Environmental load management device

Abstract

The present invention provides a user with appropriate reference information regarding an environmental load generated by actions by a user.　In an environmental load management server 100, an electricity consumption information database 120 and a movement information database 130 store CO2 emission amounts (environmental load information) corresponding to electricity consumption and a movement, respectively, for each user as user actions. A similar user acquisition unit 101 acquires a similar user who is similar to a user of interest. A calculation unit 102 retrieves the CO2 emission amounts (environmental load information) of the similar user from the electricity consumption information database 120 and the movement information database 130. The calculation unit 102 then calculates reference information on the basis of the CO2 emission amounts of the similar user. When a plurality of similar users are acquired, the reference information is the average of the CO2 emission amounts.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an environmental load management device that handles environmental load information. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a method for determining with high reliability the amount of CO2 reduction caused by activities outside the home. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-38234 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There are cases where users want to know the target value for how much they should reduce the amount of environmentally hazardous substances such as CO2. However, if a target value is set uniquely, it may create a sense of unfairness depending on the user's attributes, lifestyle, and behavior.

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an environmental load management device that can provide a user with appropriate reference information on the amount of environmental load generated by the user's actions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The environmental load management device of the present invention includes a similar user acquisition unit that acquires similar users who are similar to a target user, and a calculation unit that refers to a memory unit that stores environmental load information corresponding to user behavior for each user, extracts the environmental load information of the similar users, and calculates reference information based on the environmental load information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide appropriate reference information for environmental load information based on similar users. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an environmental load management server 100 according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a user information DB 110. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing specific examples of electricity usage information and basic information thereof; [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing movement information and its basic information. [Figure 5] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the environmental load management server 100 and the terminal 200. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a lifestyle information DB. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an environmental load management server 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted.

[0010] 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an environmental load management server 100 according to the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, the environmental load management server 100 includes a similar user acquisition unit 101, a calculation unit 102, and a notification unit 103. The environmental load management server 100 also includes a user information DB 110, an electricity usage information DB 120, and a travel information DB 130, and accesses these databases to extract various pieces of information and calculates target values ​​for the amount of environmental load generated.

[0011] The similar user acquisition unit 101 is a part that retrieves user information from the user information DB 110 and acquires similar users who are similar to one user (target user) who is the target of behavior modification. Details of how to acquire similar users will be described later.

[0012] The calculation unit 102 is a part that calculates reference information regarding the amount of environmental load generated by a single user based on the user information, electricity usage information, and behavior information of similar users acquired by the similar user acquisition unit 101. This reference information is a target value regarding the amount of environmental load generated by a single user. Details of the method for calculating the reference information will be described later.

[0013] The notification unit 103 is a unit that notifies the user of the reference information calculated by the calculation unit 102. In addition to or instead of the reference information, the notification unit 103 may transmit a message urging the user to take action to reduce the amount of environmental load generated. For example, if the amount of environmental load generated by the user is greater than the reference information, the notification unit 103 may refer to the travel information DB 130 and generate and notify a message encouraging the user to reduce actions that generate a large amount of environmental load. For example, if the means of transportation is a car and the travel distance is greater than a predetermined distance, the notification unit 103 may generate and notify a message encouraging the user to reduce the amount of transportation or refrain from using the car. Similarly, the notification unit 103 may refer to the electricity usage information DB 120 and generate and notify a message encouraging the user to reduce electricity usage.

[0014] The user information DB 110 is a database that stores user information. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of the user information DB 110. As shown in the diagram, the user ID, age group, place of residence, family structure, place of work / school, etc. are stored in association with each other. The user ID is an identifier that identifies the user. Other information about the user is also stored. This information is information obtained from mobile phone subscriber information, etc., but may also be information separately registered by each user.

[0015] In addition to the information shown in FIG. 2, the user information DB 110 may also include information such as gender, place of work, distance to the nearest station, and work style (desk work, field sales, telecommuting, etc.).

[0016] The electricity usage information DB120 is a database that stores electricity usage information. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of electricity usage information and its basic information. FIG. 3(a) shows electricity usage information. The electricity usage information is information indicating the amount of electricity used for each user, and is information that associates a user ID, a target period, the amount of electricity used, and CO2 emissions. The target period indicates the period of electricity use. The amount of usage is shown mainly in monthly units. The amount of electricity usage is the amount of electricity used in monthly units. The amount of CO2 emissions is a value calculated from the amount of electricity used. Instead of or in addition to the CO2 emissions, the amount of emissions of environmentally hazardous substances may be used.

