Location information server, location information system, location information provision method, and program

Abstract

To provide a position information providing server capable of varying the accuracy of position information.SOLUTION: A position information providing server includes: an acquisition unit that obtains position information allowing determination of a position of a vehicle from an on-vehicle apparatus mounted on the vehicle; a determination unit that determines an encryption level of the position information, based on the position of the vehicle which is determined from the position information; an output information generation unit that generates output information in which the range of encryption of the position information has been changed according to the encryption level; and a transmission unit that transmits the output information to a user terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a location information providing server, a location information providing system, a location information providing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a system that collects location information (positioning information) from an in-vehicle device mounted on a running vehicle and provides it to a business operator or the like that generates traffic jam information.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conventional location information providing system, the location information of a vehicle has been continuously provided with a single accuracy. Therefore, there is a possibility that the location information, which is personal information, is provided with an accuracy higher than the accuracy originally required by the business operator. On the other hand, location information has been found to have high value in marketing. For example, by combining the transmission of location information from a smartphone with other services, it is possible to grasp the trends of customer segments and obtain new findings. Therefore, a mechanism for a location information providing system that is effective in both aspects of personal information protection and marketing is desired.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a location information providing server, a location information providing system, a location information providing method, and a program that can vary the accuracy of the location information to be provided.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the location information providing server includes: an acquisition unit that acquires location information capable of identifying the location of a vehicle from an in-vehicle device installed in the vehicle; a determination unit that determines the encryption level of the location information based on the location of the vehicle identified from the location information; an output information generation unit that generates output information with the range of encryption of the location information changed according to the encryption level; and a transmission unit that transmits the output information to a user terminal.

[0007] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the location information provision system comprises a location information provision server according to the above-described aspect, an in-vehicle device mounted in a vehicle that transmits location information capable of identifying the location of the vehicle to the location information provision server, and a user terminal that decrypts the output information received from the location information provision server using a decryption key provided by the location information provision server in accordance with the contract.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for providing location information includes the steps of: obtaining location information that can identify the location of a vehicle from an in-vehicle device installed in the vehicle; determining the encryption level of the location information based on the location of the vehicle identified from the location information; generating output information that changes the range of encryption of the location information according to the encryption level; and transmitting the output information to a user terminal.

[0009] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the program causes a location information providing server to perform the following steps: acquire location information from an in-vehicle device installed in the vehicle that can identify the location of the vehicle; determine the encryption level of the location information based on the location of the vehicle identified from the location information; generate output information that changes the range of encryption of the location information according to the encryption level; and transmit the output information to a user terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the above embodiment, the accuracy of the location information provided can be made variable. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a location information provision system according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This block diagram shows the functional configuration of a location information providing server according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows an example of processing by a location information provider server according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of map data according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the correspondence between the area, encryption level, and output information according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a diagram illustrating the functions of a location information provision system according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] (Overall structure) The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a location information provision system according to one embodiment.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the location information provision system 1 comprises a location information provision server 10, an in-vehicle device 20, and a user terminal 30.

[0014] The location information server 10 collects location information D1 for each of the multiple vehicles V from the in-vehicle devices 20 installed in each vehicle V. The location information server 10 also generates output information D2, which is obtained by encrypting a portion of the location information D1 with the encryption key EK according to the location of the vehicle V indicated by the location information D1, and provides it to the user terminal 30. Details of the location information server 10 will be described later.

[0015] The vehicle-mounted device 20 generates position information D1 (positioning data) of the vehicle V on which it is mounted by using technologies such as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). The generated position information D1 is transmitted to the position information providing system 1. Since the technology for the vehicle-mounted device 20 to generate the position information D1 and transmit it to the position information providing server 10 is known, detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0016] The user terminal 30 is a computer possessed by a user who uses the position information of each vehicle V. The user is, for example, an operator of a commercial facility (such as a shopping mall), a car dealer, a transportation company, etc. The user terminal 30 stores a decryption key DK provided from the position information providing server 10 in accordance with a contract for each user regarding the accuracy of the position information. The user terminal 30 decrypts the output information D2 using the decryption key DK and acquires the position information D1 of each vehicle V.

[0017] (Functional configuration of the position information providing server) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the position information providing server according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the position information providing server 10 includes a processor 11, a memory 12, a storage 13, and a communication interface 14.

