Information output system and program

Abstract

To provide an information output system and a program that can automatically indicate a predetermined number of POIs on a map without a user adjusting a range of the map displayed on a display unit.SOLUTION: An information output system 3 comprises: a display unit 43; and a terminal control unit 44 that causes the display unit 43 to display a map 65 indicating a predetermined number of POIs. The terminal control unit 44 increases a scale of the map 65 representing a reference range 66 including less than the predetermined number of POIs compared to a scale of the map 65 representing the reference range 66 including the predetermined number or more than the predetermined number of POIs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information output system and a program for displaying a map showing POIs (Points of Interest). [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation system that displays an arrow superimposed on a map display screen indicating the direction of a facility a user is looking for, based on the positional relationship between a predetermined point and the facility. According to Patent Document 1, the navigation system allows a user to know, at a glance, which direction to go to access the facility. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-038792 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the navigation system disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires the user to change the display area of ​​the map display screen in order to check the locations of facilities that are outside the display screen, and there is room for improvement in terms of convenience.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an information output system and program that can automatically display a predetermined number of POIs on a map without the user having to adjust the range of the map displayed on a display device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information output system according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a display device and a control device. The display device displays a map. The control device displays the map on the display device based on POI data. The map indicates a predetermined number of POIs. The POI data indicates two or more POIs surrounding a reference position. The reference position is set arbitrarily. The control device changes the scale of the map displayed on the display device based on the number of POIs within a reference range. The reference range extends to a predetermined size from the reference position. The control device makes the scale of the map representing a reference range that includes less than a predetermined number of POIs larger than the scale of a map representing a reference range that includes a predetermined number or more of POIs.

[0007] The information output system of the first aspect can automatically display a predetermined number of POIs on a map without the range of the map displayed on the display device being adjusted by the user.

[0008] In the information output system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, when the reference range includes fewer than a predetermined number of POIs, the control device displays the map on the display device at a scale that allows at least the POIs and the reference position to be shown on the map, the POIs being outside the reference range and closest to the reference position.

[0009] Furthermore, in the information output system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, when the reference range includes more than a predetermined number of POIs, the control device displays the predetermined number of POIs on the map in order of proximity to the reference position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, a predetermined number of POIs can be automatically displayed on a map without the need for the user to adjust the range of the map displayed on the display device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an image of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information output system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of output second POI data. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of output second POI data. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of output second POI data. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of output second POI data. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a details screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a POI sharing screen. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart of a map display process. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart of a list display process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] <<Outline of the configuration of information processing system 1>> The information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an information collection system 2 and an information output system 3. The information collection system 2 collects POI (Point of Interest) data using a predetermined method. The information output system 3 outputs the POI data collected by the information collection system 2. The POI data is data related to POIs. A POI is a specific point on a map. A POI is, for example, a tourist spot.

[0013] The information collection system 2 of this embodiment collects POI data using a social networking service (SNS). The information collection system 2 has two or more information processing terminals 22 and an SNS server 23. The information processing terminals 22 are terminal devices owned by two or more SNS users 21. The SNS users 21 are users of the SNS. The terminal devices are, for example, mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, or personal computers. Note that the information collection system 2 may be configured to collect POI data by a method other than an SNS.

[0014] The information collection system 2 can store POI data collected from the information processing terminal 22 in the SNS server 23. Hereinafter, POI data transmitted or received between the information processing terminal 22 and the SNS server 23 will also be referred to as "first POI data." The first POI data is, for example, data related to a vacation spot. The first POI data is generated by the SNS user 21. The first POI data includes location data of the POI, image data of the POI, and text data related to the POI. The information processing terminal 22 acquires these data via a GPS (Global Positioning System), a camera, and an input device, none of which are shown in FIG. 1 . The GPS acquires the location data of the POI. The camera acquires image data of the POI. The input device acquires the text data related to the POI. The text data may be a word, a combination of words, or a sentence including a subject and a predicate. In this embodiment, the text data indicates the name of the POI and the SNS user's 21's thoughts about the POI.

[0015] In this embodiment, the SNS has a diffusion function and a rating function. The diffusion function is a function that allows first POI data received by the information processing terminal 22 to be diffused to information processing terminals 22 owned by other SNS users 21 via the SNS server 23. An example of the diffusion function is the retweet (RETWEET (registered trademark)) function of Twitter (registered trademark). Other SNS users 21 can view the first POI data transmitted to their own information processing terminal 22 by the diffusion function. The rating function is a function that allows a user to rate the first POI data received by the information processing terminal 22. An example of the rating function is the "Like" function of Twitter (registered trademark). When using the SNS, the information processing terminal 22 can display a "Like" button together with the first POI data. The SNS user 21 can press the "Like" button for preferred first POI data.

[0016] The SNS server 23 provides the accumulated POI data to the information output system 3. Specifically, the SNS server 23 provides the POI data to the database server 5. In this embodiment, the SNS server 23 provides the accumulated first attribute data to the information output system 3. The database server 5 provides the POI data to the information processing terminal 4. Hereinafter, the POI data that the database server 5 transmits to the information processing terminal 4 will also be referred to as "second POI data."

[0017] The information output system 3 shown in FIG. 2 includes an information processing terminal 4 and a database server 5. The information processing terminal 4 is a terminal device. The information processing terminal 4 is owned by two or more first users 31 and two or more second users 34 shown in FIG. 1, respectively. The first users 31 and the second users 34 are users of the information output system 3. The first users 31 are people who have previously searched for POIs using the information output system 3. The first users 31 are people who have viewed or recorded second POI data on the information processing terminal 4 using the information output system 3. In this embodiment, viewing refers to displaying detailed information 83a of the second POI data shown in FIG. 7 on the display device 43. That is, the viewed second POI data indicates a POI that the first user 31 is interested in from among two or more POIs. Recording refers to, for example, bookmarking the second POI data. Bookmarking is a function of recording second POI data that the user plans to access frequently in the information processing terminal 4. The second user 34 is people who are searching for POIs to visit using the information output system 3. The second user 34 is a person who will visit the POI in the future. The information processing terminal 4 and the database server 5 are connected by wireless communication, for example, via a public communication network.

[0018] In this embodiment, the information processing terminal 4 includes an input device 41, a terminal communication device 42, a display device 43, a terminal control device 44, and a terminal storage device 49. The terminal control device 44 includes a terminal communication control unit 45, a reference determination unit 46, a scale determination unit 47, and a display control unit 48. The terminal control device 44 executes processing in accordance with a program. The program includes an application for causing the information processing terminal 4 to output second POI data acquired from the database server 5. The second POI data is information relating to one or more POIs located around a reference position. The reference position is, for example, the current location of the second user 34. The second POI data includes position data of the POI, image data of the POI, and text data relating to the POI. The second POI data may further include display order information. The display order information indicates a display order. The display order is the order in which second POI data indicating two or more POIs are displayed on the display device 43.

