserting the advertisement information received from the server device 100 into an advertisement space included in the predetermined screen (step S20). Note that the server device 100 may insert the advertisement information into an advertisement space included in the predetermined screen and transmit the predetermined screen with the advertisement information inserted to the terminal device 10.

[0085] As described above with reference to Fig. 1, the information processing device according to the first embodiment acquires a usage history of a childcare record app that provides information related to childcare records. Then, based on the acquired usage history, the information processing device narrows down users to whom advertising information is to be provided.

[0086] In addition, the information processing device determines the advertising format of the advertising information to be displayed in the childcare record app, which is advertising information to guide the target user to a childcare-related app, which is an application that provides information regarding the analysis results of the childcare record based on the usage history of the childcare record app.

[0087] Then, the information processing device provides the advertisement information of the determined advertisement style to the intended users via the childcare record app.

[0088] Such an information processing device makes it possible to effectively propose childcare record apps to users who are likely to want to obtain more useful information that utilizes childcare records by using childcare-related apps, thereby advertising the apps (allowing them to temporarily experience some of the functions of the childcare-related apps).

[0089] From here, we will continue to use Figure 1 to explain an example of information processing when user U1, who has actually installed app AP2 due to the advertising effect, attempts to obtain more useful information (e.g., sleep scores and childcare advice) that utilizes childcare records via app AP2.

[0090] For example, user U1 uses app AP1 to send an analysis request to server device 200 to instruct it to analyze sleep based on the childcare records that have been input up to that point. For example, user U1 can request the analysis by sending to server device 200 his / her user ID (identifier) ​​registered with app AP1.

[0091] 1, user U1 inputs a user ID to application AP2 (step S31). For example, user U1 inputs the user ID on an input screen within application AP2 and presses the send button. In response, terminal device 10 transmits the user ID to server device 100 via application AP2 (step S32).

[0092] When the server device 200 acquires the user ID from the terminal device 10, it uses the acquired user ID to perform data linking processing to link the childcare records of user U1 with the server device 100. Specifically, the server device 200 transmits the acquired user to the server device 100, thereby requesting the childcare records of user U1 from the server device 100 (step S33).

[0093] Server device 100 extracts from the storage unit the childcare record associated with the user ID acquired from server device 200, and transmits the extracted childcare record to server device 200 (step S34).

[0094] When server device 200 acquires the childcare record from server device 100, it performs a sleep analysis of the infant (infant of user U1) that is the subject of the childcare record based on the acquired childcare record (step S35). For example, server device 200 calculates a sleep score that indicates the level of sleep development of the infant based on a sleep record included in the acquired childcare record, the sleep record including the time the infant went to sleep and the time the infant woke up from sleep within a predetermined period. Server device 200 also generates childcare advice corresponding to the calculated sleep score.

[0095] Then, the server device 200 transmits an analysis result screen to the terminal device 10 so that the analysis result screen showing the analysis result of the sleep analysis in step S35 is displayed in the app AP2 (step S36). For example, the server device 200 generates an analysis result screen on which child-rearing advice corresponding to the sleep score is displayed as the analysis result, and transmits the generated analysis result screen to the terminal device 10.

[0096] Then, the terminal device 10 displays the analysis result received from the server device 200 (step S37). For example, the terminal device 10 displays the analysis result screen received from the server device 200.

[0097] 1 illustrates an example in which the information processing device performs the information processing according to the first embodiment when the application AP2 is not installed in the terminal device 10. However, even when the information processing device receives access from a terminal device 10 in which the application AP2 is installed, the information processing device may similarly perform the information processing according to the first embodiment to cause the application AP1 to display advertising information for guiding the user to the application. Furthermore, the advertising information displayed by the application AP1 in the terminal device 10 in which the application AP2 is installed may be different from that displayed in the terminal device 10 in which the application AP2 is not installed.

[0098] [4. Advertising Information] From now on, an example of the advertisement information according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Note that the advertisement format (advertisement content) shown in the advertisement information described in Figures 2 to 4 is merely an example, and the advertisement format determined by the information processing device is not limited to the examples in Figures 2 to 4.

[0099] [4-1. Example of advertising information (1)] First, an example of advertising information according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example (1) of advertising information according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an example in which a predetermined screen corresponding to an access is a "record summary screen C1" that displays a list of sleep records (an example of a childcare record) input by a user so that the sleep records for each day can be compared. In the example of FIG. 2, it is assumed that the server device 100 has determined that the accessing user U1 is a target for provision through the determination process described in step S14 of FIG. 1. In the example of FIG. 2, it is assumed that the server device 200 has obtained an analysis result, through the analysis process described in step S16 of FIG. 1, that the infant of user U1 "tends to stay up late, and the cause is naps."

[0100] In this state, the server device 200 generates advertisement information AD1 in which the advertisement content includes the analysis result that "the user tends to stay up late, and the cause is daytime naps," and guidance information indicating that the app A2 is required to obtain the analysis result from the sleep record, as shown in the example of Fig. 2. Furthermore, the server device 100 displays the advertisement information AD1 thus generated on a record summary screen C1, which is one screen within the app AP1, as shown in the example of Fig. 2.

[0101] More specifically, the advertisement information AD1 displays the analysis result "Naps may be the cause of staying up late" and the guidance information "Click here for details!" as advertisement content, and also includes a link to a page where the application AP2 can be downloaded. Note that in the example of the advertisement information AD1 shown in FIG. 2, the analysis result is displayed as the advertisement content (i.e., the analysis result is determined as the advertisement content), but advice based on the analysis result may also be determined as the advertisement content. For example, the server device 200 may generate child-rearing advice based on the analysis result obtained by the analysis process in step S16, and determine the generated child-rearing advice as the advertisement content. In such a case, for example, the server device 200 generates advertisement information AD1 in which advice information such as "If your child has trouble sleeping, why not try XX?" is displayed as advertisement content.

[0102] In addition, the function of the link to the page where the application AP2 can be downloaded will be one of the following two patterns, depending on the installation status of the application AP2.

[0103] For example, if application AP2 is not installed in the terminal device 10 to which the advertisement information is provided, the server device 200 generates advertisement information with a link to a page where application AP2 can be downloaded. On the other hand, if application AP2 is installed in the terminal device 10 to which the advertisement information is provided, the server device 200 generates advertisement information with a link that automatically launches application AP2 when pressed. Also, in the examples of FIGS. 3 to 5 below, the server device 200 can control the link to be attached to the advertisement information depending on the installation status of application AP2.

[0104] The server device 200 may also determine the advertisement mode depending on the recording status (input status) of the childcare record by the user. For example, the server device 200 may determine the advertisement mode based on the usage history of the use of the app AP1, particularly the usage history related to the childcare record. For example, the server device 200 may determine the advertisement mode depending on the recording volume, which is the amount of sleep records input by the user so far, or the frequency with which the user records sleep records.

[0105] This point will be explained using user U1 as an example. For example, server device 100 references the storage unit and extracts the sleep record history accumulated so far for user U1. For example, server device 100 extracts the sleep record history for a predetermined period from the sleep record history of user U1 accumulated in the storage unit. Then, server device 100 transmits the extracted sleep record history to server device 200.

[0106] The server device 200 determines whether the user U1 is a user who consistently enters sleep records based on the sleep record history acquired from the server device 100. In other words, the server device 200 determines whether the user U1 keeps a good sleep record based on the sleep record history.

[0107] More specifically, the server device 200 determines whether the user U1 is a user who constantly inputs sleep records based on whether the amount of sleep records calculated from the sleep record history (e.g., the amount of sleep records recorded during a predetermined period) satisfies a predetermined condition. Also, for example, the server device 200 determines whether the user U1 is a user who constantly inputs sleep records based on whether the recording frequency calculated from the sleep record history satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0108] If the server device 200 determines that the user U1 is a user who constantly inputs sleep records, it generates advertising information in which information related to the analysis results is displayed as advertising content, as described in Figure 2.

[0109] On the other hand, if the server device 200 determines that the user U1 is not a user who consistently enters sleep records, the server device 200 generates advertising information that displays promotional information encouraging the user U1 to keep a sleep record and guidance information that guides the user to the app AP2. For example, the server device 200 generates advertising information that displays promotional information such as "Maybe keeping a sleep record will make it easier to put your child to sleep?" and guidance information such as "Click here for details!" as advertising content, along with a link to a page where the app AP2 can be downloaded. As another example, the server device 200 generates advertising information that displays promotional information such as "Keeping a sleep record will help you understand (sleep training)!" and guidance information such as "Click here for details!" as advertising content, along with a link to a page where the app AP2 can be downloaded.

[0110] In this way, by determining the advertising format depending on the recording status (input status) of the childcare records by the user, the information processing device can not only effectively suggest applications that can provide more useful information that utilizes the childcare records, but also encourage the user to keep proper childcare records in the first place.

[0111] [4-2. Example of advertising information (2)] Next, an example of the advertising information according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example (2) of the advertising information according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the predetermined screen corresponding to the access is a "recording screen C2" for inputting a sleep record. In the example of FIG. 3, it is assumed that the server device 100 has determined that the accessing user U1 is a target for provision through the determination process described in step S14 of FIG. 1. In the example of FIG. 3, it is assumed that the server device 200 has calculated a sleep score of "5" for the infant of user U1 through the analysis process described in step S16 of FIG. 1.

[0112] In this state, in the example of Fig. 3, the server device 200 generates advertisement information AD2, the advertisement content of which includes the analysis result of a sleep score of "5" and guidance information indicating that the app A2 is required to obtain such a sleep score. In addition, in the example of Fig. 3, the server device 100 displays the advertisement information AD2 thus generated on a recording screen C2, which is one screen in the app AP1.

[0113] More specifically, the advertising information AD2 displays the analysis result "Your baby's sleep score is '5'" and the guidance information "Click here for details!" as advertising content, along with a link to a page where the app AP2 can be downloaded.

[0114] [4-3. Example of advertising information (3)] Next, an example of the advertisement information according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example (3) of the advertisement information according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the predetermined screen corresponding to the access is a "growth curve screen C3" that displays a growth curve generated based on a growth diary (records of height and weight) included in a childcare record. In the example of FIG. 4, it is assumed that the server device 100 has determined that the accessing user U1 is a target for provision by the determination process described in step S14 of FIG. 1. In the example of FIG. 4, the server device 200 generates advertisement information AD3 based on the display content displayed on the growth curve screen C3.

[0115] For example, the server device 200 uses the fact that there is a degree of sleep development (growth) just as there is physical growth to generate advertisement information AD3 in which guidance information indicating that the app A2 is necessary to know the degree of sleep development is displayed as advertisement content. In the example of Fig. 4, the server device 100 displays the advertisement information AD3 generated in this way on a growth curve screen C3, which is one screen in the app AP1.

[0116] More specifically, the advertising information AD3 displays the guidance information "Actually, even (Nenne) has a growth curve! Click here for details!" as advertising content, and also includes a link to a page where the application AP2 can be downloaded.

[0117] [5. Differentiated Advertisement Display] From here on, a process for controlling the advertisement information to be displayed depending on the situation will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a control process for controlling the advertisement information to be displayed.