[0018] The processor 11 functions as an acquisition unit 110, a determination unit 111, an output information generation unit 112, and a transmission unit 113 by operating according to a predetermined program.

[0019] The acquisition unit 110 acquires position information D1 that can identify the position of the vehicle V from the vehicle-mounted device 20.

[0020] The determination unit 111 determines the encryption level of the position information D1 based on the position of the vehicle V indicated by the position information D1. The encryption level is a stepwise determination of the range to be encrypted for the information to be encrypted.

[0021] The output information generation unit 112 generates output information D2, which changes the range of location information D1 to be encrypted according to the encryption level.

[0022] The transmission unit 113 transmits output information D2 to the user.

[0023] Memory 12 has a memory area necessary for the operation of the processor 11.

[0024] Storage 13 is a so-called auxiliary storage device, such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive). Data acquired, generated, and referenced by each part of the processor 11 during processing is stored in storage 13.

[0025] The communication interface 14 is an interface for sending and receiving various types of information (signals) between the in-vehicle unit 20 and the user terminal 30.

[0026] (Processing flow of the location information server) Figure 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing of a location information providing server according to one embodiment. Here, we will explain in detail the processing flow of the location information server, referring to Figure 3.

[0027] The acquisition unit 110 acquires location information D1 from the in-vehicle unit 20 (step S01). Location information D1 is positioning data including, for example, latitude and longitude. In addition, the location information D1 may be supplemented with identification information that can identify the in-vehicle unit 20 (vehicle V), vehicle type information of vehicle V, etc.

[0028] Next, the determination unit 111 identifies which area the vehicle V is located in based on the location information D1 and map data D3 (Figure 4) (step S02).

[0029] Figure 4 shows an example of map data according to one embodiment. As illustrated in Figure 4, storage 13 stores map data D3 that records the location (latitude and longitude) and shape of roads, facilities, houses, etc. Furthermore, the map data D3 is divided into multiple areas according to the level of confidentiality of the location. For example, in this embodiment, the map data D3 is divided into four areas: Area 1 A1 representing highways, Area 2 A2 representing general roads, Area 3 A3 representing private roads, and Area 4 A4 representing private land (houses, etc.). In other words, confidentiality is determined according to the public nature of the area; the higher the public nature, the lower the confidentiality, and the lower the public nature, the higher the confidentiality. In other embodiments, it may be further divided into multiple areas. Also, Area 1 A1, where it is difficult to identify the home of the vehicle V driver, has the lowest level of confidentiality, while Area 4 A4, where it is easy to identify the home of the vehicle V driver, has the highest level of confidentiality. The determination unit 111 identifies the area where the vehicle V is located based on which area of ​​the map data D3 the latitude and longitude range included in the location information D1 falls within.

[0030] Furthermore, the determination unit 111 determines the encryption level of the location information D1 based on the location (area) of the vehicle V (step S03).

[0031] Figure 5 shows the correspondence between the area, encryption level, and output information according to one embodiment. As shown in Figure 5, the encryption level is predetermined according to the area where the vehicle V is located. For the first area A1, which has the lowest level of confidentiality, an encryption level of "1" (level 1) is assigned, which does not require encryption. For the second to fourth areas A4, which have a higher level of confidentiality than the first area A1, encryption levels "2" to "4" (levels 2 to 4) are assigned, which require encryption. Furthermore, for encryption levels "2" to "4", as shown in the example in Figure 5, the higher the encryption level, the greater the range of location information D1 that is encrypted. For example, location information D1 is latitude and longitude, and depending on the encryption level, a predetermined number of lower digits of both the latitude and longitude are encrypted.

[0032] For example, if the determination unit 111 determines from location information D1 that vehicle V is in the first area A1 (highway), it determines that the encryption level of this location information D1 is "1". Also, if the determination unit 111 determines from location information D1 that vehicle V is in the fourth area A4 (private property), it determines that the encryption level of this location information D1 is "4".

[0033] Next, the output information generation unit 112 generates output information D2 with a changed range of encryption of the location information D1 based on the encryption level determined by the determination unit 111 (step S04).