[0019] In this embodiment, the information output system 3 is configured to be able to set attributes of each of the user's companions. Specifically, the information output system 3 can set attributes of the first companion 32. The attributes of the first companion 32 are attributes set for the first user 31. The attributes of the first companion 32 are attributes of the companions of the first user 31. The information output system 3 can also set attributes of the second companion 35. The attributes of the second companion 35 are attributes set for the second user 34. These attributes are, for example, the type of the first companion 32 or the second companion 35. The attributes are, for example, family or lover of the first user 31 or the second user 34. The attributes may be, for example, none. That is, there may be one attribute for the first companion 32 or one attribute for the second user 34. Hereinafter, the attributes of the first companion 32 will be referred to as a "first attribute." Data indicating the first attributes will be referred to as "first attribute data." The attribute of the second companion 35 is described as a “second attribute.” Data indicating the second attribute is described as “second attribute data.” In this embodiment, the first attribute data and the second attribute data are transmitted from each information processing terminal 22 to the database server 5.

[0020] The database server 5 includes a server communication device 51, a server control device 52, a server storage device 56, and a database 57. The server control device 52 includes a server communication control unit 53, a search unit 54, and a ranking determination unit 55. When a request for second POI data is received from the information processing terminal 4 through an operation by the second user 34, the database server 5 acquires the second POI data from the database 57 and transmits the acquired second POI data to the information processing terminal 4 owned by the second user 34.

[0021] The information processing terminal 4 of this embodiment has three functions for displaying the second POI data on the display device 43.

[0022] The first function is to display a map 65 showing a predetermined number of POIs on the display device 43, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 shows an example of a map 65 showing an area with a relatively large number of POIs. On the other hand, Figure 4 shows an example of a map 65 showing an area with a relatively small number of POIs. The map 65 shows POIs with pin icons 64. In this embodiment, the number of POIs shown on the map 65 in Figure 3 is equal to the number of POIs shown on the map 65 in Figure 4. This can be achieved by the scale determination unit 47 adjusting the scale of the map 65. The scale determination unit 47 adjusts the scale of the map 65 so that the number of POIs displayed becomes a predetermined number, regardless of the number of POIs around the reference position. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the scale determination unit 47 sets the scale of the map 65 showing an area with a relatively small number of POIs to be larger than the scale of the map 65 showing an area with a relatively large number of POIs. Small The scale of Map 65 is SmallBy increasing the scale, the area represented by the map 65 displayed on the display device 43 becomes wider. This allows more POIs to be shown on the map 65 than when the scale of the map 65 is small. If too few POIs are shown on the map 65, it becomes difficult for the second user 34 to find the POI they want to visit. On the other hand, if too many POIs are shown on the map 65, the visibility of the map 65 decreases due to the pin icons 64. Therefore, when an area with a relatively large number of POIs is represented on the map 65, the display control unit 48 is configured to select the POIs to be displayed on the map 65 using a predetermined method. Such an information processing terminal 4 can improve the user's viewability by, for example, automatically changing the scale of the map 65 showing nearby tourist spots using the scale determination unit 47 and selecting the POIs to be presented. Hereinafter, the process of displaying the map 65 on the display device 43 will be referred to as a "map display process." The map display process is a process of displaying the map 65, which is an image showing the map 65 within a specific geographical range, on the display device 43.

[0023] The second function is to display the second POI data in a list on the display device 43 based on the display order information, as shown in FIG. 5. The display order of the second POI data is determined based on the first attribute and the second attribute. For example, the display order of second POI data that has been viewed a relatively large number of times by first users 31 to whom the same first attribute as the second attribute is set will be higher than the display order of second POI data that has been viewed a relatively small number of times by first users 31 to whom the same first attribute as the second attribute is set. For example, the display order of second POI data that has been rated relatively highly by first users 31 to whom the same first attribute as the second attribute is set will be higher than the display order of second POI data that has been rated relatively low by first users 31 to whom the same first attribute as the second attribute is set. For example, the display order of second POI data that has been recorded a relatively large number of times by a first user 31 to whom the same first attribute as the second attribute is set will be higher than the display order of second POI data that has been recorded a relatively small number of times by a first user 31 to whom the same first attribute as the second attribute is set. For example, the display order of second POI data that has been viewed or recorded by a first user 31 to whom the same first attribute as the second attribute is set will be higher than the display order of second POI data that has been viewed or stored by a first user 31 to whom a first attribute different from the second attribute is set.

[0024] In this way, the information processing terminal 4 weights the POIs based on the first attribute and the second attribute, and, for example, rearranges and presents information about vacation spots to the second user 34, thereby attracting the interest of the second user 34 and encouraging the second user 34 to go out. Hereinafter, the process of displaying a list of second POI data in a display order based on the first attribute and the second attribute will be referred to as a "list display process." In other words, the list display process is a process of displaying a list of surrounding information present within a specific geographical range on the display device 43.

[0025] The third function is a function to display the second POI data on the display device 43 in a display order based on a trend, as shown in Fig. 6. The third function is similar to the second function, except that the display order is determined based on a trend instead of the second attribute.

[0026] In this embodiment, these three functions are switched between using three switching buttons 78, 79, and 80. Switching button 78 corresponds to the first function. Switching button 79 corresponds to the second function. Switching button 80 corresponds to the third function. Note that in other embodiments of the present invention, the information processing terminal 4 may be configured to have at least one of these three functions.

[0027] The information processing terminal 4 can share the second POI data with the second companion 35. The information processing terminal 4 can share the second POI data selected by the second user 34 with the second companion 35. The information processing terminal 4 transmits the second POI data to the information processing terminal 33 shown in FIG. 1 in response to an operation from the second user 34. The information processing terminal 33 is a terminal device owned by the second companion 35. The information processing terminal 4 can transmit the second POI data to the information processing terminal 33 in response to, for example, an operation of the POI sharing screen 90 shown in FIG. 8 by the second user 34.

[0028] <Details of the configuration of the information processing terminal 4> 2 is, for example, a touch panel integrated with the display device 43, a voice input device that allows text data to be input by voice, or physical keys. In this embodiment, the input device 41 is a touch panel. The input device 41 is operated by the first user 31 or the second user 34.

[0029] The terminal communication device 42 performs data communication with an external device. The terminal communication device 42 communicates with the database server 5. In this embodiment, the terminal communication device 42 communicates with the information processing terminal 33. The terminal communication device 42 transmits reference data to the database server 5. The reference data indicates a reference position. In this embodiment, the reference data includes latitude information and longitude information. In this embodiment, the terminal communication device 42 receives second POI data from the database server 5.

[0030] When the list display process is executed, the terminal communication device transmits the second attribute data to the database server 5. The second attribute data is input to the input device 41 by an operation of the second user .

[0031] The display device 43 is configured to display various types of information. The second attribute data is input by the second user 34, for example, when an attribute input screen (not shown) is displayed on the display device 43. The attribute input screen is configured to allow the second user 34 to select, for example, one of friends, family, lover, or alone as the second attribute. The attribute input screen may be configured to allow the second user 34 to select the second attribute from an image of the POI. Specifically, the attribute input screen may be configured to allow the second user 34 to select one of images such as "enjoying with friends," "exciting with family," "exciting with a couple," "relaxing with a married couple," or "relaxing alone." The attribute input screen may be configured to allow the second user 34 to set a scenario in which the application will be used. The scenario may be, for example, a day trip or a day trip to a hot spring. The second attribute data is input to the information processing terminal 4 in the same manner as the first attribute data, for example, the second attribute data.