[0118] For example, the server device 100 controls the advertisement information to be displayed depending on the current situation of the user. For example, the server device 100 controls the advertisement information to be displayed depending on the situation of the user when the server device 100 receives input of a childcare record from the user. For example, the server device 100 controls the advertisement information to be displayed depending on the situation of the user's infant when the server device 100 receives input of a childcare record from the user. As an example, the server device 100 controls the advertisement information to be displayed depending on the sleeping situation of the user's infant when the server device 100 receives input of a childcare record from the user.

[0119] For example, when the server device 100 receives access from user U1 via the recording screen C2 to receive input of a sleep record, the server device 100 determines, based on the received sleep record, whether user U1's infant is currently asleep or awake.

[0120] If the server device 100 determines that the infant of user U1 is sleeping, it transmits the childcare record to the server device 200 and instructs the server device 200 to generate advertisement information AD21 for guiding user U1 to the application AP2. In response to the instruction from the server device 100, the server device 200 performs a sleep analysis based on the childcare record. The server device 200 then determines an advertisement style based on the results of the sleep analysis, generates advertisement information AD21 for the determined advertisement style, and transmits the advertisement information AD21 to the server device 100.

[0121] The server device 100 transmits the advertisement information AD21 generated by the server device 200 to the terminal device 10 so that the advertisement information AD21 is displayed on the recording screen C2. Then, the terminal device 10 displays the recording screen C2 with the advertisement information AD21 inserted therein by inserting the advertisement information AD21 into an advertisement space included in the recording screen C2. This state is shown in FIG. 5(a).

[0122] In the example of Fig. 5(a), advertising information AD21 for guiding the user to app AP2 is displayed at the timing when a sleep record indicating that the infant has fallen asleep is kept. In this way, the information processing device according to the first embodiment displays advertising information for guiding the user to childcare-related apps on the childcare record app side when the infant is asleep. Such an information processing device can provide the user with advertising information for guiding the user to childcare-related apps when the user has free time because the infant has fallen asleep (i.e., when it is easy for the user to install childcare-related apps), thereby more effectively recommending childcare-related apps.

[0123] On the other hand, if the server device 100 determines that the baby of the user U1 is awake, it acquires any advertisement information AD22 unrelated to the application AP2. For example, the server device 100 may acquire the advertisement information AD22 from the server device 200, or may acquire the advertisement information AD22 from a predetermined storage unit within the server device 100. An example of such advertisement information AD22 is advertisement information advertising a childcare product.

[0124] Then, the server device 100 transmits the advertisement information AD22 to the terminal device 10 so that the advertisement information AD22 is displayed on the recording screen C2. Then, the terminal device 10 displays the recording screen C2 with the advertisement information AD22 inserted therein by inserting the advertisement information AD22 into an advertisement space included in the recording screen C2. This state is shown in FIG. 5(b).

[0125] In the example of Fig. 5(b), the advertisement information AD22 is displayed at the timing when a sleep record indicating that the infant has woken up is recorded. In this way, the information processing device according to the first embodiment does not display advertisement information to guide the user to childcare-related apps when the infant is awake, but instead displays arbitrary advertisement information unrelated to childcare-related apps. Such an information processing device can utilize the time when the user has free time to advertise childcare-related apps while also effectively utilizing other time to provide advertisements, thereby increasing the opportunities for exposure of advertisement information related to childcare, for example.

[0126] [6. Advice] In the first embodiment, an example was shown in which an information processing device generates advice information based on the analysis results of a childcare record corresponding to an infant of a user (e.g., user U1) to be processed, and also generates advertising information in which this advice information is displayed. However, the information processing device may also generate advertising information in which information from other users other than the user to be processed is displayed as advice, and display this advertising information. For example, if the information processing device determines that the sleeping situation of the infant of the user to be processed is "problematic," it generates advertising information in which solutions adopted by other users to resolve the sleep situation determined to be problematic are displayed as advice. This point will be explained using the example of FIG. 1.

[0127] For example, suppose that the server device 200 calculates a sleep score of "3" by analyzing the sleep record included in the childcare record corresponding to the infant of user U1. Then, the server device 200 determines whether the sleep situation of the infant of user U1 is "problematic" or "not problematic" based on whether the sleep score of "3" satisfies a predetermined threshold.

[0128] For example, if the server device 200 determines that the sleep status of user U1's infant is "problematic" because the sleep score "3" is lower than a predetermined threshold, the server device 200 identifies users other than user U1 who are mothers of infants whose sleep scores are calculated to be higher than the predetermined threshold.The server device 200 then identifies the tendencies of measures that these identified users tend to take to help their infants fall asleep smoothly.For example, the server device 200 can identify the tendencies of measures that these users tend to take based on the childcare records or diaries of users whose infants have sleep scores calculated to be higher than the predetermined threshold.

[0129] For example, suppose that the server device 200 identifies a tendency that a user corresponding to an infant whose sleep score is calculated to be higher than a predetermined threshold "takes a walk with the infant at lunchtime and breastfeeds at 3 p.m." In this case, the server device 200 generates advertising information in which advice information such as "If you have trouble falling asleep, taking a walk during the day may be effective" is displayed as the advertising content. Alternatively, the server device 200 generates advertising information in which advice information such as "If you have trouble falling asleep, try breastfeeding."

[0130] In this way, the information processing device according to the first embodiment displays advertising information in which information from users other than the user being processed is presented as advice. Such an information processing device may be able to provide advice on solutions the user had never thought of, allowing the user to experience for themselves that childcare-related apps are applications capable of providing such useful information. As a result, the information processing device can effectively guide users to childcare-related apps.

[0131] 7. Other Embodiments When the information processing device according to the first embodiment displays advertising information for guiding a user to the application AP2 on the terminal device 10 in which the application AP2 is installed, the information processing device may display different advertising information as such advertising information depending on the frequency of use of the application AP2. For example, the information processing device may display advertising information with different advertising content depending on the frequency of use of the application AP2.

[0132] Furthermore, the information processing device does not need to display information for "promoting the introduction of application AP2" to a user who is using application AP2.

[0133] Furthermore, the information processing device may display a reception section (for example, a button for starting up app AP2) for launching app AP2 in a part of a screen corresponding to app AP1 on a terminal device 10 on which app AP2 is already installed. The information processing device may display the reception section after app AP2 is installed, or may control the reception section to be inoperable (nothing happens when an operation is received, or a screen that prompts the user to install app AP2 in response to an operation on the reception section is displayed) even when only app AP1 is installed. The information processing device may then control the reception section to be operable when app AP2 is installed.

[0134] Furthermore, the information processing device may issue a notification encouraging the use of application AP1 via application AP2 depending on the usage status of application AP1 (for example, the input status of records, the browsing status).

[0135] In the first embodiment, app AP1 is shown as an application that provides information about childcare records and is installed on terminal device 10. However, there may be multiple such childcare record apps, such as app AP1-1, app AP1-2, and so on.

[0136] Furthermore, when multiple childcare record apps are installed, for example, either server device 100 or server device 200 may manage each installed childcare record app using an ID (Identifier), thereby allowing the childcare records recorded in the multiple childcare record apps to be used by server device 200 corresponding to app AP2. As a result, for example, even if a user records sleep records in app AP1-1 and meal records in app AP1-2, server device 200 can make childcare suggestions via app AP2 using the childcare records in apps AP1-1 and AP1-2.

[0137] 8. Configuration of Information Processing Device (1) Next, a server device 100, which is an example of an information processing device according to the first embodiment, will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server device 100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 6, the server device 100 includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a control unit 130.

[0138] (Regarding the communication unit 110) The communication unit 110 is realized by, for example, a NIC etc. The communication unit 110 is connected to the network N by wire or wirelessly, and transmits and receives information to and from the terminal device 10 and the server device 200, for example.

[0139] (Regarding the storage unit 120) The storage unit 120 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk, an optical disk, etc. The storage unit 120 has a childcare record database 121 and an application usage status database 122.

[0140] (About Childcare Record Database 121) Childcare record database 121 stores childcare records entered using content (predetermined screens) provided by app AP1 for each childcare category. For example, app AP1 provides content that allows users to record childcare records for each childcare category, such as sleep, meals, excretion, body temperature, and physical growth. Therefore, childcare record database 121 can record childcare records entered via these content for each childcare category.

[0141] An example of childcare record database 121 according to the first embodiment is shown in Fig. 7. In the example of Fig. 7, childcare record database 121 has items such as "user ID," "sleep record," "meal record," "excretion record," "body temperature record," and "growth record."

[0142] The "user ID" indicates identification information that identifies a user who uses application AP1 or a terminal device 10 of a user who uses application AP1. Note that a user identified by a "user ID" may not have application AP2 installed, or may already have application AP2 installed. Also, a user identified by a "user ID" is assumed to be a person who is in a position to care for an infant under one year old (in the month-old age range) (for example, the infant's mother or father, etc.).

[0143] "Sleep record" refers to information entered into content for recording sleep (specifically, recording screen C2 in FIG. 3) among the contents provided by app AP1. Each record of the sleep record may be composed of, for example, a content ID that identifies the content, the date and time the recording was made, and the details of the sleep record.

[0144] "Meal record" refers to information entered into content for recording meals among the contents provided by the application AP1. Each record of the meal record may be composed of, for example, a content ID that identifies the relevant content, the date and time the recording was made, and the contents of the meal record.

[0145] The "excretion record" indicates input information entered into content for excretion recording among the content provided by the application AP1. Each record of the excretion record may be composed of, for example, a content ID that identifies the content, the date and time when the recording was made, and the content of the excretion record.

[0146] Furthermore, the "body temperature record" and "growth record" can be explained in the same manner as in the above example, and therefore detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0147] That is, the example in Figure 7 shows that a user (user U1) identified by user ID "U1" has previously kept a sleep record titled "Sleep Record #1," a food record titled "Meal Record #1," an excretion record titled "Excretion Record #1," a temperature record titled "Temperature Record #1," and a growth record titled "Growth Record #1."

[0148] In the example of FIG. 7, some information is conceptually represented using "#", but in reality, valid information corresponding to the corresponding item is registered.

[0149] (App Usage Database 122) The application usage database 122 stores information indicating the usage status (usage history) of the application AP1. As described above, the application AP1 provides content for each childcare type that allows childcare records to be made according to the childcare type. Therefore, the application usage database 122 stores the usage history of the content used for each content according to the childcare type.

[0150] An example of the application usage status database 122 according to the first embodiment is shown in Fig. 8. In the example of Fig. 8, the childcare record database 121 has items such as "user ID," "content ID," "access date and time," and "viewing time."

[0151] "User ID" indicates identification information that identifies the user who uses application AP1 or the terminal device 10 of the user who uses application AP1, and corresponds to the "user ID" described in the childcare record database 121 of FIG.

[0152] "Content ID" indicates identification information for identifying content provided by application AP1. "Access date and time" indicates information related to the date and time when a user accessed content identified by "Content ID." "Viewing time" indicates information related to the time when a user viewed content identified by "Content ID." "Viewing time" may be, for example, the time from when the content identified by "Content ID" is accessed to when the user leaves (the time for one viewing).

