JP7473889B2 - POI information utilization system - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to technology that uses information about points of interest (POIs).

Various services are in operation that use information related to POIs. A POI generally means a specific location on a map or in space, and it is possible to provide services by associating various information, content, etc. with this POI. Users may receive services that use information related to POIs on their mobile devices or vehicle navigation systems.

However, in most services that provide location-related POI information, the POI information prepared by the service provider is provided to all users. This does not adequately address the need for individual users to use only POI information that matches their travel purpose, mood of the day, and other conditions. To address this, there is a method in which the POI information provided by the service provider is filtered based on the conditions required by the user. In this case, in order to provide many users with POI information that matches their individual conditions and has a variety of information, the service provider needs to prepare and distribute a large amount of POI information, which has the disadvantage of huge operational costs for creating that POI information.

Furthermore, users generally cannot create and enjoy POI information for their favorite locations, provide the POI information they have created to other users, or use POI information created by other users. There is a concern that users will gradually lose motivation to continue using the service, as the usage pattern of the service becomes fixed when only the POI information provided by the service provider is used unilaterally.

Note that a patent document related to this invention is known that describes a technology for recommending personalized content to users using location-based services (Patent Document 1).

JP 2018-530022 A

It is desirable to be able to fully address the needs of individual users who wish to use only POI information that matches their travel purpose, mood of the day, and other conditions. It is also desirable to enable users to provide their own POI information, thereby increasing their motivation to continue using the service.

However, this invention should not be understood as being limited by the above-mentioned problems, and its contents are defined in the claims and will be explained in detail below using examples.

Here, before describing the invention in detail, we provide a supplementary explanation of the claims.

According to one aspect of the present invention, in a POI information utilization system including a management site that manages POI information units and a user device that acquires POI information units from the management site, the POI information units have information for identifying a location, information to be provided, and provision control information, and the provision control information includes at least one provision control information selected from a group including a suspension period from the last use, a usage time zone, a usage period, and an expiration date, and the user device utilizes the provision target information of the POI information unit transmitted from the management site based on the provision control information of the POI information unit, and further, the management site manages a POI group information unit that identifies multiple POI information units with the same theme, and makes the POI information units included in the POI group information unit available to a user device that has a license to use the POI group information unit. The provision control information may be at least one provision control information selected from a group including a suspension period from the last use, a usage time zone, a usage period, an expiration date, a total number of times for a user, a priority level, and a disclosure level.

According to this configuration, a user using the service can select from the POI group information units managed by the server of the service provider (management site) the one that matches his/her purpose or theme, such as the user's travel purpose or mood of the day, and set the usage, allowing the user to preferentially use the POI information unit that matches his/her purpose.

In addition, in this configuration, the POI group information unit includes location range information, and if the user device does not support the location range information, the management site does not need to make the POI information unit included in the POI group information unit available to the user device.

In addition, in this configuration, the system may further include a POI information unit registration device that allows the user to register the POI information unit in the management site. This allows the user to create POI information by themselves and provide it to themselves or other users in return for payment, which allows the user to enjoy the service not just passively but actively, thereby increasing motivation to continue using the service.

In addition, in this configuration, a POI group information unit registration device may be further provided, which allows the user to register the POI group information unit in the management site. In this case, too, the user can create POI information by himself/herself and provide it to himself/herself or other users in return for payment, so that the user can enjoy the service not only passively but also actively, thereby increasing the motivation to continue using the service.

In addition, in this configuration, a POI group information unit usage registration device may be further provided, and the POI group information unit usage registration device may search for the POI group information units registered on the management site, and use and register the POI group information units and the corresponding POI information units based on the search results.

In addition, a management site used in the above-mentioned POI information utilization system may be provided with a storage means for storing the POI information units and a storage means for storing the POI group information units, and the POI information units may be provided to the user device based on the POI group information units.

In addition, in a management site used in the above-mentioned POI information utilization system, a POI information unit may be transmitted to the user device when the user device has a right of use and the provision control information is satisfied based on the location notification transmitted intermittently from the user device.

In addition, in a user device used in the above-mentioned POI information utilization system, a POI information unit for which the user device has a right of use and which corresponds to a range of a certain distance taking into account the direction of movement relative to the current location of the user device is transmitted to the user device based on a location notification transmitted intermittently from the user device, and the user device may control the activation of the POI information unit based on provision control information for the POI information unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a management site for use in a POI information utilization system including a management site for managing POI information units and a user device for acquiring POI information units from the management site, the POI information units having information for identifying a location, information to be provided, and provision control information, the provision control information including at least one provision control information selected from a group including a suspension period from the last use, a time period of use, a period of use, and an expiration date, the user device utilizes the provision target information of the POI information unit transmitted from the management site based on the provision control information of the POI information unit, and the management site manages POI information units registered by an operator of the management site separately from POI information units registered by users.