[0032] In this embodiment, the display device 43 can visualize the second POI data in different ways for each of the three functions.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the map 65 related to the map display process includes a pin icon 64 and a reference mark 63a. The pin icon 64 indicates a POI. The pin icon 64 indicates the type of POI. Each type of POI is represented by a different graphic design. The POI type is, for example, a restaurant, tourist facility, shop, or public facility. The reference mark 63a indicates a reference position. Note that, when the map 65 is not scrolled, the reference position is also the center point 63b of the display range 65a in which the map 65 is displayed on the display device 43.

[0034] In this embodiment, when a POI is detected within a display range 65a of a map 65 aligned with a center point 63b, the display device 43 displays a list of second POI data in the simple information area 62. The simple information area 62 is the area below the map 65. The display device 43 displays the map 65 and the simple information area 62 on a single screen 61. The simple information area 62 displays simple information about the POI. The simple information area 62 displays photo image data 68 and text data. The photo image data 68 represents, for example, the exterior of a building located at the POI. The photo image data 68 represents, for example, a dish served at a restaurant located at the POI. In this embodiment, the photo image data 68 corresponds to the image data included in the first POI data. The text data includes text data 69 indicating the name of the POI. In this embodiment, the text data further includes text data indicating impressions of the POI. The text data indicating impressions of the POI is displayed, for example, in an area 70 surrounded by a two-dot chain line. The text data corresponds to the text data included in the first POI data.

[0035] In this embodiment, the simple information area 62 displays a type icon 64a. The type icon 64a represents the same type of POI as the pin icon 64. The type icon 64a corresponds to the POI indicated by the map 65. The type icon 64a is associated with the POI indicated by the pin icon 64 by a graphic. In this embodiment, the type icon 64a is placed next to text data 69 indicating the name of the POI.

[0036] In this embodiment, the display device 43 displays second POI data indicating POIs plotted on the map 65 in the simple information area 62. The display device 43 displays the second POI data in the simple information area 62 in order of proximity to the center point 63b. Therefore, the display device 43 displays second POI data indicating POIs that are relatively close to the reference position higher in the list than second POI data indicating POIs that are relatively far from the reference position. In this embodiment, the simple information area 62 displays the second POI data in three columns and three rows. The second POI data at the top of the list are displayed closer to the map 65 than the second POI data at the bottom of the list.

[0037] The order in which the display device 43 displays the second POI data in the simple information area 62 is not limited to the order of proximity to the center point 63b. The order may be determined based on the travel time required for the second user 34 to get from the center point 63b to the POI depending on the mode of transportation. Examples of the mode of transportation include walking and car. In this case, the order is, for example, in order of the shortest travel time depending on the mode of transportation. The order may also be determined based on the attributes of the POI. The attributes of the POI include the characteristics and genre of the POI. The display device 43 may also be configured to display second POI data corresponding to POIs that have received a PR (Public Relations) request at the top of the list. A PR request is a request to place an advertisement from a company, store, or the like located at the POI. In this case, the order of the remaining second POI data that have not received a PR request may be, for example, the order of proximity to the center point 63b, the order based on the travel time depending on the mode of transportation, or the order based on the attributes of the POI.

[0038] The display device 43 can focus and display the second POI data corresponding to the pin icon 64 selected by the second user 34 among the second POI data displayed in the simple information area 62. In the present embodiment, the display device 43 can highlight the second POI data corresponding to the pin icon 64 pressed by the second user 34. This allows the POIs shown on the map 65 and the POIs shown in the simple information area 62 to be associated with each other.

[0039] The terminal control device 44 controls various information processing operations. The terminal control device 44 is electrically connected to the input device 41, the terminal communication device 42, the display device 43, and the terminal storage device 49. The terminal control device 44 is configured to be able to control the input device 41, the terminal communication device 42, and the display device 43 based on a program stored in the terminal storage device 49. The terminal control device 44 is configured, for example, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit).

[0040] The terminal communication control unit 45 controls the terminal communication device 42 to communicate with the database server 5. When the reference position is determined by the reference determination unit 46, the terminal communication control unit 45 transmits the reference data to the database server 5. The terminal communication control unit 45 also controls the terminal communication device 42 to communicate with the information processing terminal 33.

[0041] The reference determination unit 46 determines a reference position. The reference position serves as a reference for determining the reference range 66 and the search range. The reference position is expressed, for example, by longitude and latitude. The reference position may also be expressed by longitude, latitude, and altitude. Characters indicating the reference position are displayed in the address box 67. In the address box 67, characters indicating, for example, the current location of the second user 34 are displayed. In this embodiment, the address box 67 is displayed between the map 65 and the simple information area 62.

[0042] The reference determination unit 46 determines the reference position based on, for example, the current location of the second user 34. In this case, the reference determination unit 46 identifies the current location of the second user 34 using a current location detection device (not shown). The reference determination unit 46 determines the identified current location as the reference position. In this embodiment, the current location detection device is a GPS. The reference determination unit 46 may determine the reference position based on the location of the second user 34 the last time the application was used.

[0043] The reference determination unit 46 may determine the position indicated by the second user 34 as the reference position. For example, the display device 43 can scroll the displayed map 65 in response to an operation by the second user 34. In this case, the reference determination unit 46 determines the reference position based on the movement of the center point 63b caused by scrolling the map 65. That is, the reference determination unit 46 determines the center point 63b of the display range 65a of the map 65 after scrolling as the reference position.

[0044] The reference determination unit 46 may determine the reference position through a keyword search by the second user 34. In this case, the reference determination unit 46 determines the reference position based on text data indicating, for example, an address or part of an address, station name, facility name, or place name of a specific location input via the input device 41. For example, the address box 67 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is used to input the text data. When determining the point specified by the second user 34 as the reference position in this way, the reference determination unit 46 can use coordinate data based on the specific location.

[0045] In this manner, the reference determination unit 46 sets the reference position to match the second user 34. The reference range 66 expands to a predetermined size based on the reference position. The reference range 66 is used to determine the scale of the map 65. In this embodiment, the reference range 66 is a circle centered on the reference position. The reference range 66 is preferably a range with a radius of 300 m or more and 1200 m or less from the reference position. The reference range 66 is preferably a range with a radius of 500 m or more and 900 m or less from the reference position. In this embodiment, the reference range 66 is a range with a radius of 700 m from the reference position. Note that the reference range 66 indicated by the two-dot chain line in Figures 3 and 4 is an illustration, and the reference range 66 is not shown on the map 65. Note that the reference range 66 is not limited to a circle centered on the reference position. The reference range 66 may be a polygon such as a triangle, a rectangle, or a trapezoid. As long as the reference range 66 is set based on the reference position, it does not have to be centered on the reference position.