[0153] That is, in the example of FIG. 8, a user U1 accesses content (content C1 (screen C1)) identified by content ID "C1" on the date and time indicated by "access date and time #11."

[0154] In addition, the example of FIG. 8 shows an example in which user U1 accessed content C1 on the date and time indicated by "access date and time #11" and then continued to view content C1 for the time indicated by "viewing time #11."

[0155] In the example of FIG. 8, some information is conceptually represented using "#", but in reality, valid information corresponding to the corresponding item is registered.

[0156] (Regarding the control unit 130) 6, the control unit 130 is realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or the like executing various programs (e.g., a decision program) stored in a storage device inside the server device 100 using a RAM as a work area. The control unit 130 is also realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0157] As shown in Fig. 6, control unit 130 has a childcare record acquisition unit 131, an access reception unit 132, a determination unit 133, a transmission unit 134, an advertisement reception unit 135, and a distribution unit 136, and realizes or executes the functions and actions of information processing described below. Note that the internal configuration of control unit 130 is not limited to the configuration shown in Fig. 6, and may be other configurations as long as they perform the information processing described below. Furthermore, the connection relationships between the processing units of control unit 130 are not limited to the connection relationships shown in Fig. 6, and may be other connection relationships.

[0158] (Regarding Childcare Record Acquisition Section 131) The childcare record acquisition unit 131 acquires a usage history of a childcare record app (app AP1), which is an application that provides information related to childcare records.

[0159] Specifically, when a childcare record is input by a user via content (content related to the childcare record) provided by app AP1, childcare record acquisition unit 131 acquires the input childcare record. For example, childcare record acquisition unit 131 acquires, as the childcare record, a set of a user ID that identifies the user who input the childcare record, a content ID that identifies the content used for input from the content provided by app AP1, and the input childcare record (contents of the childcare record), and stores the acquired set in childcare record database 121.

[0160] In addition, in response to acquiring the childcare records, the childcare record acquiring unit 131 can also acquire a usage history resulting from the use of app AP1. For example, the childcare record acquiring unit 131 acquires, as the usage history, a set of a user ID that identifies the user who inputted the childcare record, a content ID that identifies the content used for the input from among the content provided by app AP1, and the date and time when the user accessed the content, and stores the acquired set in the app usage status database 122.

[0161] In addition, when access to any of the contents provided by app AP1 is accepted by the access accepting unit 132 described later, the childcare record acquisition unit 131 can acquire a pair of a content ID that identifies the content to be accessed and a user ID that identifies the user who accessed the content, and store the acquired pair in the app usage database 122.

[0162] (Regarding the access reception unit 132) The access accepting unit 132 accepts access to any of the contents provided by the application AP1.

[0163] Furthermore, when the access receiving unit 132 receives an access to any of the contents provided by the application AP1, it can notify the determination unit 123 of the access by using, for example, a user ID that identifies the user who has made the access.

[0164] In this case, access can be interpreted as a delivery request to request that content be delivered, or an update request to update the content to reflect the input results when childcare records are entered into content that is already being displayed.

[0165] (Regarding the determination unit 133) The determination unit 133 determines whether or not a user is a recipient to whom advertising information should be provided, based on the user's usage status of the childcare record app. Specifically, when the access receiving unit 132 receives access to content provided by app AP1, the determination unit 133 determines whether or not the access source user is a recipient to whom advertising information should be provided, based on the usage status (usage history) of app AP1 by the access source user.

[0166] For example, the determination unit 133 determines whether the access source user is a recipient to whom advertising information should be provided, based on whether the usage status of the application AP1 indicated in the usage history corresponding to the access source user satisfies a predetermined condition. For example, the determination unit 133 can determine whether the access source user is a recipient to whom advertising information should be provided, based on whether the usage status of the access content, which is the content accessed by the access source user among the content provided by the application AP1, satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0167] As an example, the determination unit 133 can determine whether or not a user is a target to which advertising information should be provided, based on whether or not at least one of the following information satisfies a predetermined condition: the amount of information entered by the accessing user into the accessed content, information regarding the number of times the accessing user has accessed the accessed content, or information regarding the viewing time for which the accessing user viewed the accessed content.

[0168] A more specific example will be given using an example in which user U1 accesses screen C1. For example, the determination unit 133 determines whether user U1 is a target for which advertising information is to be provided, based on whether the viewing time (an example of usage status) during which user U1 viewed screen C1 is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. The viewing time here may be an average viewing time obtained by averaging the time from when screen C1 is displayed once until it transitions to another screen (or the time from when screen C1 is displayed once until it is closed). Furthermore, the viewing time here may be an accumulated time obtained by accumulating the time from when screen C1 is displayed once until it transitions to another screen (or the time from when screen C1 is displayed once until it is closed).

[0169] If the condition that the viewing time of the screen C1 viewed by the user U1 is equal to or longer than a predetermined time is satisfied, the determination unit 133 determines that the user U1 is a target to which advertising information is to be provided.

[0170] Furthermore, for example, the determination unit 133 may determine whether or not the user U1 is a target to which advertising information is to be provided, based on whether or not the viewing frequency (an example of a usage status) at which the screen C1 is viewed by the user U1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency. For example, the determination unit 133 determines that the user U1 is a target to which advertising information is to be provided, if the viewing frequency at which the screen C1 is viewed by the user U1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times / day). Furthermore, for example, the determination unit 133 can also determine that the user U1 is a target to which advertising information is to be provided, if the viewing frequency at which the screen C1 is viewed by the user U1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times / week) in a predetermined period (e.g., one week).

[0171] Furthermore, for example, the judgment unit 133 may determine whether or not user U1 is a target to which advertising information will be provided based on whether or not the amount of information entered by user U1 using screen C1 satisfies the condition that the amount of information is equal to or greater than a predetermined period of time.

[0172] (Regarding the transmitting unit 134) The transmitting unit 134 transmits the childcare records of the user that have been stored to the server device 200. Specifically, when the determining unit 133 determines that the accessing user is a target for provision, the transmitting unit 134 acquires the childcare records that have been stored to the accessing user that has been determined to be a target for provision from the childcare record database 121. The transmitting unit 134 then transmits the acquired childcare records to the server device 200. For example, the transmitting unit 134 transmits the childcare records to the server device 200 in a state in which the user ID that identifies the accessing user is associated with the user ID.

[0173] Alternatively, the sending unit 134 may acquire from the childcare record database 121 all of the childcare records that have been entered by the access source user determined to be eligible for provision, and send the acquired childcare records to the server device 200. In this case, the analysis unit 232 of the server device 200 may analyze all of the transmitted childcare records (full childcare records), and the advertisement determination unit 233 then generates advertisement information from the analysis results obtained by analyzing all of the childcare records.

[0174] On the other hand, a part of the transmitted childcare record (a simple childcare record) may be analyzed, and the advertisement determination unit 233 generates advertisement information from the analysis results obtained by analyzing the part of the childcare record.

[0175] As another example, the sending unit 134 may acquire from the childcare record database 121 some of the childcare records (simple childcare records) that have been entered so far by the access source user determined to be the subject of provision, and send the acquired childcare records to the server device 200. In such a case, the analysis unit 232 may analyze the sent simple childcare records, and the advertisement determination unit 233 then generates advertisement information from the analysis results obtained by using the simple childcare records.

[0176] (Regarding the advertisement reception unit 135) The advertisement receiving unit 135 receives advertisement information to guide users to a childcare-related app (app AP2), which is an application that provides information regarding the analysis results of childcare records, and is displayed on the childcare record app (app AP2) side.

[0177] For example, when the server device 200 generates advertising information to be provided to the accessing user in response to determining that the accessing user is a target user, the advertising receiving unit 135 receives the generated advertising information from the server device 200.

[0178] (About distribution unit 136) The distribution unit 136 distributes to the user the advertising information accepted by the advertisement acceptance unit 135. For example, assume that in response to determining that the accessing user is a target for provision, the server device 200 generates advertising information to be provided to the accessing user, and the generated advertising information is further accepted by the advertisement acceptance unit 135. In this case, the distribution unit 136 transmits the advertising information to the terminal device 10 of the accessing user so that the advertising information is displayed together with the content accessed by the accessing user.

[0179] [9. Configuration of Information Processing Device (2)] Next, a server device 200, which is an example of an information processing device according to the first embodiment, will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server device 200 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 9, the server device 200 includes a communication unit 210, a storage unit 220, and a control unit 230.

[0180] (Regarding the communication unit 210) The communication unit 210 is realized by, for example, a NIC etc. The communication unit 210 is connected to the network N by wire or wirelessly, and transmits and receives information to and from the terminal device 10 and the server device 100, for example.

[0181] (Regarding the storage unit 220) The storage unit 220 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 220 has a childcare record database 221 and an advertisement information database 222.

[0182] (About Childcare Record Database 221) Childcare record database 221 stores childcare records transmitted by transmission unit 134 of server device 100. Therefore, childcare record database 221 essentially corresponds to childcare record database 121.

[0183] (About the advertising information database 222) The advertisement information database 222 stores advertisement information to guide users to the application AP2 and to be displayed on the application AP2 side. An example of the advertisement information database 222 according to the first embodiment is shown in Fig. 10. In the example of Fig. 10, the advertisement information database 222 has fields such as "user ID," "content ID," and "advertising information."

[0184] "User ID" indicates identification information that identifies a user who has accessed content provided by application AP1 and who has been determined to be a target user for provision. "Content ID" indicates identification information that identifies the content (content corresponding to a distribution request or update request) accessed by the user indicated by "User ID". "Advertising information" indicates advertising information that is displayed together with the content indicated by "Content ID" and is intended to guide the user (user indicated by "User ID") to application AP2. For example, if the content indicated by "Content ID" has an advertising display area (advertising space), the "advertising information" is displayed in this advertising display area.

[0185] (Regarding the control unit 230) 9, the control unit 230 is realized by a CPU, an MPU, or the like executing various programs (e.g., a decision program) stored in a storage device inside the server device 200 using a RAM as a work area. The control unit 230 is also realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA.

[0186] As shown in Fig. 9, the control unit 230 has a childcare record receiving unit 231, an analysis unit 232, an advertisement determination unit 233, a generation unit 234, and a display control unit 235, and realizes or executes the functions and actions of the information processing described below. Note that the internal configuration of the control unit 230 is not limited to the configuration shown in Fig. 9, and may have other configurations as long as they perform the information processing described below. Furthermore, the connection relationship between the processing units included in the control unit 230 is not limited to the connection relationship shown in Fig. 9, and may be other connection relationships.

[0187] (Childcare Record Reception Department 231) The childcare record receiving unit 231 receives childcare records. Specifically, the childcare record receiving unit 231 receives childcare records transmitted by the transmission unit 134 of the server device 100. The childcare record receiving unit 231 can also store the received childcare records in the childcare record database 221.

[0188] (Regarding the analysis unit 232) Analysis unit 232 analyzes the childcare records. For example, when determination unit 133 of server device 100 determines that the accessing user is a target for provision, and the childcare records of the user are transmitted by transmission unit 134, and the childcare records are then received by childcare record receiving unit 231, analysis unit 232 analyzes the received childcare records.

