Video information providing method, video information providing system, and video information providing program

Abstract

To provide a video information providing method which is suitable for paying appropriate consideration to a provider of video information, a video information providing system, and a video information providing program.SOLUTION: A video information providing method includes: acquiring, as event information, a predetermined event generated or to be generated near a route from a start point to a destination point of a user carrying a first terminal device, together with position information thereof; extracting video information related to the predetermined event included in the event information out of multiple pieces of video information registered on a database; transmitting the extracted video information to the first terminal device; and deciding the consideration for the extracted video information so as to be higher as a difference between a current time and a time indicated by time information included in the video information is smaller, and so as to be higher as a distance between a position indicated by position information included in the video information and a position indicated by the position information included in the event information is shorter.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a video information providing method, a video information providing system, and a video information providing program, and more particularly to a video information providing method, a video information providing system, and a video information providing program that are suitable for paying appropriate compensation to providers of video information, for example. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Development is underway of a video information providing system that collects video images captured by a plurality of drive recorders mounted on a plurality of vehicles and provides the collected video images to a user.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile navigation system that transmits a map information request including a mobile object position detected by a position detection unit to a server device via wireless communication, receives map information based on the mobile object position from the server device via wireless communication, stores the received map information in a storage medium, and displays a map based on the stored map information and the mobile object position detected by the position detection unit. Here, in this mobile object navigation system, the server device causes cameras in multiple subscriber vehicles to capture images of road conditions, registers congestion information obtained from the captured images in a congestion information database, and transmits route information on the searched route and congestion information to the navigation devices of the subscriber vehicles. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-192420 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, Patent Document 1 neither discloses nor suggests payment of compensation for the captured video to the manager of the vehicle that provided the captured video of road conditions to the server device (the provider of the video information). In other words, the configuration of Patent Document 1 has the problem that it is not possible to pay an appropriate compensation to the provider of the video information.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a video information providing method, a video information providing system, and a video information providing program that are suitable for paying appropriate compensation to providers of video information. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A video information providing method according to one aspect of the present embodiment is a video information providing method in which a server device provides video information registered in a database to a first terminal device carried by a user via a communication network, the video information providing method including: a video information receiving step of receiving, from each of a plurality of second terminal devices via the communication network, the video information combining at least a video captured by the second terminal device, location information indicating a location where the video was captured, and time information indicating a time when the video was captured, and registering the video information in the database; an event information receiving step of receiving, from an external server via the communication network, information regarding a predetermined event together with location information of a location where the predetermined event has occurred or is scheduled to occur, as event information, and registering the event information in the database; a destination information receiving step of receiving, from the first terminal device via the communication network, destination information including a departure point and a destination point of the user; and a route from the departure point to the destination point based on the destination information. The method comprises a route information generation step of generating route information indicating a route; an event information extraction step of extracting, from the event information registered in the database, event information including a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur within a predetermined distance of the route indicated by the route information; a video information extraction step of extracting, from the plurality of pieces of video information registered in the database, video information related to a predetermined event included in the event information extracted in the event information extraction step; a video information transmission step of transmitting the video information extracted in the video information extraction step to the first terminal device via the communication network; and a price determination step of determining a price for the video information extracted in the video information extraction step so that the price increases as the difference between the current time and the time indicated by the time information included in the video information decreases, and so that the price increases as the distance between the location indicated by the location information included in the video information and the location indicated by the location information included in the event information decreases.

[0008] A video information providing system according to one aspect of the present embodiment includes a server device, a first terminal device carried by a user, and a plurality of second terminal devices carried by a plurality of video information providers, wherein the server device includes a video information receiving unit that receives, from each of the plurality of second terminal devices via a communication network, video information that combines at least a video captured by the second terminal device, location information indicating a location where the video was captured, and time information indicating a time when the video was captured, and registers the video information in a database; an event information receiving unit that receives, from an external server via the communication network, information regarding a predetermined event together with location information of a location where the predetermined event has occurred or is scheduled to occur, as event information, and registers the event information in the database; a destination information receiving unit that receives, from the first terminal device via the communication network, destination information including a departure point and a destination point of the user, and a destination information receiving unit that calculates a route from the departure point to the destination point based on the destination information. an event information extraction unit that extracts, from the event information registered in the database, event information including a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur within a predetermined distance of the route indicated by the route information; a video information extraction unit that extracts, from the plurality of pieces of video information registered in the database, video information related to a predetermined event included in the event information extracted by the event information extraction unit; a video information transmission unit that transmits the video information extracted by the video information extraction unit to the first terminal device via the communication network; and a price determination unit that determines a price for the video information extracted by the video information extraction unit so that the price increases as the difference between the current time and the time indicated by the time information included in the video information decreases, and so that the price increases as the distance between the location indicated by the location information included in the video information and the location indicated by the location information included in the event information decreases.