[0034] For example, if the output information generation unit 112 determines that the encryption level of location information D1 is "1", it generates output information D2 in which the entire location information D1 is not encrypted (all remains in plain text), as shown in the example in Figure 5. Furthermore, if the output information generation unit 112 determines that the encryption level of location information D1 is one of "2" to "4", it generates output information D2 (data including both plain text and encrypted data) in which a predetermined number of lower digits of the output information D2 are encrypted according to the encryption level.

[0035] Furthermore, the output information generation unit 112 may encrypt the location information D1 using multiple different encryption keys. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the output information generation unit 112 generates output information D2 which includes first encrypted data encrypted with the first encryption key EK1 and second encrypted data encrypted with the second encryption key EK2. The first encryption key EK1 is an encryption key for encrypting a first range from the lower X1 digit to before the X2 digit. The second encryption key EK2 is an encryption key for encrypting a second range from the X2 digit to the last digit. The values ​​of X1 and X2 change according to the encryption level. Also, the second encryption key EK2 may be an encryption key capable of generating encrypted data with higher encryption strength than the first encryption key EK1. In other embodiments, three or more encryption keys may be used.

[0036] When the location information server 10 performs stepwise encryption using multiple encryption keys in this manner, it prepares multiple decryption keys corresponding to each encryption key. When using two encryption keys, the first encryption key EK1 and the second encryption key EK2, it prepares two corresponding decryption keys, the first decryption key DK1 and the second decryption key DK2. In this case, the location information server 10 may provide only the first decryption key DK1, or both the first decryption key DK1 and the second decryption key DK2, depending on the contract regarding the accuracy of each user's location information.

[0037] Next, the transmission unit 113 transmits the output information D2 generated in step S04 to each user terminal 30 (step S05).

[0038] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the functions of a location information provision system according to one embodiment. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the acquisition unit 110 of the location information server 10 acquires location information D1 from the vehicle's in-vehicle device 20 (step S01 in Figure 3). The determination unit 111 of the location information server 10 identifies from the location information D1 that the vehicle V is located in the second area A2 (public road) (step S02 in Figure 3), and determines that the encryption level of this location information D1 is "encryption level 2" (step S03 in Figure 3). Then, the output information generation unit 112 of the location information server 10 generates output information D2 corresponding to encryption level 2 (step S04 in Figure 3). In the examples of Figures 5 and 6, the output information generation unit 112 generates output information D2 consisting of plaintext before the X1 digit of latitude and longitude, first encrypted data encrypted with the first encryption key EK1 from the X1 digit onward, and second encrypted data encrypted with the second encryption key EK2 from the X2 digit onward. Furthermore, the transmission unit 113 of the location information server 10 transmits the output information D2 to each user's user terminal 30 (step S05 in Figure 3).

[0039] In the example in Figure 6, two users, A and B, each enter into a contract and receive location information D1 (output information D2). As mentioned above, the contract may differ for each user. This contract specifies the desired accuracy of location information for each user. In the example in Figure 6, user A has a contract to receive the highest accuracy location information from the location information server 10. In accordance with this contract, user A is provided with both the first decryption key DK1 and the second decryption key DK2 so that they can decrypt both the first encrypted data and the second encrypted data (all data). On the other hand, user B has a different contract from user A. For example, user B has a contract to receive lower accuracy location information from the location information server 10 than user A. In accordance with this contract, user B is provided with only the first decryption key DK1 so that they can decrypt the first encrypted data.

[0040] The user terminals 30 of users A and B each receive the same output information D2 from the location information server 10. User A's user terminal 30 possesses the first decryption key DK1 and the second decryption key DK2, so it can decrypt and access all the data in the output information D2. On the other hand, user B's user terminal 30 possesses only the first decryption key DK1, so it can access only the plaintext data and the decrypted data obtained by decrypting the first encrypted data from the output information D2. User B's user terminal 30 cannot decrypt and access the second encrypted data. Knowing the lower digits of latitude and longitude allows for more accurate location determination (for example, with high precision to a few meters). In other words, user A can access location information with higher precision than user B.

[0041] In this way, the location information server 10 can make the accuracy of the location information D1 transmitted to each user variable by encrypting the location information D1 in stages with multiple encryption keys and changing the decryption key provided to each user in accordance with the contract.

[0042] As mentioned above, users include commercial facility operators (such as shopping malls), car dealerships, and transportation companies.