[0189] For example, when a childcare record is received by the childcare record receiving unit 231, the analysis unit 232 analyzes the condition of the infant that is the subject of the childcare record (the infant of the user who has been determined to be a recipient of the provision) based on the received childcare record. For example, the analysis unit 232 analyzes the sleep of the infant based on the childcare record.

[0190] For example, the analysis unit 232 calculates a sleep score indicating the degree of sleep development of an infant based on a sleep record included in a childcare record, the sleep record including the time the infant started to sleep and the time the infant woke up from sleep within a specified period.

[0191] Furthermore, the analysis unit 232 may analyze the sleeping state of the infant based on the sleep record, and may further analyze the cause of the sleeping state indicated by the analysis result based on the sleep record. Through such analysis, the analysis unit 232 may obtain an analysis result that, for example, the infant of the user determined to be a target for provision "tends to stay up late, and this is caused by naps."

[0192] Furthermore, the analysis unit 232 may generate advice information indicating child-rearing suggestions (child-rearing advice) according to the analysis results. For example, the analysis unit 232 can generate child-rearing advice corresponding to the calculated sleep score.

[0193] Furthermore, for example, if the analysis unit 232 determines that the sleeping conditions of an infant of a user who has been determined to be a target for provision are in a state of decline from a reference sleeping condition, such as "tending to stay up late," the analysis unit 232 may generate advice information indicating measures to bring the sleeping conditions closer to the reference sleeping condition.

[0194] As another example, when the analysis unit 232 determines that the sleeping condition of an infant of a user determined to be a target for provision is in a state of deterioration from a reference sleeping condition, such as "tending to be fussy in bed," the analysis unit 232 may generate advice information suggesting measures to bring the sleeping condition closer to the reference sleeping condition. For example, the analysis unit 232 can generate advice information such as "If your infant is fussy in bed, why not try XX?"

[0195] The generation of the above-described proposal information and advice information may be performed by a processing unit other than the analysis unit 232. For example, the generation may be performed by the advertisement determination unit 233 or the generation unit 234.

[0196] (Regarding the advertisement determination unit 233) The advertisement determination unit 233 determines the advertisement mode of the advertisement information to be displayed on the childcare record app (app AP1), which is advertisement information for guiding the user to the childcare-related app (app AP2), which is an application that provides information on the analysis results of the childcare records, based on the usage history acquired by the childcare record acquisition unit 131. Specifically, when the determination unit 133 determines that the user is a target for provision, the advertisement determination unit 233 determines the advertisement mode of the advertisement information to be provided to the user based on the usage history corresponding to the user.

[0197] For example, the advertisement determination unit 233 determines, from the analysis results by the analysis unit 232, information on the analysis results corresponding to the content being viewed by the user and provided by the application AP1, as the content (advertising mode) to be displayed as advertisement information.

[0198] That is, according to the above, when the judgment unit 133 judges that the accessing user is a target for provision and the analysis unit 232 analyzes the childcare record of the user, the advertising determination unit 233 determines information regarding the analysis results as the content (advertising format) to be displayed as advertising information.

[0199] Furthermore, for example, the advertisement determination unit 233 can determine the content to be displayed as advertisement information based on the analysis results by the analysis unit 232 and the display content displayed in the content accessed by the user who has been determined to be a target for provision.

[0200] Furthermore, the advertisement determination unit 233 may determine, based on the current situation of the user estimated from the content entered by the user in the content provided by the app AP1, which of the information on the analysis results by the analysis unit 232 and product information on the infants and young children being cared for by the user to be displayed as advertisement information.

[0201] In addition, the advertisement determination unit 233 may determine, as the content to be displayed as advertisement information, content suggesting the app AP2 according to the determination result as to whether the childcare records required for the analysis by the analysis unit 232 are sufficient or insufficient.

[0202] (Regarding the generation unit 234) The generation unit 234 generates, based on the advertisement mode determined by the advertisement determination unit 233, advertisement information for guiding the user to the application AP2, which is to be displayed on the application AP1 side.

[0203] (Regarding the display control unit 235) The display control unit 235 controls the display so that the advertising information generated by the generation unit 234 is displayed on the terminal device 10 of the accessing user. For example, the display control unit 235 controls the display so that the advertising information generated by the generation unit 234 is displayed on the terminal device 10 together with the content accessed by the accessing user. For example, the display control unit 235 transmits the advertising information to the server device 100.

[0204] (An example of advertising processing) Hereinafter, a description will be given of an example of the advertisement processing according to the first embodiment. The advertisement processing may be processing performed among the analysis unit 232, the advertisement determination unit 233, the generation unit 234, and the display control unit 235.

[0205] First, a specific example of the advertising process will be described using an example of user U1 who accessed screen C1. For example, in response to this access, the analysis unit 232 obtains an analysis result regarding user U1's infant that "the infant tends to stay up late, and the cause is naps."

[0206] In this case, the advertisement determination unit 233 determines, as advertisement content, guidance information to the app AP2 indicating that the app A2 is necessary to obtain an analysis result that, for example, "the user tends to stay up late, and the cause is naps." Then, the generation unit 234 generates advertisement information AD1 in which this guidance information is indicated as advertisement content. Furthermore, the display control unit 235 controls display so that the advertisement information AD1 is displayed on a screen C1, which is one piece of content provided by the app AP1, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0207] Furthermore, when advice information is generated based on the analysis result by the analysis unit 232, the advertisement determination unit 233 may determine the generated advice information as the advertisement content. For example, when it is determined that the sleeping situation of an infant is in a state of being negatively deteriorated from a reference sleeping situation and advice information indicating a measure to bring the sleeping situation closer to the reference sleeping situation is generated, the advertisement determination unit 233 may determine this advice information as the advertisement content.

[0208] Next, a specific example of the advertising process will be described using an example of user U1 who accessed screen C2. For example, in response to this access, the analysis unit 232 calculates a sleep score of "5" for the infant of user U1.

[0209] In this case, the advertisement determination unit 233 determines, as advertisement content, guidance information to the app AP2 indicating that the app A2 is necessary to obtain an analysis result such as a sleep score of "5." Then, the generation unit 234 generates advertisement information AD2 in which this guidance information is indicated as advertisement content. Furthermore, the display control unit 235 controls display so that the advertisement information AD2 is displayed on a screen C2, which is one piece of content provided by the app AP1, as shown in FIG. 3 .

[0210] Next, a specific example of the advertising process will be described using the example of user U1 who accessed screen C3. For example, in response to such access, the analysis unit 232 may generate a growth curve for the infant of user U1. For example, the analysis unit 232 may generate a growth curve based on the growth record (records of height and weight) included in the childcare record of user U1.

[0211] In this case, the advertisement determination unit 233 determines, as advertisement content, guidance information indicating that the app A2 is necessary to know the level of sleep development, using the fact that there is a level of sleep development (growth) just as there is physical growth. Then, the generation unit 234 generates advertisement information AD3 in which this guidance information is indicated as advertisement content. Furthermore, the display control unit 235 controls display so that the advertisement information AD3 is displayed on a screen C3, which is one content provided by the app AP1, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0212] (Another example of advertising processing) Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the advertisement determination unit 233 may determine which of the information on the analysis results by the analysis unit 232 and product information on the infants and young children being cared for by the user should be displayed as the advertisement information, based on the current situation of the user estimated from the content entered by the user in the content provided by the app AP1.

[0213] Furthermore, the advertisement determination unit 233 may determine, as the advertisement content, content suggesting a child-rearing related app according to the determination result of whether or not a sufficient number of child-rearing records have been input for analysis by the analysis unit 232. For example, the determination of whether or not a sufficient number of child-rearing records have been input for analysis by the analysis unit 232 can be made based on the amount of data stored in the child-rearing record database 121.

[0214] Then, when it is determined that enough childcare records have been input for the analysis unit 232 to perform analysis, the advertisement determination unit 233 determines, for example, content such as "Maybe you can do 'Nen-Training' with your current records? Click here for details about 'Nen-Training'" as advertisement content. Then, the generation unit 234 generates advertisement information AD21 in which this advertisement content is displayed. Furthermore, the display control unit 235 controls display so that the advertisement information AD21 is displayed on screen C2, which is one content provided by the application AP1, as shown in FIG. 5(a).

[0215] On the other hand, if the advertisement determination unit 233 determines that sufficient childcare records have not been entered for the analysis unit 232 to perform analysis, it can determine the advertisement content to be, for example, "If you try harder to record, you might be able to learn more about your baby's sleep. Click here for details."

[0216] [10. Processing Procedure] Next, the procedure of information processing according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of information processing according to the first embodiment. In Fig. 7, the information processing according to the first embodiment will be described as being performed by a single information processing device integrated with the server device 100 and the server device 200. The information processing according to the first embodiment is processing based on a determination method that is realized by installing a determination program according to the first embodiment in the information processing device.

[0217] First, the childcare record acquisition unit 131 acquires the entered childcare record each time the childcare record is entered by the user via the content provided by the app AP1, and stores the acquired childcare record in the childcare record database 121 (step S101).

[0218] In addition, in response to acquiring the childcare record, the childcare record acquiring unit 131 also acquires a usage history of the use of the application AP1, and stores the acquired usage history in the application usage database 122 (step S102).

[0219] In addition, while the childcare record acquisition unit 131 is successively acquiring usage history (childcare records, application usage history) resulting from the use of the application AP1, the access receiving unit 132 determines whether or not access to any of the contents within the application AP1 has been received (step S103).

[0220] While it is determined that access to any of the contents in the application AP1 has not been accepted (step S103; No), the access accepting unit 132 waits until it can determine that access has been accepted.

[0221] On the other hand, when it is determined that the access to any of the contents in the application AP1 has been accepted (step S103; Yes), the determination unit 133 determines whether or not the usage status of the application AP1 by the access source user who made the access satisfies a predetermined condition (step S104). For example, the determination unit 133 determines whether or not the usage status of the access content, which is the content accessed by the access source user, among the contents provided by the application AP1, satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0222] If the determining unit 133 determines that the usage situation does not satisfy the predetermined condition (step S104; No), the process ends at this point.

[0223] On the other hand, if the determination unit 133 determines that the usage situation satisfies the predetermined condition (step S104; Yes), it determines that the accessing user is a recipient to whom advertising information should be provided (step S105).

[0224] Next, when the childcare record receiving unit 231 receives a childcare record of the accessing user in response to determining that the accessing user is a recipient to whom advertising information should be provided, the analysis unit 232 analyzes the received childcare record (step S106). For example, the analysis unit 232 analyzes the condition of the infant (the accessing user's infant) that is the subject of the childcare record based on the received childcare record. For example, the analysis unit 232 analyzes the sleeping state of the infant based on the childcare record.

[0225] Next, the advertisement determination unit 233 determines the advertisement mode (content to be displayed as an advertisement) based on the analysis result (step S107). Furthermore, the generation unit 234 generates advertisement information based on the determined information. Then, the display control unit 235 controls the display so that the generated advertisement information is displayed on the terminal device 10 of the access source user (step S108). For example, the display control unit 235 controls the display so that the advertisement information generated by the generation unit 234 is displayed on the terminal device 10 together with the content accessed by the access source user.