[0046] The search range expands to a predetermined size based on the reference position. The search range is used to acquire second POI data. The search unit 54 acquires second POI data from the database 57 based on the search range. Specifically, the search unit 54 acquires second POI data indicating two or more POIs within the search range from the database 57. The search range is larger than the reference range 66. If the number of POIs included in the reference range 66 is less than a predetermined number, the search range may be a range that includes at least a POI that is outside the reference range 66 and closest to the reference position. In this case, the search range is, for example, a range that includes a predetermined number of POIs both inside and outside the reference range 66. Alternatively, in this case, the search range is, for example, a range that includes a POI that is outside the reference range 66 and closest to the reference position. The search range may be changed as appropriate depending on the number and positions of POIs outside the reference range 66.

[0047] In the map display process, the scale determination unit 47 determines the scale of the map 65 based on the number of POIs included in the reference range 66 and the number of POIs to be displayed. To determine the scale, the scale determination unit 47 acquires second POI data indicating POIs within the reference range 66. The scale determination unit 47 also determines the number of POIs to be displayed. The number of POIs to be displayed is set to a predetermined number that does not hinder the second user 34 from viewing the map 65. The predetermined number is preferably between 4 and 16. The predetermined number may be determined based on the ratio of the area of ​​the map 65 and the simple information area 62 to the entire screen 61. The area ratio of the simple information area 62 to the screen 61 is, for example, between 30% and 60%. The predetermined number may be determined based on the size of one piece of second POI data displayed in the simple information area 62. The predetermined number may be determined based on the area ratio of the simple information area 62 to the screen 61 and the size of one piece of second POI data displayed in the simple information area 62. In this case, the predetermined number increases as the area ratio of the simple information area 62 increases or as the size of the second POI data displayed in the simple information area 62 decreases. In this embodiment, the predetermined number is 9. In this embodiment, the number of POIs shown on the map 65 is constant regardless of the region. However, without being limited to this configuration, the information output system 3 of this embodiment may be configured to adjust the predetermined number each time map display processing is performed.

[0048] The scale determination unit 47 detects the number of POIs within the reference range 66 based on the second POI data. The scale determination unit 47 determines the scale of the map 65 representing an area within the reference range 66 where there is a predetermined number of POIs or more, to be a predetermined scale. The predetermined scale is a scale in which the display range 65a of the map 65 is one size larger than the reference range 66. In this embodiment, the map 65 at the predetermined scale can show not only relatively wide roads such as expressways and national highways, but also relatively narrow roads.

[0049] The scale determination unit 47 increases the scale of the map 65 representing an area where the number of POIs included in the reference range 66 is less than a predetermined number, compared to a predetermined scale. Specifically, when the number of POIs included in the reference range 66 is less than the predetermined number, the scale determination unit 47 determines the scale so as to display POIs that are outside the reference range 66 and closest to the reference position. That is, when the number of POIs included in the reference range 66 is less than the predetermined number, the map 65 displays at least the POIs that are outside the reference range 66 and closest to the reference position. Note that the POIs used as the basis for determining the scale are not limited to the POIs closest to the reference position, but may be any POIs that are outside the reference range 66 and have a predetermined ranking in terms of proximity to the reference position. The predetermined ranking is a value smaller than a predetermined number. Such a map 65 displays POIs with a predetermined ranking that are outside the reference range 66 at the edge of the display range 65a.

[0050] For example, if there are fewer than eight POIs within a 700-m radius from the center point 63b, the scale determination unit 47 determines the scale of the map 65 so that nine or more POIs are included in the display range 65a. On the other hand, if there are nine or more POIs within a 700-m radius from the center point 63b, the scale determination unit 47 determines the scale of the map 65 so that the shorter side of the height or width of the map 65 is at a predetermined scale corresponding to a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance is, for example, 1,400 m. As a result, nine pins are placed at locations corresponding to the POIs on the map 65, and second POI data corresponding to each of the nine POIs is displayed in a list in the simple information area 62. Note that, in the case of an approximate value, the predetermined distance may be 1,400 m or more. In this case, there is a possibility that more than nine pins are placed at locations corresponding to the POIs on the map 65. In this way, the scale determination unit 47 determines the scale of the map 65 based on the number of POIs present within a specific range from the specified point. If there are fewer than a predetermined number of POIs within the reference range 66, the scale determination unit 47 displays the map 65 at a scale that displays the predetermined number of POIs on the map 65. If there are a predetermined number or more POIs within the reference range 66, the scale determination unit 47 sets the scale at which the shorter side of the height or width of the map 65 corresponds to the specified distance.

[0051] The display control unit 48 determines the POIs to be plotted on the map 65. If there are more than a predetermined number of POIs within the reference range 66, the display control unit 48 can select the POIs to be shown on the map 65. In this embodiment, the display control unit 48 displays on the display device 43, at the scale determined by the scale determination unit 47, the map 65 on which a predetermined number of pin icons 64 are plotted in order of proximity to the specified point.

[0052] In the present embodiment, if there are more than a predetermined number of POIs when the scale is determined, the display control unit 48 is configured to display only the pin icon 64 corresponding to the second POI data displayed in the simple information area 62 as the second user 34 scrolls the simple information area 62. That is, only the pin icon 64 corresponding to the list displayed in the simple information area 62 is displayed, and as the list is scrolled, the pin icon 64 included in the map 65 is changed to a pin icon 64 indicating a different POI. When the list is scrolled, the map 65 and the address box 67 are displayed in a fixed manner and are not scrolled.

[0053] For example, when there are nine or more POIs within the reference range 66, the display control unit 48 is configured to scroll the list to present up to 39 POIs. For example, when second POI data corresponding to nine POIs is displayed in the simple information area 62, if the simple information area 62 is scrolled to display the second POI data from the tenth POI onward, pin icons 64 corresponding to the tenth and subsequent POI data appear on the map 65. In this way, the display control unit 48 is configured to display an updated list of POIs on the display device 43 in accordance with scrolling and zooming of the map 65. When the reference range 66 includes more than a predetermined number of POIs, the display control unit 48 determines the ranking of each POI included in the reference range 66 based on the distance between the center point 63b and the POI. POIs closer to the center point 63b are ranked higher. The display control unit 48 displays a predetermined number of POIs on the map 65 in order of proximity to the reference position or the center point 63b.

[0054] When only the scale of the map 65 displayed on the display device 43 is changed by the second user 34, the terminal control device 44 maintains the display of the pin icon 64 corresponding to the acquired second POI data and the list of POIs. On the other hand, when the center point 63b is changed by the second user 34, the terminal control device 44 acquires the second POI data again. Note that when the center point 63b is changed after the scale of the map 65 is changed, the terminal control device 44 acquires the second POI data and displays the list based on the above logic while maintaining the scale of the map 65.

[0055] If it takes a long time to read or display the second POI data, the display control unit 48 may cause the display device 43 to display text indicating that the process is waiting.

[0056] The display control unit 48 may be configured to display a reference button (not shown). The reference button is a button for returning the center point 63b of the display range 65a to the reference position. The display control unit 48 displays the reference button on the screen 61 together with the map 65. For example, when the reference button is pressed while the map 65 is scrolled, the display control unit 48 can display the map 65, which shows the current location of the second user 34 as the center point 63b, on the display device 43 as a shortcut. Note that if the second user 34 does not permit the application to use GPS data acquired by GPS, the display control unit 48 may gray out the reference button and display it on the screen 61.