[0043] For example, a commercial facility operator can use the location information of each vehicle (V) to understand the residential area and routes of customers, and use this information to coordinate with other facilities near the customer's residential area and routes (such as mutual point rewards) or to select potential construction sites for new facilities. Similarly, a car dealer can use the combination of vehicle type and location information of each vehicle (V) to develop potential customers in the area surrounding the dealership. In this case, even if the highly precise location information of a customer (e.g., home location) is unknown, it may still be possible to narrow down the area to a general range (e.g., within a few kilometers), such as which area (city or town) they live in or which roads (general roads or highways) they frequently use, which may be sufficient for selecting potential construction sites or developing potential customers. Such users may enter into contracts to receive less precise location information.

[0044] On the other hand, for example, a transportation company can monitor the delivery status of each delivery vehicle V by knowing its highly accurate location information (such as the pinpoint location of the delivery destination or branch office). Such users may enter into a contract to receive highly accurate location information.

[0045] Therefore, the location information server 10 can provide services that meet the needs of users by, for example, offering contracts with different pricing structures depending on the accuracy of the location information.

[0046] (Effect, Action) The location information providing server 10 according to this embodiment includes an acquisition unit 110 that acquires location information D1 capable of identifying the location of vehicle V from an in-vehicle device 20 mounted on vehicle V, a determination unit 111 that determines the encryption level of location information D1 based on the location of vehicle V indicated by location information D1, an output information generation unit 112 that generates output information D2 in which the range of encryption of location information D1 is changed according to the encryption level, and a transmission unit 113 that transmits output information D2 to a user terminal.

[0047] In this way, the location information server 10 can change the accuracy of the location information D1 by changing the range of encryption of the location information D1 according to the location of the vehicle V.

[0048] Furthermore, the determination unit 111 identifies which area the vehicle V belongs to based on map data D3, which divides the location on the map into multiple areas according to confidentiality, and location information D1, and determines the encryption level according to the identified area.

[0049] In this way, the location information server 10 can change the encryption level of the location information D1 and modify the accuracy of the location information D1 depending on whether the vehicle V is in a highly secure area or not.

[0050] Furthermore, the determination unit 111 determines that the encryption level of location information D1 is the first level if the identified area is the first area A1 with the lowest level of confidentiality, and the output information generation unit 112 generates output information D2 without encrypting the entire range of location information D1 if the encryption level is the first level.

[0051] In this way, the location information server 10 can provide highly accurate location information D1 to the user when the vehicle V is traveling in a first area A1, such as a highway, where it is difficult to identify the personal information of the vehicle V's driver.

[0052] Furthermore, if the identified area is one of the second to fourth areas A4, which are more secure than the first area A1, the determination unit 111 determines that the encryption level of the location information D1 is the second to fourth level. If the encryption level is the second to fourth level, the output information generation unit 112 generates output information D2, which encrypts the area of ​​the location information D1 that has been pre-set to correspond to each of the second to fourth levels.

[0053] In this way, the location information server 10 can provide location information D1 to the user with lower accuracy than when the vehicle V is traveling in the first area A1, when the vehicle V is traveling in an area with relatively high confidentiality (second area A2 to fourth area A4).

[0054] Furthermore, the output information generation unit 112 has multiple different encryption keys EK1 and EK2, and generates output information D2 by encrypting different ranges of location information D1 with different encryption keys EK1 and EK2.

[0055] In this way, the location information server 10 can encrypt the location information D1 in stages. Furthermore, the location information server 10 can, for example, prepare decryption keys DK1 and DK2 corresponding to each encryption key EK1 and EK2, and by changing the number of decryption keys provided to each user, the accuracy of the location information obtained by each user can be made variable, even if each user receives the same output information D2.

[0056] Furthermore, the location information provision system 1 includes a location information provision server 10, an in-vehicle device 20 mounted on a vehicle V that transmits location information D1 to the location information provision server 10, and a user terminal 30 that decrypts output information D2 received from the location information provision server 10 using decryption keys DK1 and DK2 provided by the location information provision server 10 in accordance with each user's contract regarding the accuracy of location information.

[0057] In this way, even if the location information provision system 1 receives the same output information D2 from the location information provision server 10 to each user, the accuracy of the location information that each user receives can be varied according to the contract.

[0058] As described above, embodiments relating to this disclosure have been explained, but these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents.