[0226] (Second embodiment) 1. Introduction In the above first embodiment, an example was shown in which an information processing device performs, as information processing related to the first embodiment, a process in which, among users who use a childcare record app (app AP1), users who are likely to want information related to childcare are determined, and advertising information related to a childcare-related app (app AP2) is provided to the determined users via app AP1.

[0227] However, the information processing device may provide more detailed information about sleep to a user who has been guided to the app AP2 by the information processing according to the first embodiment. Therefore, various types of information provided subsequent to the information processing according to the first embodiment (particularly, information provided specifically about infant sleep) will be described in detail below as a second embodiment. Note that the information processing according to the second embodiment will be described as being performed by the server device 200A, which is an information processing device corresponding to the server device 200.

[0228] 2. Overview of Information Processing According to the Second Embodiment For caregivers (fathers, mothers, grandparents, childcare workers, etc., hereafter referred to as parents), infant sleep is a source of concern. In particular, for parents of infants under the age of one, infant sleep issues are a source of concern. For example, as children grow older, they develop both mentally and physically, and their sleep patterns develop as well, developing a natural sleep cycle of falling asleep at night and waking up in the morning.

[0229] However, because infants and toddlers, especially those under one year old, are still immature in terms of sleep development, they may have difficulty falling asleep even when you try to get them to sleep, or may wake up as soon as they seem to have fallen asleep, or may have trouble falling asleep or cry at night, which can cause a variety of sleep problems that can be very stressful for parents.

[0230] Furthermore, it is normal for infants (especially newborns) to have unstable sleep, but for caregivers who usually sleep together at night, this can lead to anxiety and stress in child-rearing as their daily rhythm changes suddenly.It is also difficult for caregivers to control an infant's daily rhythm (especially the sleep rhythm, such as the time an infant goes to bed and the time they wake up), and even if caregivers try to put the infant to sleep, the infant may not fall asleep.This makes it difficult for caregivers to feel a sense of accomplishment or success in their own child-rearing, and is also thought to be one of the reasons why caregivers feel anxious and stressed.

[0231] Therefore, this embodiment focuses on using digital technology to support both the behavioral and mental aspects of users (e.g., parents of infants) so that they can continue to perform so-called "sleep training" (Nen-tore), which trains infants to sleep more regularly (so that infants can obtain a consistent sleep pattern).

[0232] Such digital technology will be described below as information processing according to embodiment 2. Specifically, the information processing according to embodiment 2 visualizes what has been achieved and what has not been achieved while a user is training an infant to sleep so that the infant can sleep in a certain sleep pattern, and provides the user with appropriate advice.

[0233] First, an overview of information processing according to the second embodiment performed by the server device 200A will be described below.

[0234] 3. Overview of information processing according to the second embodiment FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an overall image of information control processing according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, the information processing system 1 according to the second embodiment includes a terminal device 10 and a server device 200A. The terminal device 10 and the server device 200A are connected to each other via a network N (not shown) so as to be able to communicate with each other via a wired or wireless connection. Note that the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 may include a plurality of terminal devices 10 and a plurality of server devices 200A. Furthermore, although not shown in FIG. 12, the information processing system 1 may further include a server device 100.

[0235] 1, Fig. 12 illustrates user U1 as an example of a user. User U1 is the mother of an infant, and is the owner of terminal device 10 shown in Fig. 12. The terminal device 10 has installed thereon app AP2, which has been described above as a childcare-related app that provides information on the analysis results of analysis of childcare records.

[0236] The terminal device 10 can display content provided by the server device 200A under the control of the application AP2. Fig. 12 shows an example in which the terminal device 10 displays content C41 for keeping a sleep record, among the content provided by the server device 200A.

[0237] Content C41 includes an area AR411 that displays a list of the infant's sleep onset and wake-up times according to the sleep record entered by the user, a sleep bar BR412 that shows the sleeping hours of the infant calculated from the infant's sleep onset and wake-up times, and an item menu CM413 that allows the user to select the content to be displayed.

[0238] 12, when user U1 selects the item "Record" from among the five items displayed in the item menu CM413, content C41 is displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10. Furthermore, an area AR411 of content C41 displays a list of childcare records that user U1 has entered so far. Furthermore, content C41 displays a sleep bar BR412 that indicates the sleeping hours of user U1's infant during the day, calculated from the childcare records that user U1 has entered so far.

[0239] In this way, user U1 can keep a sleep record of his / her own baby using content C41. Therefore, when a sleep record (time of falling asleep or time of waking up) is input to content C41 (step S41), terminal device 10 transmits the input sleep record to server device 200A (step S42). For example, terminal device 10 transmits the input sleep record to server device 200A under the control of app AP2.

[0240] The server device 200A stores the sleep record transmitted by the terminal device 10 in the sleep record database 223A (FIG. 14) (step S43). According to the example in FIG. 12, the server device 200A associates the sleep record with the identification information for identifying the user U1 (or the terminal device 10 of the user U1), time information relating to the time when the sleep record was input, and the sleep record, and stores this as one record (also referred to as a sleep history or a usage history) in the sleep record database 223A.

[0241] Furthermore, in this state, it is assumed that the user U1 selects an item corresponding to the desired content from among the five items displayed in the item menu CM413. In this case, the terminal device 10 transmits to the server device 200A a delivery request for requesting delivery of the content corresponding to the selected item (step S44). For example, when the item "Sleep Forecast" is selected, the terminal device 10 transmits to the server device 200A a delivery request for the content C42 shown in FIG. 13(a). When the item "Sleep Score" is selected, the terminal device 10 transmits to the server device 200A a delivery request for the content C43 shown in FIG. 13(b).

[0242] When the server device 200A receives the distribution request, it determines the information to be provided within the content corresponding to the received distribution request based on the sleep record input by the user U1 up to that point (step S45).

[0243] Then, the server device 200A controls the display so that the content corresponding to the distribution request includes the information to be provided determined in step S45 and is displayed on the terminal device 10 (step S46). For example, the server device 200 generates content that displays the information to be provided determined in step S45, and transmits the generated content to the terminal device 10 so that it is displayed on the screen.

[0244] [4. Examples of content] Next, an example of content provided by the server device 200A in response to a distribution request from the user U1 will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of content according to the second embodiment.

[0245] [4-1. About Content C42] Content C42 displays the results of a prediction of the future sleeping state of the infant as a "sleep forecast." Therefore, when a distribution request for content C42 is accepted, prediction unit 239A (FIG. 14) of server device 200A predicts the future sleeping state of user U1's infant based on the sleep record input by user U1 up to that point. For example, based on the sleep record, prediction unit 239A predicts the most recent sleeping state of user U1's infant, i.e., the time from when user U1's infant falls asleep to when he or she wakes up that evening.

[0246] Furthermore, in response to the prediction unit 239A predicting the time at which the infant will fall asleep this evening and the next wake-up time, the information determination unit 238A (FIG. 14) of the server device 200A determines the prediction result as information to be provided in content C42. The information determination unit 238A can also determine, as information to be provided in content C42, information indicating sleeping hours for a predetermined period in the past (for example, the most recent week) among the sleeping hours within one day calculated from the infant's falling asleep time and wake-up time.

[0247] In this case, for example, the information determination unit 238A generates content C42 in which the prediction result by the prediction unit 239A is displayed in area AR421 and information indicating sleeping hours for a predetermined period in the past (e.g., the most recent week) is displayed in area AR422, as shown in FIG. 13(a).

[0248] Furthermore, the display control unit 235 (FIG. 14) controls display so that content C42 generated by the information determination unit 238A is displayed on the terminal device 10. For example, the display control unit 235 transmits content C42 to the terminal device 10 so that it is displayed on the screen. As a result, the terminal device 10 displays content C42 in the state shown in FIG. 13(a) on the screen. According to the example of content C42 shown in FIG. 13(a), the prediction unit 239A predicts that the baby's sleep time this evening will be between 8:30 PM and 9:30 PM, and that the next wake-up time will be between 7:20 AM and 8:20 AM, and accordingly, the prediction results are displayed in the area AR421.

[0249] The prediction unit 239A is not limited to predicting the time from when the infant falls asleep tonight until when he or she wakes up, but may also predict the sleeping state of the infant when the infant grows to a predetermined age different from the current age. For example, if the infant of user U1 is currently three months old, the prediction unit 239A may predict, based on the sleep record, how long the infant of user U1 will sleep for a long period of time one month from now, i.e., when the infant is four months old.

[0250] 13(a), content C42 further includes button BT423. Therefore, for example, when button BT423 is pressed, the information determining unit 238A may determine, based on the prediction result by the prediction unit 239A, advice information showing advice for helping the baby to sleep more consistently, as information to be provided. Furthermore, the information determining unit 238A displays the determined advice information.

[0251] Furthermore, the content C42 may be generated by a processing unit other than the information determining unit 238A. For example, the content C42 may be generated by the generating unit 234.

[0252] [4-2. About Content C43] Content C43 displays information related to a sleep score (sleep score) that indicates the degree of development of the infant's sleep. Therefore, when a distribution request for content C43 is accepted, the information determining unit 238A calculates the sleep score of the infant of user U1 based on the sleep record input by user U1 up to that point, and evaluates the degree to which the infant's sleep has developed based on the calculated sleep score.

[0253] In addition, the information determination unit 238A may estimate future (for example, monthly up to several months from now) sleep scores based on changes in the sleep scores calculated so far for the infant of user U1, and calculate a sleep growth curve showing changes in the estimated sleep scores.

[0254] In response, for example, the information determining unit 238A generates content C43 in which the sleep score and the evaluation result based on the sleep score are displayed in an area AR431, and the sleep growth curve is displayed in an area AR432, as shown in FIG. 13(b).

[0255] Furthermore, the display control unit 235 controls the display so that the content C43 generated by the information determination unit 238A is displayed on the terminal device 10. For example, the display control unit 235 transmits a signal to the terminal device 10 to display the content C43 on the screen. As a result, the terminal device 10 displays the content C43 on the screen in the state shown in FIG. 13(b). According to the example of the content C43 shown in FIG. 13(b), the information determination unit 238A calculates a sleep score of "2.4" and evaluates the sleep growth level as "almost a chick" based on the sleep score of "2.4", and accordingly, this information is displayed in the area AR431.

[0256] 13(b) shows an example of content C43 in which the sleep growth curve calculated by the information determining unit 238A is displayed in the area AR432. Furthermore, the area AR432 may further display an explanatory text in response to the sleep growth level being evaluated as "almost a chick" based on the sleep score of "2.4," as shown in FIG.

[0257] 13(b), content C43 may further include a button BT433. Therefore, for example, when button BT433 is pressed, the information determining unit 238A may determine, as information to be provided, advice information corresponding to the evaluation result (almost there will be a chick) corresponding to the sleep score of "2.4." Furthermore, the information determining unit 238A displays the determined advice information.

[0258] Furthermore, the content C43 may be generated by a processing unit other than the information determining unit 238A. For example, the content C43 may be generated by the generating unit 234. Furthermore, although Fig. 13(b) shows an example in which the information determining unit 238A evaluates the extent to which the baby's sleep has developed based on the sleep score, such evaluation may be performed by, for example, the evaluating unit 237A (Fig. 14).