[0017] Figure 3(b) shows basic information about electricity usage. As shown in the figure, this information associates each user with information such as age, place of residence, and family composition, as well as the type of contract with the electricity company and contracted amperes. Contract types include metered electricity (where you are charged only for the amount used), flat-rate, and rates that vary by time of day. Contracted amperes indicate the amount of power that can be used at one time and affect electricity usage.

[0018] The travel information DB 130 is a database that stores travel information of users. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing travel information and its basic information. As shown in FIG. 4(a), travel information is information that associates a user ID, a target date, a means of transportation, a travel distance, and CO2 emissions. The target date is the day on which travel took place. A means of transportation is a means for travel, such as a private car or train. A travel distance indicates the distance traveled by a means of transportation. A CO2 emission amount indicates the amount of CO2 emitted by a means of transportation. The CO2 emission amount is calculated according to the travel distance based on a predetermined formula. A record of travel information is created for each target date.

[0019] 4(b) is a diagram showing basic information of travel information. As shown in the figure, the information associates user ID, age, place of residence, family structure, place of commuting to work or school, and means of commuting to work or school.

[0020] The operation of the environmental load management server 100 configured as above will now be described. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the environmental load management server 100 and the terminal 200. User information is registered in the terminal 200 (S101). Then, in the environmental load management server 100, the user information DB 110 stores the user information transmitted from the terminal 200 (S102). As mentioned above, the user information may be acquired from a separate management server or the like that manages user information.

[0021] Furthermore, the terminal 200 acquires behavioral information that contributes to CO2 emissions (S103). This behavioral information includes electricity usage information and movement information. The terminal 200 collects the electricity usage information and movement information and transmits the information to the environmental load management server 100.

[0022] In the environmental load management server 100, the electricity usage information DB 120 stores the electricity usage information from the terminal, and the movement information DB 130 stores the movement information (S104).

[0023] Then, in the environmental load management server 100, the similar user acquisition unit 101 acquires similar users who are similar to the one user for whom reference information (target value) is to be set, based on the user information DB 110 (S105). In the present disclosure, the similar user acquisition unit 101 acquires other users who are similar to the user information of the one user as similar users. As shown in FIG. 2, the user information includes age, place of residence, family composition, place of commuting to work or school, etc., and the similar user acquisition unit 101 acquires users who match the items set in advance in the user information as similar users. For example, users who match the age and place of residence of the one target user are acquired as similar users.

[0024] The calculation unit 102 acquires the electricity usage information and travel information associated with the acquired one or more similar users, and calculates a reference value that serves as a target value based on this information (S106). The reference value is found by calculating the average value of CO2 emissions based on the electricity usage, travel means, and travel distance of the acquired one or more similar users. Note that the reference value is not limited to the overall average value, and may be the median value or an average value excluding outliers. Other values ​​obtained using statistical methods may also be used as the reference information.

[0025] The calculation unit 102 calculates the difference between the average value of CO2 emissions of similar users and the CO2 emissions of the one user as the CO2 emission reduction amount (S107). Note that the calculation unit 102 calculates the difference using the average value (per day) for the most recent predetermined period as the CO2 emissions of the one user, but is not limited to the average value, and the CO2 production amount for the previous day may also be used. Furthermore, a value calculated using other methods may also be used as the CO2 emissions of the one user.

[0026] The notification unit 103 transmits the amount of CO2 emission reduction to the terminal 200. The terminal 200 displays the amount of CO2 emission reduction (S108).

[0027] By using this type of processing, the target CO2 emission reduction amount can be set based on the CO2 emissions of other users who are of a similar age, family structure, etc. to a given user, making it possible to set a target value that eliminates any sense of unfairness between users based on user attributes (age, gender, family structure, etc.) and lifestyles (telecommuting, car-oriented, etc.).

[0028] Next, a modified example of the present disclosure will be described. In the above description, the similar user acquisition unit 101 acquires similar users based on the user information in the user information DB 110, but this is not limiting. In addition to or instead of the user information, the similar user acquisition unit 101 may acquire, as similar users, basic information of travel information, particularly users with matching commuter / school modes. Similarly, the similar user acquisition unit 101 may acquire, as similar users, basic information of electricity usage information, particularly users with matching contracted amperes.