[0057] The terminal control device 44 starts re-reading the second POI data when it determines that the next action is not consecutive even if the map 65 is pinched or scrolled. The time for resuming reading is, for example, 0.5 seconds.

[0058] In this embodiment, when the application is launched, the display control unit 48 displays the map 65 on the display device 43 by default. The center point 63b of the display range 65a when the screen is displayed corresponds to, for example, the current location of the second user 34 when the screen display starts. If the use of GPS is not permitted when the application is launched for the first time, the reference determination unit 46 may set a predetermined point, such as Tokyo Station, as the reference position. If the use of GPS is not permitted, the reference determination unit 46 may set the center point 63b of the map 65 when the application was last used as the reference position. The display control unit 48 may be configured not to set the map 65 as the default when the application is launched for the first time.

[0059] In this embodiment, the list screen 71 shown in Fig. 5 includes a header area 72, a list area 73, and a footer area 74. The header area 72 includes a reference position box 75 and an attribute box 76. The footer area 74 includes three switching buttons 78, 79, and 80. The list area 73 is scrolled by an operation of the second user 34. The scrolling direction is, for example, up and down. The header area 72 and the footer area 74 are fixed and cannot be scrolled.

[0060] When the list display process is executed, the second POI data includes display order information. The display order information indicates the display order of the second POI data, each indicating two or more POIs within the reference range 66. The display order is determined based on at least the first attribute and the second attribute. Upon receiving the second POI data, the display control unit 48 outputs the second POI data in a list in descending order of score. The list area 73 displays photo image data 68 and text data. The text data displays text data 69 indicating the name of the POI in association with the photo image data 68. In this embodiment, the text data displays characters indicating impressions of the POI in an area 70 surrounded by a two-dot chain line. In this embodiment, the text data indicates the break level of each POI. The break level is indicated, for example, by a star-shaped figure 81. In this embodiment, the text data indicates characters indicating the location of the POI in an area 77 indicated by a two-dot chain line. In this embodiment, the second POI data is arranged vertically in the POI list. In this embodiment, a plurality of pieces of photo image data 68 are displayed side by side for each POI.

[0061] The terminal control device 44 loads second POI data indicating, for example, five POIs when the list screen 71 starts to be displayed. The display control unit 48 sequentially loads second POI data indicating the next five POIs in order of display priority each time the list screen 71 is scrolled by the second user 34, and displays the loaded second POI data on the display device 43. In this embodiment, the list at the start of display is a list for a route starting from the current location of the second user 34. That is, the list is a list in which the second POI data are arranged in order of proximity to the current location of the second user 34. If the second user 34 does not permit use of GPS, the list at the start of display may be a list for a route starting from the final center point 63b of the map 65 the last time the application was used. The list at the start of display may also be a list for a route starting from a specific point. If the starting point is changed, the reference position box 75 displays the changed city, town, village, or ward name. For example, the text in the reference position box 75 changes from "Start from current location" to "Start from Chiyoda Ward." In this case, the previous setting for the usage scene may be carried over.

[0062] 7 shows detailed information 83a of the POI selected by the second user 34. The details screen 83 is transitioned from the screen 61 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the list screen 71 shown in FIG. 5, or the list screen 71 shown in FIG. 8. The screen 61, the list screen 71, or the list screen 71 transitions to the details screen 83 when the second POI data in each list is pressed by the second user 34. The details screen 83 may be opened with the photo image data 68 or the text data within the range 70 pressed by the second user 34 on the screen 61, the list screen 71, or the list screen 71 displayed at the center.

[0063] On the details screen 83, the display device 43 displays a map 65, photo image data 68, text data, and a share icon 84. The details screen 83 may further include a surrounding information field 86. The surrounding information field 86 displays second POI data indicating another POI located in the vicinity of the POI selected by the second user 34. That is, in this embodiment, the detailed information 83a includes the map 65 indicating the POI selected by the second user 34, the photo image data 68, text data, image data of the share icon 84, and information related to the surrounding information field 86. Note that the detailed information 83a is not limited to the above, as long as it includes information sufficient to enable the second user 34 to visit the POI selected.

[0064] When the share icon 84 is pressed, the display device 43 displays a POI sharing screen 90 shown in FIG. 8 . The POI sharing screen 90 displays a share execution button 89. In this embodiment, the POI sharing screen 90 displays weather forecast data 87. The weather forecast data 87 indicates, for example, the weather forecast for the next week. In this embodiment, the POI sharing screen 90 displays photo image data 68 and text data of the POI. When the share execution button 89 is pressed, the terminal communication device 42 transmits the second POI data displayed on the POI sharing screen 90 to the information processing terminal 33 of the second companion 35.

[0065] The terminal storage device 49 shown in FIG. 2 has a volatile storage device in which information is erased when the power is turned off, and a non-volatile storage device in which information is not erased even when the power is turned off. The volatile storage device temporarily stores information processed by the terminal control device 44. The volatile storage device stores, for example, map data showing the map 65 and location information to be added to the map data. An example of the volatile storage device is RAM (Random Access Memory). The non-volatile storage device is a storage device capable of storing various information processing programs and various pieces of information. An example of the non-volatile storage device is ROM (Read Only Memory). For example, a flash memory or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is used as the ROM.

[0066] The information processing terminal 4 described above corresponds to a computer. Each component of the above embodiment is realized, for example, by a CPU executing a software program stored in the terminal storage device 49. The program may be executed by being downloaded from a server (not shown).

[0067] <Database Server 5 Configuration> In this embodiment, the server communication device 51 shown in FIG. 2 performs data communication with an external device. In this embodiment, the server communication device 51 communicates with the SNS server 23 and receives POI data from the SNS server 23. The server communication device 51 communicates with the information processing terminal 4. The server communication device 51 receives reference data from the information processing terminal 4. The server communication device 51 transmits second POI data to the information processing terminal 4. When a list display process is executed, the server communication device 51 transmits the second POI data including display order information to the information processing terminal 4. The server communication device 51 is controlled by a server communication control unit 53.

[0068] The server control device 52 is electrically connected to the server communication device 51, the server storage device 56, and the database 57. The server control device 52 drives various programs stored in the server storage device 56 to run. The server control device 52 is configured by, for example, a CPU or an MPU.

[0069] The search unit 54 searches for POI data from the database 57. Specifically, the search unit 54 acquires second POI data indicating each POI included in the search range from the database 57. That is, the search unit 54 searches for POIs within a certain distance range from the specified point from among multiple POIs. The search range is, for example, a range with a radius of 100 km or more and 200 km or less from the reference position. The search range is more preferably a range with a radius of 130 km or more and 170 km or less from the reference position. If the number of POIs within the reference range 66 is less than a predetermined number, the search range may be a range that includes a predetermined number of POIs in order of proximity to the reference position. In the map display process, if the number of POIs included in the reference range 66 is less than a predetermined number, the search range may be a range that includes POIs that are outside the reference range 66 and closest to the reference position.