With this configuration, a user can register a POI information unit, which can then be selectively used by that user or other users.

Also, in this configuration, the management site may manage POI group information units that identify multiple POI information units with the same theme, and make the POI information units contained in the POI group information units available to user devices that have a license to use the POI group information units, and the management site may manage the POI group information units registered by the operator of the management site separately from the POI group information units registered by users.

This invention can be realized not only as an apparatus or system, but also as a method. Of course, part of such an invention can be configured as software. Naturally, software products (computer programs) used to cause a computer to execute such software are also included in the technical scope of this invention.

The above and other aspects of the present invention are described in the claims and in detail below using examples, etc.

This invention makes it possible to fully address the needs of individual users who wish to use only POI information that matches their travel purpose, mood of the day, and other conditions. In addition, a specific configuration allows users to provide POI information themselves, thereby increasing motivation to continue using the service.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a usage environment of a POI information usage system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of a management center 200 of a POI information utilization system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of a user terminal 300 of a POI information utilization system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a POI information utilization system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of an outline of a POI information utilization system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing characteristic parts of a POI information utilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a characteristic portion of a POI information utilization system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention in relation to POI information. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a characteristic portion of a POI information utilization system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention in relation to POI group information. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing other characteristic parts of the POI information utilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of another characteristic part of the POI information utilization system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the operation of another characteristic part of the POI information utilization system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a block diagram showing still another characteristic portion of the POI information utilization system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of POI information according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining activation conditions of POI information according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of POI group information according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of location information that can be used to generate POI information of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example of event information that can be used to generate POI information according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of regional mesh data that can be used in the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a service usage form according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining another service usage form according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an outline of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing characteristic portions of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing other characteristic parts of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing other characteristic parts of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of official POI information according to another embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of user-created POI information according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of official POI group information according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of user-created POI group information according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user authentication table according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a personal section loop according to another embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of attributes of user-created POI group information according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of attributes of user-created POI information according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of POI group information available to a user in another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of POI information available to a user in another embodiment of the present invention.

Below, we will explain an example of applying this invention to a POI information utilization system.

In this embodiment, the following terms are as follows, however, the present invention is not limited to the use of these terms.
"POI information": includes information specifying a location, content (music, video, text) provided at that location, event information, and conditions for activating this POI information.
"POI group information" (also called POI group list): A collection of one or more pieces of POI information, which is composed of a group ID, group name, area name, area information, theme name, theme type, theme meta information, and a list of POI information.

The list of POI information includes POI information prepared by the service provider (also called the management center) and POI information created by the user. POI group information is typically created by the user, but may also be prepared by the service provider.

Figure 1 illustrates an environment in which the POI information utilization system 100 of this embodiment is used. In this figure, the POI information utilization system 100 is configured to include a management center (also called a POI information management center or management site) 200 and multiple user terminals 300. The management center 200 is connected to a communication network 400. The user terminals 300 are connected to this communication network 400. Although only two user terminals 300 are shown, there are usually many. A user may use the user terminal 300 to obtain content, etc. from the management center 200 and view or otherwise use the content. The user terminal 300 may typically be a smartphone (a mobile phone equipped with a mobile operating system) or an in-vehicle navigation system. The provision of content, etc. may typically be the distribution of music content (music), but may also be the provision or presentation of messages, the presentation of products, the provision or presentation of images or videos, and the provision of services.

Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the implementation of the management center (server system) 200, and the implemented computer 2000 may include a CPU 2001, a main memory 2002, an input/output interface (input/output bus) 2003, an external storage device 2004, etc. The management center 200 is constructed by installing an application 2005 on the computer 2000. The management center 200 may be composed of multiple computer systems.

3 shows an example of the configuration of a user terminal (mobile terminal) 300. In this figure, the user terminal 300 includes a processing system 3010, a memory 3020, an input/output subsystem 3030, a high-frequency circuit section 3040, and an audio circuit section 3050. Each of the components can be realized by hardware, including a signal processing integrated circuit and an application specific integrated circuit, software, or a combination of these, as appropriate. The processing system 3010 includes a processor 3011, a memory controller 3012, and a peripheral device interface 3013. The memory 3020 stores code and data (including code and data for applications) executed by the processor 3011. The processor 3011 executes various software components stored in the memory 3020. The application for using POI information in this embodiment is typically realized as one of the applications 3021, and may be, for example, for viewing content. The user terminal 300 may be any computer resource available in a mobile environment.