[0029] If a user commutes to work or school by car, their CO2 emissions may be significantly higher than those of users who do not use cars. By acquiring similar users based on basic lifestyle information (for example, routine behavior) that serves as a benchmark for the user's energy usage in their daily lives, such as whether they commute to work or school by car, it becomes possible to set appropriate targets based on the CO2 emissions of users with similar lifestyle patterns.

[0030] The same applies to contracted amperes; since basic power varies depending on the contract details, it may be preferable to consider users with the same contracted amperes as similar users. In other words, contract information when receiving energy from an external source, such as contracted amperes, is basic information for a user's use of energy, and if this basic information differs significantly, it may be inappropriate to use them as a comparison target.

[0031] In this disclosure, the typical behavior of the basic life information that serves as a benchmark for the energy usage status in a user's daily life is exemplified as being the automobile as the means of commuting to work or school, but this is not limited to this. For example, the same distance can also be commuted by bus or bicycle.

[0032] Furthermore, although the contract ampere is given as an example of contract information when receiving energy supply from an external source, gas contract information (basic information) may also be considered.

[0033] Furthermore, the similar user acquisition unit 101 may acquire similar users by referring to a lifestyle information DB that stores lifestyle information. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of the lifestyle information DB. This lifestyle information DB may be located in the environmental load management server 100 or may be located externally. This lifestyle information may be used when acquiring similar users.

[0034] The lifestyle information DB stores the following information. Note that the contracted amperes and other information such as electricity usage are also included in the basic information on electricity usage and basic information on movement information, but they may also be stored in the lifestyle information DB.

[0035] Transportation: Distance traveled (for example, average distance per month), means of transportation (distance traveled by walking, bicycle, car, train, bus, etc.), holiday patterns (weekdays, weekends, holidays, etc.) Electricity: electricity usage, contract amperes, whether solar power generation is installed or not Water:Water usage Purchasing: Purchasing sustainable products, energy-saving products, bringing my own bags, investing in SDG-related stocks Although FIG. 6 shows the travel distance for each mode of transportation, the main mode of transportation may be stored.

[0036] By storing such lifestyle information of users, it is possible to calculate a reference value for the amount of CO2 reduction according to differences in lifestyle.

[0037] For example, by using the user information DB 110 and / or the lifestyle information DB, the similar user acquisition unit 101 can obtain similar users as follows.

[0038] For example, the similar user acquisition unit 101 refers to the user information DB 110 and acquires, as similar users, a plurality of other users who are in their late twenties, live alone, mostly work from home, and reside in xx prefecture.

[0039] Furthermore, the similar user acquisition unit 101 acquires, as similar users, a plurality of other users who use their cars frequently on weekdays and have a contracted amperage of xxA, based on the lifestyle information.

[0040] Furthermore, the similar user acquisition unit 101 acquires users who are highly sustainability-conscious by referring to purchase information from the lifestyle information. For example, users who purchase target products (energy-saving home appliances, etc.), who have a rate of bringing their own bags of x% or more, and who have a track record of investing in specific stocks are acquired as similar users.

[0041] These pieces of lifestyle information indicate the user's life patterns, and depending on the differences in these patterns, it can be determined whether it is appropriate to acquire the user as a similar user or whether it is acceptable to use the user as reference information.

[0042] The filtering range of similar users may be freely set by the system operator of the environmental load management server 100. Furthermore, in order to grasp the user's own CO2 emission reduction amount, the filtering range may be freely set by the user.

[0043] The unit for presenting the amount of CO2 emission reduction to the user may be a score value devised independently by the system operator (it may be other than g-CO2).

[0044] The user information may be acquired from information input by the user, or may be estimated from information other than the user's input, such as estimating the place and means of commuting to work / school from the trajectory of terminal location information.

[0045] Additionally, the similar user acquisition unit 101 may acquire similar users by vectorizing and normalizing the user information, lifestyle information, etc., and calculating the cosine similarity. For example, age groups may be quantified, such as 1 for early twenties, 2 for late twenties, and 3 for early thirties. Places of residence and places of commuting to work or school may also be quantified by area, or based on the distance between them. The same applies to family structure, but it may also be simply the number of people.