[0009] A video information providing program according to one aspect of the present embodiment is a video information providing program for a server device that provides video information registered in a database to a first terminal device carried by a user via a communication network, the video information providing program including: a video information receiving process that receives, from each of a plurality of second terminal devices via the communication network, the video information, which is a combination of at least a video captured by the second terminal device, location information indicating the location where the video was captured, and time information indicating the time when the video was captured, and registers the video information in the database; an event information receiving process that receives, from an external server via the communication network, information regarding a predetermined event together with location information of a location where the predetermined event has occurred or is scheduled to occur, as event information, and registers the event information in the database; a destination information receiving process that receives, from the first terminal device via the communication network, destination information including a departure point and a destination point of the user, and a destination point from the departure point to the destination point based on the destination information; an event information extraction process for extracting, from the event information registered in the database, event information including a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur within a predetermined distance of the route indicated by the route information; a video information extraction process for extracting, from the plurality of pieces of video information registered in the database, video information related to a predetermined event included in the event information extracted in the event information extraction process; a video information transmission process for transmitting the video information extracted in the video information extraction process to the first terminal device via the communication network; and a compensation determination process for determining compensation for the video information extracted in the video information extraction process so that the compensation is higher the smaller the difference between the current time and the time indicated by the time information included in the video information, and the shorter the distance between the location indicated by the location information included in the event information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a video information providing method, a video information providing system, and a video information providing program that are suitable for paying appropriate compensation to providers of video information. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a video information providing system according to a first embodiment; [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a terminal device provided in each vehicle of the video information providing system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a server device provided in the video information providing system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a list of video information registered in a database. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of event information registered in a database. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of event information registered in a database. [Figure 7] 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the video information providing system according to the first embodiment; [Figure 8] 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content displayed on a monitor of the navigation device shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and for clarity of explanation, duplicate explanations will be omitted as necessary.

[0013] <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a video information providing system 1 according to a first embodiment. The video information providing system 1 according to this embodiment is a system that collects video footage captured by multiple drive recorders installed in multiple registered vehicles, provides the captured video footage of a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur near the planned driving route of the registered vehicle to a navigation device installed in the registered vehicle that has requested the captured video footage, and displays the captured video footage on a monitor. Here, the video information providing system 1 according to this embodiment determines compensation to a provider of the captured video footage of a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur along the planned driving route of the registered vehicle that has requested the captured video footage based on how close the video footage location is to the location where the predetermined event occurred and how recent the video footage was. This enables the video information providing system 1 according to this embodiment to pay an appropriate compensation to the provider of the video information. Specific details will be explained below.

[0014] 1, the video information providing system 1 includes a server device 11, an external server 12, a plurality of vehicles V1 to Vn (n is an integer of 2 or more), and a communication network 50. The server device 11, the external server 12, and the vehicles V1 to Vn are configured to be able to communicate with each other via the communication network 50.

[0015] Each of the vehicles V1 to Vn is a vehicle (registered vehicle) registered in this system, and is equipped with a drive recorder and a navigation device as terminal devices. Specifically, a vehicle Vi (i is an arbitrary integer from 1 to n) is equipped with a drive recorder DRi and a navigation device NVi as terminal devices. For example, the vehicle V1 is equipped with a drive recorder DR1 and a navigation device NV1 as terminal devices.

[0016] The server device 11 collects video images captured by the drive recorders DR1 to DRn mounted in the vehicles V1 to Vn, respectively, and displays the video images relating to a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur near the planned driving route of the vehicle Vi on the monitor of the navigation device NVi mounted in any vehicle Vi that has requested the video images. Note that the vehicle Vi that has requested the video images refers to a vehicle that is currently using the route guidance function of the navigation device NVi.

[0017] The external server 12 holds information about predetermined events and transmits the information about the predetermined events to the server device 11 via the communication network 50. Note that the information about the predetermined events refers to, for example, weather information such as heavy rain or heavy snow, traffic information such as traffic jams, accidents, road construction, and inspections, and event information such as festivals, concerts, exhibitions, and fireworks displays. However, the information about the predetermined events is not limited to the above information, and includes information about any event that may interfere with the travel of the vehicle.

[0018] (Configuration example of drive recorder and navigation device installed in each vehicle) 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a terminal device provided in vehicle V1, which is representative of vehicles V1 to Vn. The configurations of the terminal devices provided in vehicles V2 to Vn are similar to the configuration of the terminal device provided in vehicle V1, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0019] 2, a vehicle V1 includes, as terminal devices, a drive recorder (second terminal device) DR1 and a navigation device (first terminal device) NV1. The drive recorder DR1 and the navigation device NV1 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via wired or wireless communication. For example, the drive recorder DR1 and the navigation device NV1 may be configured to be able to communicate with each other via short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0020] The drive recorder DR1 is a device that captures images of the surroundings of a vehicle and records the captured images, and includes an image capture unit 21, a codec unit 22, a communication unit 23, a memory unit 24, a control unit 25, and a recording unit 26.