[0070] The ranking determination unit 55 determines the display order based on the POI data searched by the search unit 54. The ranking determination unit 55 determines the display order based on at least the first attribute and the second attribute. In this embodiment, the ranking determination unit 55 scores multiple POIs located in a specific area based on the following three elements:

[0071] (a) Topicality of each POI (b) Distance from the center point 63b to each POI (c) Desirability of each POI

[0072] (a) The topicality of each POI is scored based on whether it is a POI that is worth visiting in the near future. In this embodiment, the ranking determination unit 55 uses the SNS server 23 for this scoring. In this embodiment, the ranking determination unit 55 scores the second POI data based on the recency of the first POI data corresponding to the second POI data and the evaluation of the first POI data corresponding to the second POI data.

[0073] Specifically, the ranking determination unit 55 assigns a score so that the second POI data corresponding to the first POI data posted on the SNS on the day before the day on which the list display process is being executed has the highest score. The ranking determination unit 55 assigns a score so that the score gradually decreases from the maximum score as the POI data becomes older. The score assigned to the second POI data is updated daily. To assign the score, the ranking determination unit 55 acquires information indicating the date on which the first POI data corresponding to the second POI data was transmitted from the information processing terminal 22 to the SNS server 23, i.e., the posting date. Alternatively, the ranking determination unit 55 acquires information indicating the number of days that have passed since the posting date. Alternatively, the ranking determination unit 55 acquires information indicating the shortness of the number of days that have passed since the posting date. In this embodiment, the ranking determination unit 55 acquires information indicating the shortness of the number of days between the posting date on the SNS or service and the acquisition date. The acquisition date is the date on which the information is acquired by the ranking determination unit 55.

[0074] The ranking unit 55 also assigns a score based on at least one of the number of retweets or the number of "likes" per day. Specifically, the ranking unit 55 assigns a score by, for example, multiplying the number of retweets and the number of "likes" per day by a period of time. That is, the ranking unit 55 assigns a score to the second POI data based on the extent to which the first POI data has been spread to other SNS users 21. The ranking unit 55 assigns a higher score to second POI data corresponding to first POI data that has been spread to more SNS users 21. To assign a score, the ranking unit 55 acquires information indicating the number of users who have retweeted the first POI data corresponding to the second POI data. The ranking unit 55 also acquires information indicating the number of "likes" given to the first POI data corresponding to the second POI data. This allows the ranking unit 55 to acquire information indicating the number of SNS users 21 who gave a good rating to the first POI data corresponding to the second POI data. In this embodiment, the database server 5 acquires this information in advance for all POIs indicated by the POI data acquired from the SNS server 23. In this way, the ranking determination unit 55 of this embodiment scores each POI by multiplying the score related to the newness of the POI data by the score related to the extent to which the POI data has been spread to other SNS users 21.

[0075] For example, the search unit 54 acquires from the database 57 second POI data indicating POIs located within a radius of 150 km from the reference position, and acquires five POIs, Spot A to Spot E, from among 200,000 POIs nationwide. In this case, the ranking determination unit 55 assigns scores to Spot A to Spot E in terms of topicality, as shown in Table 1, for example.

[0076] [Table 1]

[0077] As shown in Table 1, the score of Spot E is higher than the scores of Spot A, Spot B, Spot C, and Spot D. Spot E is the POI whose corresponding first POI data has the most recent posting date. In this way, the score assigned by the ranking determination unit 55 is higher for POIs corresponding to POI data with a relatively recent posting date than for POIs corresponding to POI data with a relatively old posting date. The score assigned by the ranking determination unit 55 is higher for POIs corresponding to POI data with a relatively large number of retweets than for POIs corresponding to POI data with a relatively small number of retweets. The ranking determination unit 55 multiplies the score based on the posting date by the score based on the number of retweets to assign a score to the topicality of the POI.

[0078] (b) The distance from the center point 63b to each POI is scored based on whether it is within a distance that can actually be used for a trip, i.e., the ease of access. The score is determined based on the usage scenario of the second user 34, and the maximum score is assigned to a POI that is within an appropriate distance for each usage scenario. The usage scenario is selected, for example, along with the second attribute on the attribute input screen described above. For example, the ranking determination unit 55 assigns the maximum score to the distance that is the easiest for a day trip from the current location of the second user 34. A distance that is appropriate for a day trip is, for example, between 30 km and 50 km.

[0079] (b) To score the distance to each POI, the ranking unit 55 assigns a score to each POI based on the distance from the center point 63b to the POI. The ranking unit 55 assigns a higher score to POIs with shorter distances. To assign scores, the ranking unit 55 calculates the distance from the coordinates specified as the starting point to the coordinates of each POI. In this embodiment, coordinate information indicating the coordinates includes latitude information and longitude information. The ranking unit 55 calculates the distance based on map data stored in the server storage device 56, for example. The ranking unit 55 may assign a score to each POI so that the most appropriate distance is maximized depending on the type of spot the second user 34 is looking for. Examples of POIs the second user 34 is looking for include day trip resorts and trips with overnight stays. If the usage scenario selected by the second user 34 is a day trip, spots A to E are assigned scores, for example, as shown in Table 2. An appropriate distance for a day trip is, for example, between 20 km and 40 km.

[0080] [Table 2]

[0081] As shown in Table 2, the scores of Spots C and D are higher than the scores of Spots A, B, and E. Spots A and D are POIs that are located at a distance that matches the usage scenario. Spots A, B, and E are POIs that are located at a distance that does not match the usage scenario.

[0082] (c) The desirability of each POI is scored based on whether a person with the same companion attribute is interested in the POI. The desirability of each POI corresponds to the context of the POI. A person with the same companion attribute is a first user 31 who has the same first attribute as the second attribute. In this embodiment, the ranking determination unit 55 scores each attribute of the second POI data based on the number of times the first user 31 has viewed the detailed information 83a and the number of bookmarks. The scores are updated daily. The ranking determination unit 55 multiplies these parameters by weighting and determines the display order of the second POI data. The importance of each parameter may be adjusted as appropriate. The ranking determination unit 55 may also be configured to recommend POIs to the second user 34 based on the desirability of each POI.

[0083] For example, the ranking determination unit 55 assigns a higher score to second POI data whose detailed information 83a has been viewed relatively frequently by first users 31 to whom the same first attribute as the second attribute is set, than to second POI data whose detailed information 83a has been viewed relatively infrequently by first users 31 to whom the same first attribute as the second attribute is set. For example, the ranking determination unit 55 assigns a higher score to second POI data whose detailed information 83a has been bookmarked relatively frequently by first users 31 to whom the same first attribute as the second attribute is set, than to second POI data whose detailed information 83a has been bookmarked relatively infrequently by first users 31 to whom the same first attribute as the second attribute is set. In this way, the ranking determination unit 55 assigns a score to each POI depending on whether the POI has been viewed or bookmarked frequently or infrequently by first users 31 to whom the same first attribute as the second attribute is set. When assigning the score, the ranking determination unit 55 multiplies a coefficient according to the type of action, such as viewing only, bookmarking only, or both. When the second attribute set by the second user 34 is "family," the ranking determination unit 55 refers to the scores of the second companion 35 for each second attribute for spots A to E, as shown in Table 3, for example.