[0259] 5. Configuration of Information Processing Device Next, a server device 200A, which is an example of an information processing device according to the second embodiment, will be described with reference to Fig. 14. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server device 200A according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 14, the server device 200A includes a communication unit 210, a storage unit 220A, and a control unit 230A.

[0260] 14, the server device 200A corresponds to the server device 200 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9, further including a sleep record database 223A, a detection unit 236A, an evaluation unit 237A, an information determination unit 238A, and a prediction unit 239A. Therefore, among the processing units included in the server device 200A, the processing units having the same reference numerals as those of the server device 200 shown in FIG. 9 will not be described, and the following description will focus on the processing units newly added in the second embodiment.

[0261] (Regarding the storage unit 220A) Storage unit 220A is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as RAM or flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or optical disk. Storage unit 220A has child care record database 121, advertisement information database 222, and further has sleep record database 223A.

[0262] The sleep record database 223A stores, for example, identification information that identifies a user (or the user's terminal device 10), time information regarding the time when the sleep record was entered, and the sleep record in association with each other as one record (also called a sleep history or a usage history).

[0263] (Regarding the control unit 230A) The control unit 230A is realized by executing various programs (e.g., a decision program) stored in a storage device inside the server device 200A using a RAM as a work area by a CPU, an MPU, etc. The control unit 230A is also realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA.

[0264] 14, the control unit 230A further includes a detection unit 236A, an evaluation unit 237A, an information determination unit 238A, and a prediction unit 239A in addition to a child care record receiving unit 231, an analysis unit 232, an advertisement determination unit 233, a generation unit 234, and a display control unit 235. The internal configuration of the control unit 230A is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 14, and may be other configurations as long as they perform the information processing described below. Furthermore, the connection relationships between the processing units included in the control unit 230A are not limited to the connection relationships shown in FIG. 14, and may be other connection relationships.

[0265] (Regarding the detection unit 236A) Based on the usage history (sleep record) acquired by the childcare record receiving unit 231 (acquisition unit), the detection unit 236A detects the difference between the items recommended for realizing regular sleep for infants and determined by the childcare-related app (app AP2) and the sleep-related events (sleep events) that have occurred in the user's infant for these items. Specifically, the detection unit 236A detects the difference between the target values ​​set for the items related to realizing regular sleep for infants and determined by the childcare-related app (app AP2) and the index values ​​that indicate the current sleep status indicated by the sleep events.

[0266] (Regarding evaluation unit 237A) The evaluation unit 237A evaluates the user's achievement of childcare (sleeping training) for each item by determining, based on the difference detected by the detection unit 236A, whether or not the index value indicating the current sleeping condition indicated by the sleep event exceeds the target value set for the item related to realizing regular sleep for infants and young children, which is set by the childcare-related app (app AP2).

[0267] For example, if the evaluation unit 237A determines that the index value exceeds the target value based on the difference detected by the detection unit 236A, it evaluates that the user has achieved the goal for the target item for which it has determined that the index value exceeds the target value. On the other hand, if the evaluation unit 237A determines that the index value is below the target value based on the difference detected by the detection unit 236A, it evaluates that the user has not achieved the goal for the target item for which it has determined that the index value is below the target value.

[0268] (Regarding the information determination unit 238A) The information determination unit 238A determines information to be provided to the user based on the difference detected by the detection unit 236A. Specifically, the information determination unit 238A determines information to be provided to the user based on the content according to the evaluation result obtained by the evaluation unit 237A based on the difference detected by the detection unit 236A.

[0269] For example, if the user is evaluated as having achieved the goal set for an item because the index value is higher than the target value, the information determining unit 238A determines content praising the user for having achieved the goal for that item as the information to be provided to the user. On the other hand, if the user is evaluated as having not achieved the goal set for an item because the index value is lower than the target value, the information determining unit 238A determines content suggesting that the user has not achieved the goal for that item as the information to be provided to the user.

[0270] In addition, if the information determination unit 238A evaluates that the user has not achieved the goal set for an item because the index value is below the target value, it identifies countermeasures that can achieve the item based on the usage history (sleep record), and determines the content of the proposed identified countermeasures as the information to be provided to the user.

[0271] Furthermore, when the index value is below the target value and the user is evaluated as not having achieved the goal set for the item, the information determination unit 238A determines, as information to be provided to the user, content corresponding to a change in the user's emotion estimated from the failure to achieve the goal. Furthermore, the information determination unit 238A may further determine information to be provided to related parties having a predetermined relationship with the user (for example, the user's family, etc.) based on this change in emotion.

[0272] Furthermore, the information determining unit 238A determines difference information (for example, a radar chart) indicating the difference between the target value and the index value as information to be provided to the user.

[0273] In addition, the information determination unit 238A may determine that the information to be provided to the user is an evaluation value calculated based on the difference, which is an evaluation value that evaluates how regularly the user's infant is sleeping, and advice information corresponding to the evaluation value.

[0274] (Regarding the prediction unit 239A) The prediction unit 239A predicts the future sleeping conditions of the user's infant based on the usage history (sleep record). For example, the prediction unit 239A predicts the time from when the infant falls asleep to when he or she wakes up this evening, or the sleeping conditions when the infant grows to a predetermined age different from the current age.

[0275] [6. Examples of various information provided within differential information indicating differences] An example in which information according to an evaluation result based on the difference is provided together with difference information indicating the difference detected by the detection unit 236A will now be described with reference to Fig. 15. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of information provision according to the second embodiment. Note that Fig. 15 will be described assuming that the difference information indicating the difference is a radar chart. The example of Fig. 15 also assumes a case in which information is provided to user U1.

[0276] First, as shown in FIG. 15, five items, namely, item IM51-1, item IM51-2, item IM51-3, item IM51-4, and item IM51-5, are shown as examples of items recommended for achieving regular sleep for infants and young children and defined by childcare-related apps.

[0277] Also, according to the example in FIG. 15, item IM51-1 is "regular sleep falling time," item IM51-2 is "regular wake-up time," item IM51-3 is "few times waking up during the night," item IM51-4 is "regular nap times," and item IM51-5 is "appropriate length of nap time."

[0278] 15, a target value is set for each item in advance on the application AP2 side. Specifically, in the example of Fig. 15, each of the above five items is divided into six levels from "0" to "6," and the value "4" is set as the target value.

[0279] In this state, the analysis unit 232 first analyzes the childcare records that the user U1 has entered up to now. For example, the analysis unit 232 analyzes, for each item based on the childcare records, what sleep events actually occurred in the infant of the user U1 for that item.

[0280] Specifically, for item IM51-1 "Regular sleep onset time," the analysis unit 232 calculates an index value N511 that indicates the regularity of sleep onset time based on the tendency of user U1's infant's sleep onset time. Furthermore, for item IM51-2 "Regular wake-up time," the analysis unit 232 calculates an index value N512 that indicates the regularity of wake-up time based on the tendency of user U1's infant's wake-up time. Furthermore, for item IM51-3 "Few nighttime wake-ups," the analysis unit 232 calculates an index value N513 that indicates the stability of nighttime sleep based on the tendency of user U1's infant's number of nighttime wake-ups. Furthermore, for item IM51-4 "Regular nap times," the analysis unit 232 calculates an index value N514 that indicates the regularity of nap times based on the tendency of user U1's infant's nap times. Furthermore, the analysis unit 232 calculates an index value N515 for the item IM51-5 "appropriate length of nap time" that indicates the appropriateness of the nap length from the tendency of the length of naps taken by the infant of the user U1.

[0281] Next, the detection unit 236A detects, for each item, the difference between the target value set for that item and the index value calculated for that item. In the above example, the detection unit 236A detects the difference between the target value 4 set for item IM51-1 and the index value N511 indicating the orderliness of sleep onset time. The detection unit 236A also detects the difference between the target value 4 set for item IM51-2 and the index value N512 indicating the orderliness of wake-up time. The detection unit 236A also detects the difference between the target value 4 set for item IM51-3 and the index value N513 indicating the stability of sleep during the night. The detection unit 236A also detects the difference between the target value 4 set for item IM51-4 and the index value N514 indicating the orderliness of nap time. Furthermore, the detection unit 236A detects the difference between the target value 4 set for the item IM51-5 and the index value N515 indicating the appropriateness of the nap length.

[0282] The difference here may be the positive or negative value of the index value relative to the target value, or the negative or positive value of the index value relative to the target value.

[0283] Next, the evaluation unit 237A evaluates the progress of the sleep training by the user U1 for each item based on the difference detected by the detection unit 236A. Specifically, the evaluation unit 237A identifies the sleep growth level of the infant of the user U1 based on the difference detected by the detection unit 236A. Then, the evaluation unit 237A evaluates the progress of the sleep training by the user U1 for each item according to the identified growth level.

[0284] 15, the detection unit 236A detects "+2" as the difference between the target value 4 set for item IM51-1 and the index value N511, which indicates the degree of regularity of sleep onset time. According to this example, the evaluation unit 237A can determine that the sleep situation of the infant of user U1 is improving so that the sleep onset time is regular, and as a result, evaluates that user U1 has far exceeded the target set for item IM51-1.

[0285] 15, the detection unit 236A detects "+1" as the difference between the target value 4 set for item IM51-2 and the index value N512 indicating the order of wake-up times. According to this example, the evaluation unit 237A can determine that the sleep situation of the infant of user U1 is gradually improving to the order of wake-up times, and as a result, evaluates that user U1 has almost achieved the goal set for item IM51-1.

[0286] 15, the detection unit 236A detects "-0.5" as the difference between the target value 4 set for item IM51-3 and the index value N513 indicating the stability of sleep during the night. According to this example, the evaluation unit 237A can determine that the sleeping situation of the infant of user U1 is not yet mature enough to sleep stably during the night, and as a result, evaluates that user U1 has slightly fallen short of achieving the target set for item IM51-3.

[0287] 15, the detection unit 236A detects "+0.8" as the difference between the target value 4 set for item IM51-4 and the index value N514 indicating the degree of regularity of nap times. According to this example, the evaluation unit 237A can determine that the sleep situation of user U1's infant is gradually improving to regularize nap times, and as a result, evaluates that user U1 has slightly exceeded the target set for item IM51-4.

[0288] 15, the detection unit 236A detects "-0.8" as the difference between the target value 4 set for item IM51-5 and the index value N515 indicating the appropriateness of the nap length. According to this example, the evaluation unit 237A can determine that the sleep status of user U1's infant has not yet reached the level indicated by the nap length, and as a result, evaluates that user U1 has slightly fallen short of achieving the target set for item IM51-5.

[0289] Here, the information determining unit 238A can determine a radar chart as difference information indicating the difference between the target value and the index value as information to be provided to the user U1. Then, the information determining unit 238A generates a radar chart RC51 as shown in FIG. 15(a) based on the difference for each item detected by the detecting unit 236A. Specifically, the information determining unit 238A generates a radar chart RC51 that is composed of a reference radar chart (dotted line) that connects the target values ​​between the items and an actual radar chart (solid line) that corresponds to the user U1 and connects the target values ​​between the items.