[0021] The photographing unit 21 is a so-called camera that photographs the periphery (mainly the front) of the vehicle V1. The photographing unit 21 is configured by, for example, an optical lens, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, an ISP (Image Signal Processor), etc.

[0022] The communication unit 23 is an interface that communicates with the server device 11, etc., using a communication line such as 4G or 5G. In response to an instruction from the control unit 25, the communication unit 23 exchanges data with the server device 11, etc., using a desired protocol such as TCP / IP or UDP.

[0023] The control unit 25 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, and performs overall control of the drive recorder DR1. For example, the control unit 25 stores video information, which is a combination of video captured by the imaging unit 21, location information indicating the location where the video was captured, time information indicating the time the video was captured, and information about the photographer, in the memory unit 24 or displays the video information on the monitor 31 of the navigation device NV1. The location information and time information are acquired, for example, by a GPS (Global Positioning System) 32 provided in the navigation device NV1. The control unit 25 also reads out the video information stored in the memory unit 24, encodes it using the codec unit 22, and then transmits the encoded video information to the server device 11 using the communication unit 23 or stores it in a memory medium using the recording unit 26.

[0024] The memory unit 24 stores data such as the above-mentioned video information. The memory unit 24 may further store a program executed by the control unit 25. The memory unit 24 is, for example, DDR2, DDR4, or LPDDR4.

[0025] The codec unit 22 encodes and decodes data such as the video information described above. For example, after reading data such as video information from the memory unit 24, the codec unit 22 encodes the data using one of the H.264, H.265, and MJPEG formats before transmitting the data to the server device 11 or the like using the communication unit 23 or before recording the data on a memory medium using the recording unit 26. Furthermore, for example, the codec unit 22 also reads out encoded data recorded on a memory medium such as an SD card and decodes the data.

[0026] The recording unit 26 stores data such as video information encoded by the codec unit 22 in a memory medium. The memory medium is, for example, an SD card, an SSD card, or a USB memory.

[0027] The navigation device NV1 is a device that provides route guidance from a departure point to a destination point of the vehicle V1, and includes a monitor 31, a GPS 32, and a map information DB (Data Base) 33.

[0028] The monitor 31 displays, for example, map information about the area surrounding the current location of the vehicle V1, acquired by the GPS 32, from the map information stored in the map information DB 33. The monitor 31 also displays information about the route from the current location (starting point) of the vehicle V1, acquired by the GPS 32, to a destination (destination point) input via an operation terminal or the like. This allows the driver (user) of the vehicle V1 to drive the vehicle V1 from the starting point to the destination point while referring to the route information displayed on the monitor 31 of the navigation device NV1. Furthermore, the monitor 31 displays captured video related to a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur near the planned driving route of the vehicle V1, which is received from the server device 11 via the communication unit 23 of the drive recorder DR1. This allows the driver of the vehicle V1 to use the captured video displayed on the monitor 31 of the navigation device NV1 as a basis for deciding, for example, whether to change the driving route. It is preferable that the monitor 31 be configured to resize and display the captured video according to the monitor's resolution.

[0029] (Configuration example of server device 11) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server device 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the server device 11 includes a communication unit 111, a control unit 112, and a database 113. The database 113 may be provided outside the server device 11 and configured to be able to communicate with the server device 11 via a communication network 50.

[0030] The communication unit 111 is an interface that communicates with the external server 12 and terminal devices mounted on each of the vehicles V1 to Vn using, for example, a communication line such as 4G or 5G. The communication unit 111 exchanges data with the external server 12 and terminal devices mounted on each of the vehicles V1 to Vn using a desired protocol such as TCP / IP or UDP in response to an instruction from the control unit 112. Note that the communication unit 111 is not limited to wireless communication with the external server 12, and may be configured to be able to communicate via wired communication.

[0031] The control unit 112 is a CPU or the like, and performs overall control of the server device 11. For example, the control unit 112 uses the communication unit 111 to exchange data with the external server 12 and terminal devices mounted on each vehicle, and registers received data in the database 113 as needed. Specific control contents by the control unit 112 will be described later.

[0032] The database 113 stores, for example, video information received from the drive recorders DR1 to DRn of each vehicle V1 to Vn, event information received from the external server 12, and compensation information, which is information regarding compensation paid to providers of the video information.

[0033] Specifically, communication unit 111 has, as some of its functions, a video information receiving unit 111a, an event information receiving unit 111b, a destination information receiving unit 111c, and a video information transmitting unit 111d. Control unit 112 has, as some of its functions, a route information generating unit 112a, an event information extracting unit 112b, a video information extracting unit 112c, a video information requesting unit 112d, and a price determining unit 112e.

[0034] In the communication unit 111, the video information receiving unit 111a receives, from each of the drive recorders DR1 to DRn, video information that combines video captured by the imaging unit 21, location information indicating the location where the video was captured, time information indicating the time the video was captured, and information about the photographer, via the communication network 50. The received video information is registered in the database 113.