[0084] [Table 3]

[0085] As shown in Table 3, the score of Spot A is higher than the scores of Spots B to E. Spot A is a POI that was viewed or bookmarked by a first user 31 whose first attribute is "family." Spots B to E are POI that were viewed or bookmarked by a first user 31 whose first attribute is other than "family."

[0086] Note that AI (artificial intelligence) learning may be used to score the desirability of each POI. Note that the ranking unit 55 may be configured to score each POI based on the POI's attribute preset by, for example, an application service provider, without using the first attribute. That is, the ranking unit 55 scores each POI based on the POI's attribute and the second attribute. For example, the ranking unit 55 assigns higher scores to a POI whose attribute is "park" in the order of the second attribute being "family," "lover," and "single second user 34." In this case, the ranking unit 55 assigns a higher score to a POI whose second attribute is "family" than to a POI whose second attribute is "lover." The ranking unit 55 assigns a higher score to a POI whose second attribute is "lover" than to a POI whose second attribute is "single."

[0087] In this embodiment, the ranking determination unit 55 determines an overall ranking for two or more POIs from the scores of (a), (b), and (c) above. In this embodiment, the display ranking information indicates the overall ranking.

[0088] [Table 4]

[0089] As shown in Table 4, the display order is Spot D, Spot E, Spot C, Spot A, and Spot B.

[0090] The score calculated in this way may be abstracted and displayed on the display device 43 together with the second POI data.

[0091] The server storage device 56 has a volatile storage device in which information is erased when the power is turned off, and a non-volatile storage device in which information is not erased even when the power is turned off. The volatile storage device temporarily stores information processed by the server control device 52. An example of a volatile storage device is RAM. The server storage device 56 stores map data.

[0092] The database 57 stores the POI data in association with the first attribute. The database 57 classifies and stores the POI data by category. In this embodiment, the database 57 registers POI data indicating a plurality of POIs that have been converted by adding spot names and location information based on information transmitted on the SNS and first POI data posted by the SNS users 21.

[0093] In this embodiment, the database server 5 stores the first attribute data input by the first user 31 via the input device 41. Specifically, the database server 5 is configured to record the first attributes of the first user 31 who has viewed the detailed information 83a or bookmarked the second POI data for all POIs indicated by the second POI data stored in the database 57.

[0094] The database server 5 that determines the display order using the above algorithm corresponds to a computer. Each component of the above embodiment is realized, for example, by a CPU executing a software program stored in the server storage device 56.

[0095] <Map display processing> The map display process shown in Fig. 9 is started, for example, when an application is started, or when the second user 34 presses the switching button 78 shown in Figs.

[0096] In step S1, the reference determination unit 46 determines a reference position.

[0097] In step S2, the scale determination unit 47 requests second POI data from the database server 5. In this case, the terminal communication device 42 transmits reference data to the database server 5. The reference data indicates the reference position determined in step S1.

[0098] In step S3, the search unit 54 acquires, from the database 57, POI data indicating POIs within the search range.

[0099] In step S4, the server communication control unit 53 transmits the second POI data to the information processing terminal 4. The second POI data includes the POI data acquired by the search unit 54 in step S3.

[0100] In step S5, the scale determination unit 47 detects the number of POIs that exist in the reference range 66 based on the second POI data transmitted in step S4.

[0101] In step S6, the scale determination unit 47 determines the scale of the map 65. The scale determination unit 47 determines the scale of the map 65 based on the number of POIs detected in step S5. If there are a predetermined number or more of POIs within the reference range 66, the scale determination unit 47 determines the scale of the map 65 to be a predetermined scale. If there are fewer than a predetermined number of POIs within the reference range 66, the scale determination unit 47 determines the scale of the map 65 to be a scale that can show the POI that is outside the reference range 66 and closest to the reference position.

[0102] In step S7, the display control unit 48 displays the map 65 on the display device 43 at the scale determined in step S6. If there are more than a predetermined number of POIs within the reference range 66, the display control unit 48 selects the POIs to be displayed on the map 65. As a result, the map 65 showing the predetermined number of POIs is displayed on the display device 43. The display control unit 48 also displays the second POI data in the simple information area 62. As a result, the information output system 3 ends the map display process.

[0103] <List display process> The list display process shown in FIG. 10 starts when the second user 34 taps the switching button 79 shown in FIGS.

[0104] In step S11, the reference determination unit 46 determines a reference position.

[0105] In step S12, the terminal control device 44 requests second POI data from the database server 5. In this case, the terminal communication device 42 transmits reference data to the database server 5. The reference data indicates the reference position determined in step S11. The terminal communication device 42 transmits second attribute data to the database server 5.

[0106] In step S13, the search unit 54 acquires second POI data indicating POIs that exist within the search range from the database 57. The search range is set based on the reference position determined in step S11.

[0107] In step S14, the ranking determination unit 55 scores the topicality of the POI based on the second POI data acquired by the search unit 54 in step S13.

[0108] In step S15, the ranking determination unit 55 scores the distance from the reference position to the POI based on the second POI data acquired by the search unit 54 in step S13.

[0109] In step S16, the ranking determination unit 55 scores the desirability of the POI based on the second POI data acquired by the search unit 54 in step S13.

[0110] In step S15, the ranking determination unit 55 generates display ranking information based on the display ranking. The ranking determination unit 55 calculates the display ranking of the second POI data by adding up the topicality score of the POI determined in step S14, the distance score to the POI determined in step S15, and the desirability score of the POI determined in step S16.

[0111] In step S18, the server communication control unit 53 transmits the second POI data including the display order information to the information processing terminal 4.

[0112] In step S19, the display control unit 48 displays the second POI data on the display device 43. This causes the information output system 3 to end the list display process.

[0113] As described above, the information processing terminal 4 of this embodiment includes the display device 43 and the terminal control device 44. The display device 43 displays the map 65. The terminal control device 44 displays the map 65 based on the second POI data. The second POI data indicates two or more POIs around a reference position. The reference position is set arbitrarily. The map 65 indicates a predetermined number of POIs. The terminal control device 44 changes the scale of the map 65 displayed on the display device 43 based on the number of POIs within a reference range 66. The reference range 66 extends to a predetermined size from the reference position. The terminal control device 44 changes the scale of the map 65 representing a reference range 66 that includes less than a predetermined number of POIs to a scale larger than the scale of the map 65 representing a reference range 66 that includes a predetermined number or more of POIs. Small To burn.

[0114] Therefore, the information processing terminal 4 of this embodiment can display a map 65 showing a predetermined number of POIs on the display device 43 without the display range 65a of the map 65 displayed on the display device 43 being changed by the second user 34.

[0115] As described above, when displaying a map 65 on which multiple POIs in a specific area are plotted, the information processing terminal 4 of this embodiment determines the scale of the map 65 and the number of POIs to display that do not obstruct viewing of the map 65 based on the number of POIs in the vicinity, and can provide surrounding information for outputting the map 65. If the scale of the map 65 were used as the starting point, the map would be covered with pin icons 64 if there were many POIs within the area. This would make the map 65 difficult for the second user 34 to read. Furthermore, if the number of displayed items were used as the starting point, the map 65 would not often be at an optimal scale for easy reading. In contrast, the information processing terminal 4 of this embodiment can automatically change the scale of the map 65 that displays information about nearby tourist spots and select the POIs to display. This improves the viewability of the map 65 for the second user 34, encouraging the second user 34 to view the map. This also increases the second user's interest and encourages the second user 34 to go out.