[0046] Next, the effects of the environmental load management server 100 of the present disclosure will be described. In the environmental load management server 100, the electricity usage information DB 120 and the movement information DB 130 store, for each user, the amount of electricity usage and CO2 emissions (environmental load information) corresponding to movement as user behavior. The electricity usage information DB 120 and the movement information DB 130 may be located in the environmental load management server 100 or on an external network.

[0047] Then, the similar user acquisition unit 101 acquires similar users who are similar to one user (target user). The calculation unit 102 extracts the CO2 emissions (environmental load information) of the similar users from the electricity usage information DB 120 and the movement information DB 130. Then, the calculation unit 102 calculates reference information based on the CO2 emissions of the similar users. When multiple similar users are acquired, this reference information is the average value of their CO2 emissions.

[0048] This allows the standard information to be set in a way that avoids a sense of unfairness among users. In other words, different users have different living environments and lifestyles, and if standard information is set uniquely, some users may not be satisfied with the standard. As mentioned above, by calculating the standard information based on the CO2 emissions of similar users, it is possible to create standard information that is acceptable to users.

[0049] The environmental load management server 100 of the present disclosure also includes a notification unit 103 that notifies a user of information for improving environmental load behavior based on the reference information.

[0050] This allows users to improve their environmentally burdensome behavior, for example, by reducing their electricity usage and car use, which are considered to be environmentally burdensome.

[0051] In the environmental load management server 100, the calculation unit 102 calculates the difference value between the reference information (average CO2 emission amount) and the environmental load information (CO2 emission amount) of a user, and the notification unit 103 transmits the difference value to the user as information for improving environmental load behavior.

[0052] This allows the user to understand how much environmental load (or actions that lead to environmental load) they should reduce based on the environmental load information.

[0053] For example, user behavior includes at least one of energy usage and user movement. Energy usage includes the usage and amount of at least one of electricity, gas, and water. Meanwhile, user behavior includes the user's means of transportation and the distance traveled.

[0054] In this disclosure, we focus on CO2 emissions as environmental load information. CO2 is generated when electricity, gas, and water are generated. CO2 is also generated when using automobiles as a means of transportation. By changing users' behavior to refrain from such actions, it is possible to reduce CO2 emissions.

[0055] In this disclosure, the environmental load information is based on CO2, but it is not limited to this. Greenhouse gases include CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons, and each gas can become an environmental load depending on the user's actions. Furthermore, the information is not limited to gases, and may include other harmful substances.

[0056] In the present disclosure, the similar user acquisition unit 101 acquires similar users based on attribute information or lifestyle patterns of one user.

[0057] For example, attribute information includes a user's gender, age, family structure, place of residence, and place of work / school. Lifestyle patterns include the frequency of car use, contracted amperes when receiving electricity from the power company, and whether or not solar power generation is installed. The standard energy usage amount changes depending on these attributes and lifestyle patterns. Therefore, by comparing with similar users who have similar attributes and lifestyle patterns, it is possible to provide more convincing standard information.

[0058] The lifestyle pattern includes basic lifestyle information that serves as a benchmark for the energy usage in the user's life. This basic lifestyle information includes the user's behavior that cannot be easily changed. The user's basic lifestyle information is based on contract information when receiving energy from an external source, such as the contract ampere amount with the electric power company. The user's basic lifestyle information includes routine activities among the user's lifestyle activities, such as using a car to commute to work.

[0059] Other lifestyle patterns include holiday patterns, daily travel distance, means of transportation, electricity usage, water usage, gas usage, whether or not (or how often) sustainable products are purchased, whether or not (or how often) energy-saving products are purchased, whether or not (or how often) people bring their own bags, and whether or not (or how much) they have invested in SDG-related stocks.

[0060] Such purchase-related items indicate the user's level of environmental awareness, and by using this to acquire similar users, appropriate similar users can be acquired, and as a result, appropriate reference information can be obtained.

[0061] Although the present disclosure focuses on CO2 emissions and encourages users to change their behavior to reduce environmental impact, it is also possible to encourage users to change their behavior to reduce emissions of other greenhouse gases besides CO2 emissions, such as methane gas. For example, to reduce CO2 emissions, a user is encouraged to take a certain action, and, on the other hand, to reduce methane gas, a notification is given encouraging the user to take a certain action.

[0062] The environmental load management device, which is the environmental load management server 100 of the present disclosure, has the following configuration.