[0035] In the present embodiment, an example is described in which all of the multiple pieces of video information received by video information receiving unit 111a are unconditionally registered in database 113, but this is not limiting. For example, of the multiple pieces of video information received by video information receiving unit 111a, only video information of a location near an occurrence point of a predetermined event included in the event information registered in database 113 may be registered in database 113.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a list of video information registered in the database 113. As shown in FIG. 4, video information that combines location information, shooting time, drive recorder information, video file name, recording time, etc. is linked to the shot video and registered in database 113. In the example of FIG. 4, longitude and latitude information is registered as location information, and the ID of the drive recorder is registered as drive recorder information. Note that instead of the ID of the drive recorder, the ID of the owner of the drive recorder (or the owner of the vehicle in which the drive recorder is installed) may be registered.

[0037] In the communication unit 111, the event information receiving unit 111b receives information on a predetermined event (i.e., event information), such as weather information, traffic information, and event information, from the external server 12 or the like via the communication network 50. All or part of the received event information is registered in the database 113.

[0038] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a list of traffic information and weather information, which are part of the event information registered in database 113. Referring to Fig. 5, the traffic information and weather information, which are a combination of location information, area name, event name (event content), event occurrence date and time, etc., is registered in database 113. In the example of Fig. 5, longitude and latitude information is registered as location information.

[0039] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a list of event information, which is one type of event information registered in database 113. Referring to Fig. 6, information that combines location information, area name, event name (event content), event occurrence date and time, etc. is registered as event information in database 113. In the example of Fig. 6, longitude and latitude information is registered as location information.

[0040] In the communication unit 111, the destination information receiving unit 111c receives destination information including the departure point and destination point of the vehicle Vi (driver of the vehicle Vi) from any navigation device NVi of the navigation devices NV1 to NVn via the communication network 50. For example, the destination information receiving unit 111c receives destination information including the departure point and destination point of the vehicle V1 (driver of the vehicle V1) from the navigation device NV1 via the communication network 50.

[0041] In the control unit 112, the route information generation unit 112a generates route information indicating a route from the departure point of the vehicle Vi that is the source of the destination information to the destination point, based on the destination information received by the destination information receiving unit 111c. For example, the route information generation unit 112a generates route information indicating a route from the departure point of the vehicle V1 to the destination point, based on the destination information of the vehicle V1 received by the destination information receiving unit 111c.

[0042] The server device 11 may be configured to receive route information set in a navigation device NVi installed in a vehicle Vi that is the source of the destination information. In this case, the server device 11 preferentially adopts the route information received from the vehicle Vi equipped with the navigation device NVi.

[0043] In the control unit 112, the event information extraction unit 112b extracts, from the multiple event information registered in the database 113, event information relating to one or more specified events that have occurred or are scheduled to occur near the route indicated by the route information generated by the route information generation unit 112a (specifically, within a specified distance of the route indicated by the route information).

[0044] In the control unit 112, the video information extraction unit 112c extracts one or more pieces of video information related to a predetermined event included in the event information extracted by the event information extraction unit 112b from the multiple pieces of video information registered in the database 113.

[0045] For example, the video information extraction unit 112c extracts, from among the multiple pieces of video information registered in the database 113, video information having location information within a predetermined area including the location indicated by the location information included in the event information extracted by the event information extraction unit 112b (for example, within an area within a radius of 50 m centered on the location indicated by the location information included in the event information extracted by the event information extraction unit 112b).

[0046] When multiple pieces of video information related to a predetermined event extracted by the event information extraction unit 112b exist in the database 113, the video information extraction unit 112c may extract all of the multiple pieces of video information, but is not limited to this. For example, the video information extraction unit 112c may preferentially extract video information that was shot at a time close to the current time and at a location close to the location where the predetermined event occurred.

[0047] Furthermore, in the control unit 112, the video information requesting unit 112d notifies the vehicles V1 to Vn (such as the drivers of the vehicles V1 to Vn) to prompt them to provide video information related to the predetermined event when there is no video information related to the predetermined event extracted by the event information extracting unit 112b among the multiple pieces of video information registered in the database 113. The content of the notification is, for example, displayed on the monitor of the navigation device of each of the vehicles V1 to Vn, or output as audio from a speaker mounted in each of the vehicles V1 to Vn.

[0048] In addition, the video information request unit 112d is not limited to sending a notification to all vehicles V1 to Vn urging them to provide video information related to a specified event, but may send a notification to only vehicles among vehicles V1 to Vn that are scheduled to pass near the location where the specified event is occurring, urging them to provide video information related to the specified event.

[0049] In the communication unit 111, the video information transmission unit 111d transmits the video information extracted by the video information extraction unit 112c to the vehicle Vi that is the transmission source of the destination information. Note that the video information transmission unit 111d may transmit the event information extracted by the event information extraction unit 112b together with the video information extracted by the video information extraction unit 112c to the vehicle Vi that is the transmission source of the destination information. For example, the video information transmission unit 111d transmits the video information extracted by the video information extraction unit 112c and the event information extracted by the event information extraction unit 112b to the vehicle V1.