[0116] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the reference range 66 contains fewer than a predetermined number of POIs, the terminal control device 44 displays the map 65 on the display device 43 at a scale that allows at least the POIs and the reference position to be shown on the map 65. This POI is the POI that is outside the reference range 66 and closest to the reference position. Therefore, the terminal control device 44 can reliably present the POIs to the second user 34.

[0117] In addition, in this embodiment, if the reference range 66 contains more than a predetermined number of POIs, the terminal control device 44 displays a predetermined number of POIs on the map 65 in order of proximity to the reference position, thereby presenting POIs that are likely to be visited by the second user 34.

[0118] Moreover, the information processing terminal 4 of this embodiment includes a terminal communication device 42, an input device 41, a terminal control device 44, and a display device 43. The terminal communication device 42 communicates with a database server 5. The database server 5 stores second POI data in association with a first attribute. The second POI data indicates two or more POIs. The first attribute is an attribute of a first companion 32. The first attribute is set for a first user 31. The first user 31 is a person who has viewed or recorded the second POI data on the information processing terminal 4. The input device 41 is operated by a second user 34. The second user 34 is a person who visits the POI. Second attribute data is input into the input device 41. The second attribute data indicates a second attribute. The second attribute is an attribute of a second companion 35. The second companion 35 is a person who accompanies the second user 34. The terminal control device 44 acquires the second POI data from the database server 5 via the terminal communication device 42. The second POI data indicates two or more POIs around a reference position. The reference position is set arbitrarily to suit the second user 34. The display device 43 displays the second POI data acquired by the terminal control device 44. The second POI data is displayed in a display order determined based on the first attribute and the second attribute. The second attribute is indicated by the second attribute data input to the input device 41.

[0119] The information processing terminal 4 of this embodiment displays the second POI data on the display device 43 in a display order determined based on the first attribute and the second attribute, and therefore can present POIs that are likely to match the sentiment of the second user 34. Conventional technologies generally sort POIs by a single index, such as by distance, genre, or user rating score. Therefore, such sorting does not match the sentiment determined by taking into consideration multiple contexts specific to going out behavior. Contexts specific to going out behavior include, for example, who the user is looking for a destination to go out with, and whether the location is within a convenient distance to visit. In contrast, the information processing terminal 4 of this embodiment can arouse the interest of the second user 34 and encourage the second user 34 to go out.

[0120] The database server 5 of this embodiment communicates with two or more information processing terminals 4. The database server 5 includes a database 57 and a server control device 52. The database 57 stores second POI data in association with a first attribute. The second POI data indicates each of the two or more POIs. The first attribute is an attribute of the first companion 32. The first attribute is set for the first user 31. The first user 31 is a person who viewed or recorded the second POI data on the information processing terminal 4. The server control device 52 acquires the second POI data from the database 57. The second POI data indicates each of two or more POIs around a reference position. The reference position is arbitrarily set according to the second user 34. The second user 34 is a person who visits the POI. The server control device 52 determines the display order based on the first attribute and the second attribute. The second attribute is an attribute of the second companion 35. The second companion 35 is a person who accompanies the second user 34. The display order is the order in which the acquired second POI data is displayed on the information processing terminal 4.

[0121] In addition, in this embodiment, the server control device 52 assigns a score to each POI when determining the display order. The server control device 52 assigns a higher score to second POI data that corresponds to the same first attribute as the second attribute and has been viewed or recorded relatively frequently by first users 31 than to second POI data that corresponds to the same first attribute as the second attribute and has been viewed or recorded relatively infrequently by first users 31. This allows the database server 5 to appropriately determine the display order of the second POI data.

[0122] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the device configuration, control method, etc. are not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0123] For example, in the above embodiment, the information output system 3 may be configured so that the scale of the map 65 is determined by the database server 5 instead of the information processing terminal 4. In this case, the second POI data includes information indicating the determined scale of the map 65.

[0124] Furthermore, the information output system 3 may be configured so that the display order of the second POI data is determined by the information processing terminal 4 rather than by the database server 5. In this case, the second POI data includes the first attribute data.

[0125] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the scale determination unit 47 determines the scale of the map 65 based on the number of POIs within the reference range 66, but the scale may also be determined based on the screen size of the display device 43. This makes it possible to realize a mechanism for extracting a more optimal scale.

[0126] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the display device 43 displays the map 65 and the simple information area 62 on the screen 61, but the display device 43 may be configured not to display the simple information area 62.

[0127] In the above embodiment, the scale determination unit 47 determines the scale of the map 65 based on the number of POIs within the reference range 66. Small However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration as long as the POIs can be appropriately displayed on the map 65. The scale determination unit 47 determines the scale of the map 65 based on the number of POIs within the reference range 66. Large It may be configured to reduce the

[0128] In this embodiment, the scale determination unit 47 adjusts the scale of the map 65 so that the number of POIs displayed is a predetermined number regardless of the number of POIs surrounding the reference position, but the configuration is not limited to this as long as the POIs can be appropriately displayed on the map 65. The scale determination unit 47 may also be configured to adjust the scale of the map 65 so that the number of POIs displayed can exceed the predetermined number.

[0129] Other configurations may also be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the configurations of the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0130] 4. Information processing terminal 43 Display device 44 Terminal Control Device 65 Map 66 Reference Range

Claims

1. A display device having a plurality of display areas; a control device that displays a map in one area and two or more POIs (Points of Interest) around an arbitrarily set reference position on the map, and displays information about the POIs in another area; The control device changing the scale of the map displayed on the display device based on a unique scale determined according to a predetermined number, which is the number of POIs displayed within a reference range extending from the reference position to a predetermined size, and which is at least the number of pieces of information relating to the POIs displayed in the other area; An information output system characterized in that the scale of the map representing the reference range that includes less than a predetermined number of POIs is made smaller than the scale of the map representing the reference range that includes the predetermined number of POIs or more than the predetermined number.

2. Computer, a display device having a plurality of display areas; a control device that displays a map in one area and two or more POIs (Points of Interest) around an arbitrarily set reference position on the map, and displays information about the POIs in another area; The control device changing the scale of the map displayed on the display device based on a unique scale determined according to a predetermined number, which is the number of POIs displayed within a reference range extending from the reference position to a predetermined size, and which is at least the number of pieces of information relating to the POIs displayed in the other area; A program characterized by making the scale of the map representing the reference range that includes less than a predetermined number of POIs smaller than the scale of the map representing the reference range that includes the predetermined number of POIs or more than the predetermined number.

3. The control device The program described in claim 2, characterized in that when the reference range includes less than the specified number of POIs, the map is displayed on the display device at a scale that can show at least the POI that is outside the reference range and closest to the reference position and the reference position on the map.

4. The control device 4. The program according to claim 2, wherein when the number of POIs included in the reference range exceeds the predetermined number, the predetermined number of POIs are displayed on the map in order of proximity to the reference position.

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