[0290] Furthermore, the display control unit 235 controls the display so that content C5 including the radar chart RC51 generated by the information determination unit 238A is displayed on the terminal device 10. For example, the display control unit 235 transmits the content C5 to the terminal device 10 so that the content C5 is displayed on the screen. As a result, the terminal device 10 displays the content C5 on the screen in a state such as that shown in FIG. 15(a).

[0291] The information determination unit 238A may further determine information that supports the results shown in the radar chart RC51 as information to be provided to the user U1.

[0292] According to the above example, it is evaluated that user U1 has achieved the goals set in items IM51-1, IM51-2, and IM51-4.

[0293] For this reason, the information determination unit 238A determines that the information to be provided to user U1 is content praising the user for achieving the set goals for items IM51-1, IM51-2, and IM51-4 and for being able to do such good training that these goals have been achieved.

[0294] On the other hand, according to the above example, the index value N513 indicating the degree of stability of sleep during the night is lower than the target value 4 set for item IM51-3, and therefore the evaluation unit 237A evaluates that user U1 has slightly fallen short of the target set for item IM51-3. Also, according to the above example, the index value N515 indicating the appropriateness of the nap length is lower than the target value 4 set for item IM51-5, and therefore the evaluation unit 237A evaluates that user U1 has slightly fallen short of the target set for item IM51-5.

[0295] For this reason, the information determining unit 238A determines, as information to be provided to the user U1, content suggesting that the items IM51-3 and IM51-5 are items for which the goal has not been achieved.

[0296] For example, the information determination unit 238A can determine that the information to be provided to user U1 is something like, "Your sleep time, wake-up time, and nap time are becoming regular. If your baby can sleep soundly through the night in the future, your sleep rhythm may become more regular. Let's keep trying.", which suggests that item IM51-3 is an item for which the goal has not been achieved.

[0297] Furthermore, for example, the information determination unit 238A can determine that the information to be provided to user U1 is something like, "Your sleep time, wake-up time, and nap time are becoming regular. In the future, once your baby's naps become more regular, your sleep rhythm may become more regular. Let's keep trying.", which suggests that item IM51-5 is an item for which the goal has not been achieved.

[0298] Furthermore, if items for which goals have not been achieved are displayed as in the radar chart RC51, user U1 may feel that their parenting is wrong and lose motivation to continue the baby-raising program. Therefore, for example, the information determination unit 238A may generate a radar chart RC511 that displays only items for which goals have been achieved, or may not display items for which goals have not been achieved (items IM51-3 and IM51-5), but instead display the above content along with the radar chart RC511 to suggest their existence. For example, it may be possible to add more marks or symbols, such as circles or squares, to the items for which goals have been achieved, and display them in a stacked manner. This allows user U1 to effectively obtain a sense of the results and progress of the baby-raising program, increasing their motivation to continue the baby-raising program so that they can achieve items that may not have been achieved in the future.

[0299] Furthermore, in response to the presence of items IM51-3 and IM51-5 as items for which the goal has not been achieved, the information determination unit 238A may identify countermeasures for achieving these items based on the sleep record of the user U1. Then, the information determination unit 238A may determine content suggesting that the identified countermeasures be tried as information to be provided to the user U1.

[0300] In this case, the display control unit 235 may cause the terminal device 10 to display content C5 in which the radar chart RC51 generated by the information determination unit 238A and the countermeasure identified by the information determination unit 238A are displayed. As a result, the terminal device 10 displays on its screen the content C5 in a state as shown in FIG. 15(b).

[0301] In the example of Figure 15(b), proposed information AD513 indicating measures that can achieve the goal for item IM51-3 is associated with item IM51-3, and proposed information AD515 indicating measures that can achieve the goal for item IM51-5 is associated with item IM51-5, and content C5 is generated to display a radar chart RC51, and this is displayed on the screen.

[0302] [7. Processing Procedure] Next, the procedure of information processing according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 16. Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing the procedure of information processing according to the second embodiment. Fig. 16 shows the procedure of information processing corresponding to the example of Fig. 15.

[0303] First, the childcare record receiving unit 231 determines whether it is time to distribute content (Step S201). Specifically, the childcare record receiving unit 231 determines whether it is time to distribute content C5 showing a radar chart. While the childcare record receiving unit 231 determines that it is not time to distribute content (Step S201; No), it waits until it can determine that it is time to distribute content.

[0304] On the other hand, if the childcare record receiving unit 231 determines that it is time to distribute the content (step S201; Yes), it obtains the childcare record of user U1 from the childcare record database 121 and outputs the obtained childcare record to the analysis unit 232.

[0305] The timing of content distribution here may be the timing when a content distribution request for content C5 is received from a user, or the timing when childcare records necessary for generating a radar chart are accumulated. Furthermore, the timing of content distribution may be at predetermined intervals (for example, once a month).

[0306] Furthermore, upon receiving the childcare record from the childcare record receiving unit 231, the analysis unit 232 analyzes the childcare record for each item (step S203). Furthermore, the analysis unit 232 calculates, for each item, an index value indicated by the sleep situation corresponding to that item based on the analysis results (step S204).

[0307] Next, the detection unit 236A detects, for each item, the difference between the target value set for that item and the index value calculated for that item (step S205).

[0308] Furthermore, the evaluation unit 237A evaluates the progress of the user U1 in childcare (sleep training) for each item based on the detected difference (step S206).

[0309] Then, the information determining unit 238A determines the information to be provided to the user U1 based on the obtained evaluation result (step S207).

[0310] Furthermore, the information determining unit 238A generates a radar chart showing the difference between the target value and the index value, and generates content C5 in which the information to be provided is displayed together with the generated radar chart (step S208).

[0311] Then, the display control unit 235 controls the display so that the content C5 including the information to be provided is displayed together with the radar chart on the terminal device 10 (step S209).

[0312] [8. Modifications] The above-described server device 200A may be implemented in various different forms other than the second embodiment, so another second embodiment of the server device 200A will be described below.

[0313] [8-1. Providing emotional support information (1)] 15 shows an example in which the information determination unit 238A determines information that supports the results shown in the radar chart RC51 as information to be provided to the user and displays this information. For this reason, if there is an item for which the user has been evaluated as not having achieved the target because the index value is below the target value, the information determination unit 238A may determine content corresponding to a change in the user's emotions estimated from the non-achievement as information to be provided to the user. This point will be described with reference to FIG. 15.

[0314] 15, the index value N513 indicating the degree of stability of sleep during the night is below the target value 4 set for item IM51-3, and therefore the evaluation unit 237A evaluates that user U1 has not achieved the target set for item IM51-3. Also, according to the example of Fig. 15, the index value N515 indicating the appropriateness of the length of a nap is below the target value 4 set for item IM51-5, and therefore the evaluation unit 237A evaluates that user U1 has not achieved the target set for item IM51-5.

[0315] If there are any items for which the goal has not been achieved, user U1 may feel that his or her efforts in sleep training have not been rewarded, which may cause him or her to feel depressed or lose motivation to continue sleep training. Therefore, the information determination unit 238A determines the information to be provided to user U1 to be content that corresponds to the estimated changes in user U1's emotions (e.g., a decrease in mood or motivation). For example, the information determination unit 238A determines the information to be provided to user U1 to be content that allows user U1 to view the failure to achieve the goal in a positive light.

[0316] As an example, the information determination unit 238A determines, as information to be provided to user U1, content that enables user U1 to accept that not achieving a goal is normal. Specifically, the information determination unit 238A can determine, as information to be provided, content such as "since infants under one year of age are immature not only mentally and physically but also in terms of sleep, waking up multiple times during the night or having irregular naps is common and normal for infants under one year of age." In other words, the information determination unit 238A determines, as information to be provided, content that gives user U1 the awareness and reassurance that not achieving a goal is not their fault.

[0317] As another example, the information determination unit 238A may extract from the database other users who are in a similar situation to user U1 (for example, other users who have not achieved their goals in the same number of items), and determine information according to the number extracted as the information to be provided. For example, the information determination unit 238A may determine the number as the information to be provided, along with a message such as "There are many other mothers and fathers who are currently struggling just like you."

[0318] [8-2. Providing emotional support information (2)] Furthermore, the information determination unit 238A may further determine information to be provided to related parties who have a predetermined relationship with the user, based on a change in the user's emotions estimated from the failure to achieve the goal. This point will also be described using the example of FIG.

[0319] For example, if user U1 has not achieved a goal for any item, he or she may feel isolated and lonely, as if his or her efforts in sleep training have not been rewarded and that he or she is the only one who is not doing well. Therefore, the information determination unit 238A determines the information to be provided to user U1's family (for example, the user's husband, wife, or parents) based on the evaluation results.

[0320] For example, if there is even one item for which the goal has not been achieved, the information determination unit 238A can determine that the information to be provided to user U1's family is, "Thanks to Mr. / Ms. XX (user U1's name), your baby can now go to bed at 8 p.m. and wake up at 7 a.m. Please give him / her a compliment."

[0321] For example, the information determination unit 238A can determine the following as information to be provided to the family of user U1: "Mr. / Ms. XX (user U1's name) works hard on his / her own every day. Please support him / her."

[0322] [8-3. How to use infant records] As an example, the information determination unit 238A may determine information to be provided to the user according to items used by or to be used by infants (e.g., absorbent articles such as diapers and baby wipes, clothes, toys, childcare products such as strollers and baby carriers, etc.). For example, the information determination unit 238A may identify items that are used to promote good infant sleep based on information about items used by or to be used by infants (e.g., manufacturer, brand, quantity, frequency of use, duration of use, etc.) and the infant's childcare record (body movement, excretion, eating, breastfeeding, etc., including sleep), and determine information about the identified items as information to be provided to the user.

[0323] By providing such information, the user can improve their score by using the items indicated by the provided information, thereby increasing their sense of self-efficacy in child-rearing. As another example, the information determination unit 238A may determine information to be provided to the user (for example, information about items used by other users similar to the user) based on information about items used by other users and child-rearing records.

[0324] [8-4. How to provide information] As a method for the terminal device 10 to provide the information to be provided, the display control unit 235 may output images, text, audio, etc. from the terminal device 10 as notification information for the terminal device 10, or may provide the information in response to a user's operation or the operation of an application or function when an application is launched on the terminal device 10 or a function within the application is used. This type of provision method makes it easier for the user to recognize the information to be provided, thereby improving the effectiveness of providing the information to be provided. For example, if it is determined that the user is having difficulty putting their baby to sleep, a message such as "Your baby just doesn't know how to sleep. Let's help teach him / her" may be displayed when the application is launched, preventing a decline in the user's motivation for sleep training.

[0325] Furthermore, the display control unit 235 may display, for example, a character and provide the information as if the character is talking to the user. This can reduce the user's sense of loneliness in child-rearing and prevent a decrease in motivation for child-rearing.

[0326] [8-5. How to provide information] In the second embodiment described above, the information determining unit 238A generates a radar chart (an example of difference information) showing the difference between the target value and the index value based on the target value and the index value, and determines this as information to be provided to the user. However, the information determining unit 238A does not necessarily have to use a radar chart as long as the information shows the difference between the target value and the index value. For example, the information determining unit 238A may express the difference between the target value and the index value using a graph in any format.