[0050] Furthermore, in the control unit 112, the compensation determination unit 112e determines compensation to be paid to the provider of the video information (for example, the owner of the vehicle that provided the video information) for providing the video information, and registers information on the determined compensation (compensation information) in the database 113. Compensation is paid to the provider of the video information based on the compensation information registered in the database 113. The source of the compensation paid to the provider of the video information is, for example, a flat-rate or pay-as-you-go usage fee paid by the registrant of the system (the owner of the vehicle).

[0051] The payment of the fee may be made to all providers of the video information, but is not limited to this. For example, the payment of the fee may be made only to the provider of the video information that was actually displayed on the navigation device NVi of the vehicle Vi that requested the video information.

[0052] For example, the price determination unit 112e determines the price of the video information extracted by the video information extraction unit 112c (i.e., video information including shot video displayed on the monitor of the navigation device NVi) so that the price increases as the difference between the current time and the time indicated by the time information included in the video information (i.e., the shooting time of the shot video included in the video information) decreases. Also, the price determination unit 112e determines the price of the video information extracted by the video information extraction unit 112c so that the price increases as the distance between the location indicated by the location information included in the video information (i.e., the shooting location of the shot video included in the video information) and the location information of a predetermined event (the location where the predetermined event occurs) decreases.

[0053] Furthermore, the price determination unit 112e may determine the price for the video information extracted by the video information extraction unit 112c so that the price becomes higher as the number of pieces of video information extracted under the same conditions by the video information extraction unit 112c becomes smaller.

[0054] Furthermore, the price determination unit 112e may determine the price for the video information extracted by the video information extraction unit 112c depending on the number of times the video information is provided to the vehicle (the number of times it is displayed on the monitor). For example, the price determination unit 112e may determine the price for video information that is provided more frequently so that it is higher (or the price per provision is lower) than the price for video information that is provided less frequently.

[0055] Furthermore, if related video information is provided in response to a notification urging the provision of video information made by the video information requesting unit 112d, the compensation determination unit 112e may charge the provider of the video information a higher compensation for the provision of the video information than would normally be the case (i.e., if there is no notification urging the provision of video information).

[0056] (Operation of video information providing system 1) Next, the operation of the video information providing system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the video information providing system 1. In the example of Fig. 7, the server device 11 is the subject of the operation.

[0057] Here, we will explain an example in which the server device 11 collects footage captured by the drive recorders (second terminal devices) DR1 to DRn installed in each of the vehicles V1 to Vn, and provides the captured footage of a specified event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur near the planned route of the vehicle V1 to the navigation device (first terminal device) NV1 installed in the vehicle V1, and displays it on the monitor.

[0058] The server device 11 periodically receives video information from each drive recorder DR1 to DRn, and receives information about specific events such as weather information, traffic information, and event information (i.e., event information) from the external server 12, extracts all or part of the information, and registers it in the database 113 (steps S101 and S102).

[0059] First, the driver of vehicle V1 inputs destination point G1 into navigation device NV1 mounted on vehicle V1 via an operation terminal or the like. Then, server device 11 receives destination information including departure point S1 of vehicle V1 (driver of vehicle V1) and destination point G1 from navigation device NV1 mounted on vehicle V1 (step S103). Then, server device 11 generates route information indicating route R1 from departure point S1 of vehicle V1 to destination point G1 based on the received destination information of vehicle V1 (step S104).

[0060] The server device 11 may be configured to receive route information set in a navigation device NV1 mounted on the vehicle V1. In this case, the server device 11 preferentially adopts the route information received from the vehicle V1 mounted with the navigation device NV1.

[0061] Thereafter, the server device 11 extracts event information relating to one or more predetermined events that have occurred or are scheduled to occur near the route R1 indicated by the route information (specifically, within a predetermined distance from the route R1) from among the plurality of event information registered in the database 113 (step S105). In this example, the server device 11 extracts, as event information, a traffic congestion that has occurred in an area A1 near the route R1 and a traffic accident that has occurred in an area A2 near the route R1.

[0062] Thereafter, server device 11 extracts one or more pieces of video information related to the extracted predetermined event from the plurality of pieces of video information registered in database 113 (YES in step S106 → step S107). In this example, server device 11 extracts video information including a captured video P1 related to a traffic congestion that occurred in area A1 and video information including a captured video P2 related to a traffic accident that occurred in area A2.

[0063] In addition, if there are multiple pieces of video information related to the extracted specified event in the database 113, the server device 11 may extract all of the multiple pieces of video information, but this is not limited to this.For example, the server device 11 may preferentially extract video information that was shot at a time close to the current time and at a location close to the point where the specified event occurred.