[0063] [1] a similar user acquisition unit that acquires similar users who are similar to the target user; a calculation unit that refers to a storage unit that stores environmental load information corresponding to user behavior for each user, extracts environmental load information of the similar users, and calculates reference information based on the environmental load information; An environmental load management device comprising:

[0064] [2] a notification unit that notifies the target user of information for improving environmentally damaging behavior based on the reference information; [1] The environmental load management device according to [1].

[0065] [3] the calculation unit calculates a difference value between the reference information and the environmental load information of the target user; the notification unit transmits the difference value to the user as information for improving the environmentally damaging behavior. [2] The environmental load management device according to [2].

[0066] [4] The user behavior includes at least one of energy usage and user movement. The environmental load management device according to any one of [1] to [3].

[0067] [5] The energy usage includes the usage and amount of at least one of electricity, gas, or water; [4] The environmental load management device according to [4].

[0068] [6] The user behavior includes the user's means of transportation and the distance traveled. The environmental load management device according to any one of [1] to [5].

[0069] [7] the similar user acquisition unit acquires similar users based on attribute information or lifestyle patterns of the target user; The environmental load management device according to any one of [1] to [6].

[0070] [8] The lifestyle pattern includes basic lifestyle information that serves as a reference for energy usage in the user's life. [7] The environmental load management device according to [7].

[0071] [9] The user's basic living information is based on contract information when receiving energy from an external source. [8] The environmental load management device according to [8].

[0072]

[10] The user's basic life information includes routine activities among the user's daily activities. [8] The environmental load management device according to [8].

[0073] The block diagrams used to explain the above embodiments show functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of hardware and / or software. Furthermore, the method for realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using a single device that is physically or logically coupled, or may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are connected directly or indirectly (for example, by wire, wirelessly, etc.) and these multiple devices. The functional block may also be realized by combining the single device or multiple devices with software.

[0074] Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, determination, judgment, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, election, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, consideration, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocation, mapping, and assignment. For example, a functional block (component) that performs transmission is called a transmitting unit or transmitter. As mentioned above, there are no particular limitations on how these functions are implemented.

[0075] For example, the environmental load management server 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may function as a computer that performs processing of the environmental load management method of the present disclosure. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the environmental load management server 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The above-described environmental load management server 100 may be physically configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, etc.

[0076] In the following explanation, the term "apparatus" can be interpreted as a circuit, device, unit, etc. The hardware configuration of the environmental load management server 100 may be configured to include one or more of the apparatuses shown in the figure, or may be configured to exclude some of the apparatuses.

[0077] Each function of the environmental load management server 100 is realized by loading specific software (programs) onto hardware such as a processor 1001 and memory 1002, causing the processor 1001 to perform calculations, control communications via a communication device 1004, and control at least one of reading and writing data from and to the memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0078] The processor 1001 controls the entire computer by running, for example, an operating system. The processor 1001 may be configured by a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control device, an arithmetic unit, a register, etc. For example, the similar user acquisition unit 101, the calculation unit 102, etc. described above may be realized by the processor 1001.

[0079] Furthermore, the processor 1001 reads programs (program codes), software modules, data, etc. from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002 and executes various processes in accordance with these. The programs used are those that cause a computer to execute at least some of the operations described in the above-described embodiments. For example, the similar user acquisition unit 101 and the calculation unit 102 may be implemented by a control program stored in the memory 1002 and running on the processor 1001, and similar implementations may be made for other functional blocks. While the above-described various processes have been described as being executed by one processor 1001, they may also be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The programs may also be transmitted from a network via a telecommunications line.

[0080] The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be configured, for example, by at least one of a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc. The memory 1002 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory (primary storage device), etc. The memory 1002 can store executable programs (program codes), software modules, etc. for implementing an environmental load management method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0081] Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be, for example, at least one of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray disc), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy disk, a magnetic strip, etc. Storage 1003 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned storage medium may be, for example, a database, a server, or other appropriate medium including at least one of memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0082] The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also referred to as, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, or a communication module. The communication device 1004 may be configured to include a high-frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a frequency synthesizer, etc. to realize at least one of frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD). For example, the above-mentioned notification unit 103 may be realized by the communication device 1004. The communication device 1004 may be implemented with a transmitter and a receiver that are physically or logically separated.

[0083] The input device 1005 is an input device (for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that receives input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (for example, a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside. The input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one device (for example, a touch panel).