[0327] (others) [1. Removal of restrictions] Of the above processes, all or part of the processes described as being performed automatically may be performed manually. Furthermore, all or part of the processes described as being performed manually may be performed automatically using known methods. Furthermore, the information, including the processing procedures, specific names, various data, and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings, may be changed as desired unless otherwise specified. For example, the various information shown in each drawing is not limited to the information shown.

[0328] Furthermore, the components of each device shown in the figure are functional concepts and do not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown. In other words, the specific form of distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that shown. Furthermore, all or part of each component may be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various loads, usage conditions, etc. Furthermore, each of the processes described above may be executed in appropriate combinations within a range that does not contradict each other.

[0329] [2. Hardware Configuration] Furthermore, the information processing devices (server device 100, server device 200, server device 200A) according to each of the above-described embodiments are realized by, for example, a computer 1000 configured as shown in FIG. 17. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration. The computer 1000 is connected to an output device 1010 and an input device 1020, and is connected to a calculation device 1030, a cache 1040, a memory 1050, an output IF (Interface) 1060, an input IF 1070, and a network IF 1080 via a bus 1090.

[0330] The arithmetic device 1030 operates based on programs stored in the cache 1040 or memory 1050, programs read from the input device 1020, etc., and executes various processes. The cache 1040 is a cache such as a RAM that temporarily stores data used by the arithmetic device 1030 for various calculations. The memory 1050 is a storage device in which data used by the arithmetic device 1030 for various calculations and various databases are registered, and is a memory realized by a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, etc.

[0331] The output IF 1060 is an interface for transmitting information to be output to an output device 1010 that outputs various types of information, such as a monitor or a printer, and may be realized by a connector conforming to a standard such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), or HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface), etc. On the other hand, the input IF 1070 is an interface for receiving information from various input devices 1020, such as a mouse, keyboard, scanner, etc., and may be realized by a USB, etc.

[0332] For example, the input device 1020 may be realized by a device that reads information from an optical recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or a PD (Phase Change Rewritable Disk), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory, etc. The input device 1020 may also be realized by an external storage medium such as a USB memory.

[0333] The network IF 1080 has a function of receiving data from other devices via the network N and sending it to the arithmetic device 1030, and also a function of transmitting data generated by the arithmetic device 1030 to other devices via the network N.

[0334] Here, the arithmetic unit 1030 controls the output device 1010 and the input device 1020 via the output IF 1060 and the input IF 1070. For example, the arithmetic unit 1030 loads a program from the input device 1020 or the memory 1050 onto the cache 1040 and executes the loaded program.

[0335] For example, when the computer 1000 functions as the server device 100, the arithmetic unit 1030 of the computer 1000 executes a program loaded onto the cache 1040 to realize the functions of the control unit 130. Also, when the computer 1000 functions as the server device 200, the arithmetic unit 1030 of the computer 1000 executes a program loaded onto the cache 1040 to realize the functions of the control unit 230. Also, when the computer 1000 functions as the server device 200A, the arithmetic unit 1030 of the computer 1000 executes a program loaded onto the cache 1040 to realize the functions of the control unit 230A.

[0336] The embodiments of the present application have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings. However, these are merely examples, and the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in other forms that incorporate various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the aspects described in the Disclosure of the Invention section. Furthermore, the above-mentioned "section, module, unit" can be read as "means," "circuit," etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0337] 1. Information Processing Systems 10 Terminal Equipment 100 Server device 120 Storage section 121 Childcare Record Database 122 App Usage Database 130 control section 131 Childcare Record Collection Department 132 Access Reception Department 133 Judgment section 134 Transmitter 135 Advertising Reception Department 136 Distribution Department 200 Server device 220 Storage section 221 Childcare Record Database 222 Advertising Information Database 230 Control Unit 231 Childcare Record Reception Department 232 Analysis Department 233 Advertising Decision Department 234 Generation part 235 Display control unit 200A Server Equipment 220A Memory section 223A Sleep Record Database 230A Control Unit 236A Detector 237A Evaluation Section 238A Information Decision Unit 239A Prediction Section

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires childcare records recorded by a childcare record app that is an application that provides information about childcare records; a determining unit that determines an advertising format of the advertising information to be displayed in the childcare record app, the advertising information being for guiding a user to a childcare-related app that is an application that provides information on an analysis result obtained by analyzing the childcare records acquired by the acquiring unit, based on the childcare records; and a detection unit that detects differences between items that are recommended for achieving regular sleep for the infant and are determined by the childcare-related app, and sleep-related events that have occurred to the infant of the user for the items, based on a sleep record that includes the time when the infant of the user started sleeping and the time when the infant woke up from sleep within a predetermined period of time, among the childcare records acquired by the acquisition unit; an information determination unit that determines information to be provided to the user based on the difference detected by the detection unit; An information processing device comprising:

2. The method further includes a determination unit that determines whether the user is a recipient of the advertising information based on a usage status of the childcare record app by the user, When the determination unit determines that the user is a target for provision, the determination unit determines an advertising format of the advertising information for the user based on the childcare record corresponding to the user. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing apparatus determines whether or not the information processing apparatus is configured to perform the above-mentioned processing.

3. The method further includes an analysis unit that analyzes the user's childcare records if the determination unit determines that the user is a target for provision, The determination unit determines, as the advertising format to be displayed as the advertising information, information on an analysis result according to content related to the childcare record that is being viewed by the user and is provided by the childcare record app, among the analysis results by the analysis unit.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

4. The determination unit determines, based on the current situation of the user estimated from the content input by the user into the content related to the childcare record provided by the childcare record app, which of information on the analysis result by the analysis unit and product information related to the baby being cared for by the user should be used as the advertising format to be displayed as the advertising information.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3,

5. The determination unit determines, as the advertising format to be displayed as the advertising information, content suggesting the child-rearing-related app, according to a determination result of whether a sufficient amount of child-rearing records has been input for the analysis unit to perform analysis.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

6. The determination unit determines whether the user is a recipient of the advertising information based on whether the usage status satisfies a predetermined condition.

6. The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein:

7. The determination unit determines whether the user is a recipient of the advertising information based on whether the usage status of an access content, which is content accessed by the user, among the content related to the childcare record provided by the childcare record app satisfies a predetermined condition.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,

8. The determination unit determines whether the user is a recipient of the advertising information based on whether at least one of the usage status information, information on the amount of information input by the user to the access content, information on the number of times the user has accessed the access content, or information on the viewing time for which the access content was viewed by the user, satisfies a predetermined condition.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7,

9. The detection unit detects a difference between a target value set for the item related to realizing regular sleep of the infant, which is determined by the child-rearing-related app, and an index value indicating the current sleeping situation indicated by the event.

9. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device is a computer.

10. The method further includes an evaluation unit that evaluates the user's childcare achievement status for each item by determining whether the index value exceeds the target value based on the difference, The information determination unit determines content according to the evaluation result by the evaluation unit as information to be provided to the user.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9,

11. When there is an item for which the user is evaluated as having achieved the index value exceeding the target value, the information determination unit determines content praising the user for having achieved the item as information to be provided to the user.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10,

12. When there is an item that is evaluated as not being achieved by the user because the index value is lower than the target value, the information determination unit determines content suggesting that there is an item that has not been achieved as information to be provided to the user.

12. The information processing device according to claim 10 or 11.

13. If there is an item for which the user has been evaluated as not having achieved the index value being lower than the target value, the information determination unit identifies a countermeasure that can achieve the item based on the childcare record, and determines the content of the proposed countermeasure as information to be provided to the user.

13. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein:

14. When there is an item for which the user has been evaluated as not having achieved the index value being lower than the target value, the information determination unit determines, as information to be provided to the user, content corresponding to a change in the user's emotions estimated from the non-achievement.

14. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the information processing device is a computer.

15. The information determination unit further determines information to be provided to a person having a predetermined relationship with the user based on the change in emotion.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14,

16. The information determination unit determines difference information indicating a difference between the target value and the index value as information to be provided to the user.

16. The information processing device according to claim 9, wherein:

17. The information determination unit determines, as information to be provided to the user, an evaluation value calculated based on the difference, which is an evaluation value that evaluates how regularly the user's infant is sleeping, and advice information corresponding to the evaluation value.

17. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein:

18. The system further includes a prediction unit that predicts the future sleeping conditions of the user's infant based on the childcare record.

18. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein:

19. The prediction unit predicts the time from when the infant falls asleep to when he or she wakes up tonight, or the sleeping conditions of the infant when the infant grows to a predetermined age different from the current age.

19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 18,

20. A determination method executed by an information processing device, An acquisition step of acquiring childcare records recorded by a childcare record app, which is an application that provides information about childcare records; a determining step of determining, based on the childcare records, an advertising format of the advertising information to be displayed on the childcare record app, the advertising information being for guiding a user to a childcare-related app that provides information on the analysis results of the childcare records acquired in the acquiring step; and a detection step of detecting differences between items determined by the childcare-related app that are recommended to help the infant achieve regular sleep and sleep-related events that occurred to the infant of the user for the items, based on a sleep record including the time when the infant of the user started sleeping and the time when the infant woke up from sleep within a predetermined period of time among the childcare records acquired by the acquisition step; an information determination step of determining information to be provided to the user based on the difference detected by the detection step; A method for determining whether a

21. An acquisition procedure for acquiring childcare records recorded in a childcare record app, which is an application that provides information about childcare records; a determination step of determining, based on the childcare records, an advertising format of the advertising information to be displayed on the childcare record app, the advertising information being for guiding a user to a childcare-related app that provides information on an analysis result obtained by analyzing the childcare records acquired by the acquisition step; and a detection step of detecting differences between items recommended for achieving regular sleep for the infant, which are determined by the childcare-related app, and sleep-related events that occurred to the infant of the user for the items, based on a sleep record including the time when the infant of the user started sleeping and the time when the infant woke up from sleep within a predetermined period, among the childcare records acquired by the acquisition step; an information determination step of determining information to be provided to the user based on the difference detected by the detection step; A decision program that causes a computer to execute the above.

22. An information processing system including an information processing device and a terminal device used by a user, The information processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires childcare records recorded by a childcare record app that is an application that provides information about childcare records; a determining unit that determines an advertising format of the advertising information to be displayed in the childcare record app, the advertising information being for guiding a user to a childcare-related app that is an application that provides information on an analysis result obtained by analyzing the childcare records acquired by the acquiring unit, based on the childcare records; and a detection unit that detects differences between items that are recommended for achieving regular sleep for the infant and are determined by the childcare-related app, and sleep-related events that have occurred to the infant of the user for the items, based on a sleep record that includes the time when the infant of the user started sleeping and the time when the infant woke up from sleep within a predetermined period of time, among the childcare records acquired by the acquisition unit; an information determination unit that determines information to be provided to the user based on the difference detected by the detection unit; and The terminal device includes a receiving unit that receives advertising information of the advertising style determined by the determining unit; a display control unit that displays the advertising information received by the reception unit on a screen corresponding to the childcare record app; have An information processing system comprising:

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