[0064] Here, if there is no video information related to the extracted predetermined event among the multiple pieces of video information registered in the database 113, the server device 11 notifies the vehicles V1 to Vn (drivers of the vehicles V1 to Vn, etc.) to prompt them to provide video information related to the predetermined event (NO in step S106 → step S110). The content of the notification may be displayed on the monitor of the navigation device of each of the vehicles V1 to Vn, or output as audio from a speaker mounted in each of the vehicles V1 to Vn, for example.

[0065] In addition, the server device 11 is not limited to sending a notification to all vehicles V1 to Vn urging them to provide video information related to a specified event, but may send a notification to only vehicles among vehicles V1 to Vn that are scheduled to pass near the location where the specified event is occurring, urging them to provide video information related to the specified event.

[0066] If video information related to the predetermined event is provided in response to the notification prompting the provision of video information related to the predetermined event, the server device 11 extracts the video information (YES in step S111 → step S107). On the other hand, if video information related to the predetermined event is not provided, the server device 11 stops transmitting the video information related to the predetermined event to the vehicle V1 that has requested the video information (NO in step S111 → step S112).

[0067] (Selection of video to provide) When requested to provide video information by server device 11, navigation devices NV1 to NVn of vehicles V1 to Vn (drivers of vehicles V1 to Vn, etc.) may select from the following two types of video related to a predetermined event and transmit the selected video to server device 11. Specifically, navigation devices NV1 to NVn may, for example, (1) select video currently being captured by a drive recorder, i.e., video for which a short time has elapsed since the capture time, if the location where the predetermined event occurred is visible, or (2) select video stored in memory unit 24 or the like of the drive recorder, which is close to the location where the predetermined event occurred and for which a short time has elapsed since the capture time, if the location where the predetermined event occurred is not visible, and transmit video information including the selected video to server device 11.

[0068] (Saving and deleting notified events) When requested by server device 11 to provide video information related to a predetermined event, navigation devices NV1 to NVn may record information related to the predetermined event in memory unit 24 or recording unit 26. Even if the navigation devices NV1 to NVn are far from the location where the predetermined event occurred at the time when the provision of video information is requested, when the navigation devices NV1 to NVn subsequently pass near the location where the predetermined event occurred, the navigation devices NV1 to NVn can transmit video information including video being captured by a drive recorder or video stored in memory unit 24 or the like to server device 11. Note that server device 11 periodically receives video information, and therefore can periodically update the video information registered in database 113.

[0069] The server device 11 may transmit a command to the vehicles V1 to Vn to delete the predetermined event information that has already been transmitted. When the vehicle V1 to Vn receives the command, the vehicle V1 to Vn deletes the corresponding predetermined event from the memory unit 24 or the recording unit 26.

[0070] After extracting the video information, server device 11 transmits the extracted video information to vehicle V1, which is the source of the destination information (step S108). Note that server device 11 may transmit the extracted event information together with the extracted video information to vehicle V1, which is the source of the destination information. In this example, server device 11 transmits to vehicle V1 video information including captured video P1 related to a traffic congestion that has occurred in area A1 and video information including captured video P2 related to a traffic accident that has occurred in area A2.

[0071] Thereafter, the navigation device NV1 mounted on the vehicle V1 displays, on the monitor 31, map information of the area around the current location of the vehicle V1, information about the route R1 from the departure point S1 of the vehicle V1 to the destination point G1, and video information related to the predetermined event received from the server device 11. Note that the information about the route R1 (i.e., route information) may be generated by the navigation device NV1, or information generated by the server device 11 may be used.

[0072] This allows the driver (user) of the vehicle V1 to drive the vehicle V1 from the departure point S1 to the destination point G1 while referring to information about the route R1 displayed on the monitor 31 of the navigation device NV1. Furthermore, the driver of the vehicle V1 can use the captured video displayed on the monitor 31 related to a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur near the planned driving route R1 as information for deciding whether or not to change the driving route, for example.

[0073] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the display content displayed on the monitor 31 of the navigation device NV1. Referring to FIG. 8, the monitor 31 displays a route R1 (solid line) from a starting point S1 of the vehicle V1 to a destination point G1. The monitor 31 also displays a captured image P1 related to a traffic jam occurring in an area A1 near the route R1 and a captured image P2 related to a traffic accident occurring in an area A2 near the route R1. Therefore, the driver of the vehicle V1 can use the captured images P1 and P2 as information for deciding, for example, whether to change the driving route to another route (broken line). Note that when a captured image of snow accumulation or the like is displayed on the monitor 31, the driver of the vehicle V1 can use the captured image as information for deciding, for example, whether to change the normal tires to studless tires.

[0074] Here, the server device 11 determines the compensation to be paid to the provider of the video information (for example, the owner of the vehicle that provided the video information) for providing the video information, and registers information on the determined compensation (compensation information) in the database 113 (step S109). Based on the compensation information registered in the database 113, the compensation is paid to the provider of the video information.