[0084] Furthermore, each device, such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus, or may be configured using different buses between each device.

[0085] The environmental load management server 100 may also be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these pieces of hardware.

[0086] The notification of information is not limited to the aspects / embodiments described in the present disclosure and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of information may be performed by physical layer signaling (e.g., Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI)), higher layer signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, broadcast information (Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB))), other signals, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the RRC signaling may be referred to as an RRC message, and may be, for example, an RRC Connection Setup message, an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message, or the like.

[0087] The order of the procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be changed unless it is consistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps using an example order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

[0088] Input and output information may be stored in a specific location (for example, memory) or may be managed using a management table. Input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added to. Output information may be deleted. Input information may be sent to another device.

[0089] The determination may be made based on a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

[0090] Each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched depending on the implementation. Furthermore, notification of predetermined information (e.g., notification that "X is true") is not limited to being done explicitly, but may be done implicitly (e.g., by not notifying the predetermined information).

[0091] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present disclosure.

[0092] Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0093] Software, instructions, information, etc. may also be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), and / or wireless technologies (such as infrared, microwave), these wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

[0094] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0095] Note that terms explained in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of a channel and a symbol may be a signal (signaling). Furthermore, a signal may be a message. Furthermore, a component carrier (CC) may be called a carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency carrier, etc.

[0096] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, may be expressed using relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or may be expressed using other corresponding information. For example, a radio resource may be indicated by an index.

[0097] The names used for the above-described parameters are not intended to be limiting in any way. Furthermore, the mathematical expressions using these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure. The various channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements may be identified by any suitable names, and therefore the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0098] In this disclosure, the terms "Mobile Station (MS)," "user terminal," "User Equipment (UE)," "terminal," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0099] A mobile station may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable terminology.

[0100] As used in this disclosure, the terms "determining" and "determining" may encompass a wide variety of actions. "Determining" and "determining" may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, inquiring (e.g., searching in a table, database, or other data structure), ascertaining, and the like. "Determining" and "determining" may also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), and the like. Furthermore, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc. as having been "judged" or "decided." In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding some action as having been "judged" or "decided." Furthermore, "judgment (decision)" can be interpreted as "assuming," "expecting," "considering," etc.

[0101] The terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connected" may be read as "access." As used in this disclosure, two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using one or more wires, cables, and / or printed electrical connections, as well as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency range, microwave range, and optical (both visible and invisible) range, as some non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

[0102] As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0103] Any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc., used in this disclosure does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient way to distinguish between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must in some way precede the second element.

[0104] When used in this disclosure, the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, when used in this disclosure, the term "or" is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0105] In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0106] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different." [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 100...environmental load management server, 101...similar user acquisition unit, 102...calculation unit, 103...notification unit, 110...user information DB, 120...electricity usage information DB, 130...movement information DB.

Claims

1. a similar user acquisition unit that refers to a lifestyle information storage unit that stores purchase information as lifestyle information, and acquires users who have purchased specific products based on the purchase information as similar users who are similar to the target user who has a high level of sustainability awareness; a calculation unit that refers to a storage unit that stores environmental load information corresponding to user behavior for each user, extracts environmental load information of the similar users, and calculates reference information based on the environmental load information; An environmental load management device comprising:

2. a notification unit that notifies the target user of information for improving environmentally damaging behavior based on the reference information; The environmental load management device according to claim 1 .

3. the calculation unit calculates a difference value between the reference information and the environmental load information of the target user; the notification unit transmits the difference value to the user as information for improving the environmentally damaging behavior. The environmental load management device according to claim 2 .

4. The user behavior includes at least one of energy usage and user movement. The environmental load management device according to claim 1 .

5. The energy usage includes the usage and amount of at least one of electricity, gas, or water; The environmental load management device according to claim 4.

6. The user behavior includes the user's means of transportation and the distance traveled. The environmental load management device according to claim 1 .

7. the similar user acquisition unit acquires similar users based on attribute information or lifestyle patterns of the target user; The environmental load management device according to claim 1 .

8. The lifestyle pattern includes basic lifestyle information that serves as a reference for energy usage in the user's life. The environmental load management device according to claim 7.

9. The user's basic living information is based on contract information when receiving energy from an external source. The environmental load management device according to claim 8.

10. The user's basic life information includes routine activities among the user's daily activities. The environmental load management device according to claim 8.

Images