[0059] For example, in the embodiment described above, an example was given in which the location information D1 includes latitude and longitude, but it is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the location information D1 may be an address (country, geographical division, prefecture, city, ward, town, block number, house number, etc.). For example, the determination unit 111 may convert the location (latitude and longitude) of the vehicle V into address data based on the location information D1 and map data D3, and the output information generation unit 112 may generate output information D2 by encrypting predetermined sub-items according to the encryption level. For example, if the encryption level is determined to be "2", the output information generation unit 112 encrypts the items corresponding to the ward and town with the first encryption key EK1, and the items corresponding to the block number and house number with the second encryption key EK2. If the encryption level is "3" or "4", the scope of encryption is further increased to include higher-level items (e.g., geographical division, prefecture, city, etc.). Even in such embodiments, the same effects as in the embodiment described above can be obtained.

[0060] <Note> The location information providing server, location information providing system, location information providing method, and program described in the above-described embodiment can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0061] (1) According to the first embodiment, the location information providing server 10 includes an acquisition unit 110 that acquires location information D1 that can identify the location of vehicle V from an in-vehicle device 20 mounted on vehicle V, a determination unit 111 that determines the encryption level of location information D1 based on the location of vehicle V identified from location information D1, an output information generation unit 112 that generates output information D2 in which the range of encryption of location information D1 is changed according to the encryption level, and a transmission unit 113 that transmits output information D2 to a user terminal 30.

[0062] In this way, the location information server 10 can change the accuracy of the location information D1 by changing the range of encryption of the location information D1 according to the location of the vehicle V.

[0063] (2) According to the second embodiment, in the location information providing server 10 according to the first embodiment, the determination unit 111 identifies which area the vehicle V is included in based on map data D3, which divides the location on the map into multiple areas according to confidentiality, and location information D1, and determines the encryption level according to the identified area.

[0064] In this way, the location information server 10 can change the encryption level of the location information D1 and modify the accuracy of the location information D1 depending on whether the vehicle V is in a highly secure area or not.

[0065] (3) According to the third embodiment, in the location information providing server 10 according to the second embodiment, the determination unit 111 determines that the encryption level of the location information D1 is the first level when the identified area is the first area A1 with the lowest level of confidentiality, and the output information generation unit 112 generates output information D2 without encrypting the entire range of the location information D1 when the encryption level is the first level.

[0066] In this way, the location information server 10 can provide highly accurate location information D1 to the user when the vehicle V is traveling in a first area A1, such as a highway, where it is difficult to identify the personal information of the vehicle V's driver.

[0067] (4) According to the fourth embodiment, in the location information providing server 10 according to the third embodiment, the determination unit 111 determines that the encryption level of the location information D1 is the second level if the identified area is the second area A2 which is more confidential than the first area A1, and the output information generation unit 112 generates output information D2 in which the range of the location information D1 that has been set in advance to correspond to the second level is encrypted if the encryption level is the second level.

[0068] In this way, when the vehicle V is traveling in the relatively secure second area A2, the location information server 10 can provide the user with location information D1 at a lower accuracy than when the vehicle is traveling in the first area A1.

[0069] (5) According to the fifth embodiment, in the location information providing server 10 according to any one of the first to fourth embodiments, the output information generation unit 112 has a plurality of different encryption keys EK1, EK2, and generates output information D2 by encrypting different ranges of location information D1 with different encryption keys EK1, EK2.

[0070] In this way, the location information server 10 can encrypt the location information D1 in stages. Furthermore, the location information server 10 can, for example, prepare decryption keys DK1 and DK2 corresponding to each encryption key EK1 and EK2, and by changing the number of decryption keys provided to each user, the accuracy of the location information obtained by each user can be made variable, even if each user receives the same output information D2.

[0071] (6) According to the sixth aspect, the location information provision system 1 comprises a location information provision server 10 according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, an in-vehicle device 20 mounted on a vehicle V that transmits location information D1 capable of identifying the location of the vehicle V to the location information provision server 10, and a user terminal 30 that decrypts output information D2 received from the location information provision server 10 using a decryption key provided by the location information provision server 10 in accordance with a contract for each user regarding the accuracy of location information.

[0072] In this way, even if the location information provision system 1 receives the same output information D2 from the location information provision server 10 to each user, the accuracy of the location information that each user receives can be varied according to the contract.