[0075] The payment of the fee may be made to all providers of the video information, but is not limited to this. For example, the payment of the fee may be made only to providers of video information related to a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur near the route R1, which is extracted from the database 113 (in other words, providers of the video information that was actually displayed on the navigation device NV1 of the vehicle V1 that requested the video information).

[0076] For example, the server device 11 determines the price of video information related to a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur near route R1, extracted from the database 113, so that the price increases as the difference between the current time and the time indicated by the time information included in the video information (i.e., the shooting time of the video included in the video information) decreases. Also, the server device 11 determines the price of video information related to a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur near route R1, extracted from the database 113, so that the price increases as the distance between the location indicated by the location information included in the video information (i.e., the shooting location of the video included in the video information) and the location information of the predetermined event (the location where the predetermined event occurs) decreases.

[0077] In addition, the server device 11 may determine the price for video information extracted from the database 113 related to a specified event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur near the route R1 so that the price is higher the fewer the number of video information extracted from the database 113 under the same conditions.

[0078] Furthermore, the server device 11 may determine the price for video information related to a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur near the route R1, extracted from the database 113, depending on the number of times the video information is provided to the vehicle (the number of times it is displayed on the monitor). For example, the server device 11 may determine the price so that the price for video information that is provided more frequently is higher (or so that the price per provision is lower) than the price for video information that is provided less frequently.

[0079] Furthermore, when video information related to a specified event is provided in response to a notification urging the provider to provide video information related to the specified event, the server device 11 may charge the provider of the video information a higher fee for providing the video information than would be the case if there was no notification urging the provider to provide video information related to the specified event.

[0080] Furthermore, when sending a notification encouraging the provision of video information related to a predetermined event, the server device 11 may predict the fee that the vehicle receiving the notification will receive if it provides video information related to the event, and include the predicted fee in the notification content. The server device 11 predicts the fee based on the method described above. In this case, since the fee may change from moment to moment, the server device 11 may update the predicted fee included in the notification content at predetermined time intervals. By displaying the predicted fee on the navigation device of the vehicle that received the notification, the owner of the vehicle can be more effectively encouraged to provide video information.

[0081] In this way, the video information providing system 1 according to the present embodiment determines the compensation to the provider of the video of a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur on the planned route of the vehicle that requested the video, based on how close the video location is to the location where the predetermined event occurred and how recent the video was taken. This enables the video information providing system 1 according to the present embodiment to pay an appropriate compensation to the provider of the video information.

[0082] Furthermore, when there is no captured video in the database relating to a predetermined event that has occurred or is scheduled to occur on the planned driving route of the vehicle that has requested the captured video, the video information providing system 1 according to this embodiment notifies each vehicle (such as the driver of each vehicle) to prompt the vehicle to provide video information relating to the predetermined event. This enables the video information providing system 1 according to this embodiment to quickly obtain and provide useful traffic information to the driver of the vehicle that has requested the captured video.

[0083] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which each vehicle V1 to Vn is equipped with both a drive recorder and a navigation device as a terminal device, but this is not limiting. Of the vehicles V1 to Vn, any vehicle Vi that only provides video information and does not wish to receive video information may be equipped with only a drive recorder DRi. In this case, the drive recorder DRi must be equipped with, for example, the GPS 32 and the like that were installed in the navigation device NVi. Furthermore, of the vehicles V1 to Vn, any vehicle Vi that does not wish to provide video information but only wishes to receive video information may be equipped with only the navigation device NVi. In this case, the navigation device NVi must be equipped with, for example, the functions of the communication unit 23 that were installed in the drive recorder DRi.

[0084] In the present embodiment, the video information providing system 1 is implemented by using a drive recorder and a navigation device of each vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the video information providing system 1 may be implemented by using a mobile terminal such as a smartphone carried by each user instead of the drive recorder and the navigation device. In this case, the mobile terminal has the functions of both a drive recorder and a navigation device. Specifically, the mobile terminal, like the drive recorder, has a function of periodically transmitting video information including captured video of the user's surroundings to the server device 11. Similarly to the navigation device, the mobile terminal also has a function of displaying the captured video received (provided) from the server device 11 on a monitor when displaying map information including a route from the user's starting point to the destination on the monitor.

[0085] In the above embodiment, part or all of the processing of the server device 11 provided in the video information providing system 1 can be realized by causing a CPU to execute a computer program.

[0086] The above-described program includes instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable media or tangible storage media include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray disc or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device. The program may also be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, transitory computer-readable media or communication media include electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0087] The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above. Various modifications that would be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the invention. This disclosure also includes matters that contribute to the realization of the SDG "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation" and contribute to value creation through IoT solutions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1. Video information provision system 11 Server equipment 12 External Servers 21 Photography Department 22 Codec section 23 Communications Department 24 Memory section 25 Control Unit 26 Recording Section 31 Monitor 32 GPS 33 Map Information DB 111 Communications Department 111a Video information receiving unit 111b Event information receiving unit 111c Destination information receiving unit 111d Video information transmission unit 112 Control section 112a Route information generation unit 112b Event information extraction unit 112c Video information extraction unit 112d Video information request section 112e Compensation Determination Department 113 databases DR1~DRn Drive Recorder NV1~NVn navigation devices V1~Vn vehicles

Claims

1. A video information providing method in which a server device provides video information registered in a database to a first terminal device carried by a user via a communication network, comprising: a video information receiving step of receiving, from each of a plurality of second terminal devices via the communication network, video information that combines at least a video captured by the second terminal device, location information indicating a location where the video was captured, and time information indicating a time when the video was captured, and registering the video information in the database; an event information receiving step of receiving information about a predetermined event together with location information of a location where the predetermined event is scheduled to occur from an external server via the communication network as event information and registering the event information in the database; a destination information receiving step of receiving destination information including a departure point and a destination point of the user from the first terminal device via the communication network; a route information generating step of generating route information indicating a route from the departure point to the destination point based on the destination information; an event information extraction step of extracting, from the event information registered in the database, event information including a predetermined event scheduled to occur within a predetermined distance of the route indicated by the route information; a video information extraction step of extracting video information related to a predetermined event included in the event information extracted in the event information extraction step from the plurality of pieces of video information registered in the database; a video information transmitting step of transmitting the video information extracted in the video information extracting step to the first terminal device via the communication network; a price determination step of determining a price for the video information extracted in the video information extraction step so that the price is higher as the difference between the current time and the time indicated by the time information included in the video information is smaller, and the price is higher as the distance between the location indicated by the location information included in the video information and the location indicated by the location information included in the event information is shorter; A video information providing method comprising:

2. In the price determination step, a price for the video information extracted in the video information extraction step is determined so as to be higher as the number of pieces of video information extracted under the same conditions in the video information extraction step is smaller. The video information providing method according to claim 1 .

3. In the price determination step, a price for the video information is determined according to the number of times the video information is provided to the plurality of first terminal devices owned by each of the plurality of users.

3. The video information providing method according to claim 1 or 2.

4. In the video information extraction step, from among the plurality of pieces of video information registered in the database, video information having time information indicating a time close to the current time and having location information close to a location indicated by location information included in the event information extracted in the event information extraction step is preferentially extracted.

4. The image information providing method according to claim 1.

5. a server device; a first terminal device carried by a user; a plurality of second terminal devices respectively owned by a plurality of video information providers; The server device a video information receiving unit that receives, from each of the plurality of second terminal devices via a communication network, video information that combines at least a video captured by the second terminal device, location information indicating a location where the video was captured, and time information indicating a time when the video was captured, and registers the video information in a database; an event information receiving unit that receives information about a predetermined event together with location information of a location where the predetermined event is scheduled to occur from an external server via the communication network as event information and registers the information in the database; a destination information receiving unit that receives destination information including a departure point and a destination point of the user from the first terminal device via the communication network; a route information generating unit that generates route information indicating a route from the departure point to the destination point based on the destination information; an event information extraction unit that extracts, from the event information registered in the database, event information including a predetermined event that is scheduled to occur within a predetermined distance of the route indicated by the route information; a video information extraction unit that extracts video information related to a predetermined event included in the event information extracted by the event information extraction unit from the plurality of pieces of video information registered in the database; a video information transmitting unit that transmits the video information extracted by the video information extracting unit to the first terminal device via the communication network; a price determination unit that determines a price for the video information extracted by the video information extraction unit so that the price is higher the smaller the difference between a current time and a time indicated by time information included in the video information, and the shorter the distance between a location indicated by location information included in the video information and a location indicated by location information included in the event information; and A video information providing system comprising:

6. A video information providing program of a server device that provides video information registered in a database to a first terminal device carried by a user via a communication network, the program comprising: a video information receiving process for receiving, from each of a plurality of second terminal devices via the communication network, video information that combines at least a video captured by the second terminal device, location information indicating a location where the video was captured, and time information indicating a time when the video was captured, and registering the video information in the database; an event information receiving process for receiving information about a predetermined event together with location information of a location where the predetermined event is scheduled to occur from an external server via the communication network as event information and registering the information in the database; a destination information receiving process for receiving destination information including a departure point and a destination point of the user from the first terminal device via the communication network; a route information generation process for generating route information indicating a route from the departure point to the destination point based on the destination information; an event information extraction process for extracting, from the event information registered in the database, event information including a predetermined event scheduled to occur within a predetermined distance of the route indicated by the route information; a video information extraction process for extracting video information related to a predetermined event included in the event information extracted in the event information extraction process from the plurality of pieces of video information registered in the database; a video information transmission process of transmitting the video information extracted in the video information extraction process to the first terminal device via the communication network; a price determination process that determines a price for the video information extracted in the video information extraction process so that the price is higher the smaller the difference between the current time and the time indicated by the time information included in the video information, and the shorter the distance between the location indicated by the location information included in the video information and the location indicated by the location information included in the event information; A video information providing program that causes a computer to execute the above.

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