[0073] (7) According to the seventh aspect, the method for providing location information includes the steps of: obtaining location information D1 that can identify the location of vehicle V from an in-vehicle device 20 mounted on vehicle V; determining the encryption level of location information D1 based on the location of vehicle V identified from location information D1; generating output information D2 in which the range of encryption of location information D1 is changed according to the encryption level; and transmitting the output information D2 to a user terminal 30.

[0074] (8) According to the eighth aspect, the program causes the location information providing server 10 to perform the following steps: acquire location information D1 that can identify the location of vehicle V from an in-vehicle device 20 installed in vehicle V; determine the encryption level of the location information D1 based on the location of vehicle V identified from the location information D1; generate output information D2 in which the range to be encrypted of the location information D1 is changed according to the encryption level; and transmit the output information D2 to the user terminal 30. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0075] 1. Location Information Provision System 10 Location information server 11 processors 110 Acquisition Department 111 Judgment section 112 Output Information Generation Unit 113 Transmitter 12 memory 13 Storage 14. Communication Interface 20 Onboard equipment 30 User terminals D1 Location information D2 Output Information D3 Map Data V Vehicle

Claims

1. An acquisition unit that acquires location information capable of identifying the vehicle's position from an in-vehicle device installed in the vehicle, A determination unit determines which area the vehicle is located in based on map data in which the location on the map is divided into multiple areas according to confidentiality and the location information, and determines that the encryption level pre-assigned to the identified area is the encryption level of the location information. An output information generation unit that generates output information in which the range of encryption of the location information is changed according to the encryption level, A transmitting unit that transmits the output information to the user terminal, A location information server equipped with the following features.

2. The determination unit determines that the encryption level of the location information is the first level if the identified area is the first area with the lowest level of confidentiality. The output information generation unit generates the output information without encrypting the entire range of the location information when the encryption level is the first level. A location information providing server according to claim 1.

3. The determination unit determines that the encryption level of the location information is the second level if the identified area is a second area with higher confidentiality than the first area. The output information generation unit generates output information in which, when the encryption level is the second level, the range of the location information that is set in advance to correspond to the second level is encrypted. The location information providing server according to claim 2.

4. The output information generation unit has a plurality of different encryption keys and generates output information by encrypting different ranges of the location information with different encryption keys. A location information providing server according to claim 1.

5. An acquisition unit that acquires location information capable of identifying the location of the vehicle from an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, A determination unit that determines the encryption level of the location information based on the location of the vehicle identified from the location information, An output information generation unit that generates output information in which the range of encryption of the location information is changed according to the encryption level, A transmitting unit that transmits the output information to the user terminal, Equipped with, The determination unit identifies which area the vehicle is located in based on map data in which the location on the map is divided into multiple areas according to confidentiality, and the location information, and determines the encryption level according to the identified area. The determination unit determines that the encryption level of the location information is the first level if the identified area is the first area with the lowest level of confidentiality. The output information generation unit generates the output information without encrypting the entire range of the location information when the encryption level is the first level. Location information server.

6. A location information providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 5, An in-vehicle device mounted in a vehicle that transmits location information capable of identifying the location of the vehicle to the location information providing server, A user terminal that decrypts the output information received from the location information provision server using a decryption key provided by the location information provision server in accordance with the user-specific contract regarding the accuracy of the location information, A location information provision system equipped with the following features.

7. A location information providing server obtains location information that can identify the location of the vehicle from an in-vehicle device installed in the vehicle, The location information providing server identifies which area the vehicle is located in based on map data in which the location on the map is divided into multiple areas according to confidentiality and the location information, and determines that the encryption level pre-assigned to the identified area is the encryption level of the location information. The location information providing server generates output information in which the range of encryption of the location information is changed according to the encryption level, The location information providing server transmits the output information to the user terminal. A method for providing location information, comprising the following:

8. The steps include: obtaining location information that can identify the location of the vehicle from an in-vehicle device installed in the vehicle; The steps include: identifying which area the vehicle is located in based on map data in which the location on the map is divided into multiple areas according to confidentiality, and the location information, and determining that the encryption level pre-assigned to the identified area is the encryption level of the location information; A step of generating output information in which the range of encryption of the location information is changed according to the encryption level, The steps include: transmitting the output information to the user terminal, A program that instructs a location information server to execute a command.

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