The POI information utilization system 100 of this embodiment may have the following features, but is not limited to these.
(1) A mechanism may be provided in which an application on the user terminal 300 intermittently notifies the management center (server side) 200 of the location of a moving user, and POI information for which the user has the right to use and which meets the conditions for activation is provided to the application on the user terminal 300, and the application can activate and use the information at a convenient time.
Alternatively, the system may provide one or more POI information for which the user has usage rights and which is within a certain distance range taking into account the direction of movement from the current location to the user's application, and the application may activate and use, at a convenient time, POI information that meets the conditions for activation taking into account the location information obtained in real time by the application.

(2) A mechanism may be provided that allows a user to use an application on the user terminal 300 or an application on another user terminal to create POI information for a location of his/her choice, with his/her preferred content (e.g., music list), message, and activation conditions set, and to register the information in the management center 200 (the service-side server).
(3) Alternatively, a mechanism may be provided in which a portion of the POI information published by the service provider can be downloaded, and the application's editing function can be used to customize the information by changing the user's preferred content (e.g., music list), messages, and activation conditions, and then the information can be registered in the management center (server) 200.
(4) A mechanism may be provided in which multiple POI information that matches a theme such as a travel purpose or mood within a specific area can be grouped together and defined, managed, and used as POI group information (also called a POI group list).
(5) A mechanism may be provided that allows a user to filter out POI information created by the service or created by a user and registered on a server, and only use POI information that meets the conditions of the area and theme that the user wishes to use and that has been granted permission to use.
Alternatively, a system may be provided in which a user can search for POI information created by the management center 200 (service side) or created by a user and registered on a server to find information that matches the area and theme that the user wishes to use, and set up usage permission settings for the POI information that the user likes, thereby allowing the user to use the POI information.
Alternatively, a system may be provided in which a user can search for POI group information created by the service or by the user and registered on the server that matches the area and theme he or she wishes to use, and set usage permission settings for the information he or she likes, thereby allowing the POI information contained in the POI group information to be used all at once.

(6) A system is provided whereby a user can receive compensation when granting permission for other users to use POI information or POI group information that the user created and published on the server (management center). The compensation may be, for example, points that can be used within the service. Each user may use the points they have earned to extend the service usage period, obtain the right to use the POI information or POI group list provided by the service, or convert them into cash. Compensation may also be free.

(7) In order to maintain the quality of the service, a mechanism may be provided to restrict the content that a user can set when creating POI information or POI group information. For example, restrictions may be imposed such as preventing the registration of antisocial, libelous, damaging rumors, criminal, violent, or obscene content in messages. Restrictions may be implemented by checking that the message input does not contain related words, or by having the user select from standard phrases prepared in advance by the service.

(8) The service provider may have a mechanism for generating and publishing new POI information or POI group information for each user using the service, based on statistical information obtained from the aggregation of location information, content information, and meta information attached to POI information or POI group information activated while moving, by frequency of region, season, time period, etc.

(9) Each user of the service may have a mechanism for automatically picking out POI information registered in a specified area that is closest to the user's preferences and behavior patterns, based on statistical information obtained from the results of aggregating the location information, content information, and meta information attached to POI information activated while the user is moving, by frequency of area, season, time of day, etc., and creating POI group information recommended to the user.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structural components of the POI information utilization system 100 of this embodiment, divided into a POI information management center 200 and a user terminal 300. In this figure, the POI information management center 200 has an activation target information storage unit 211, a POI information utilization history storage unit 212, a content storage unit 213, an activation target information selection unit 214, an activation control unit 215, a POI information/content information transmission unit 216, a content transmission unit 217, etc. The content storage unit 213 may be provided outside the management center 200. The user terminal 300 has a location information transmission unit 311, a POI information acquisition unit 312, a POI information activation timing control unit 313, a content acquisition unit 314, a content playback unit 315, etc.

The activation target information storage unit 211 stores and manages activation target information and its management information (including information related to the user's usage rights). The activation target information is typically POI information, but also includes POI group information, which will be described in detail later. In FIG. 4, the activation target information storage unit 211 includes a POI information storage unit 211A and a POI group information storage unit 211B.

The POI information stored in the POI information storage unit 211A is configured, for example, as shown in Fig. 13. This POI information includes the description of location information, event information, and provided service information, as well as the condition for activating the POI information. Examples of the activation condition include, but are not limited to, the following as shown in Fig. 14. Note that this description may also be adopted for the POI group information described below to the extent that it is not inconsistent.
(a) Time information for not repeating (sec): suspend_period
(b) Period for activating POI information: day_from, day_to
(c) Time period for activating POI: time_from, time_to
(e) Priority level: priority_level
(f) Public level: public_level

The operation of the configuration example of FIG. 4 (activation control of POI information) will be described with reference to FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the location information transmission unit 311 of the user terminal 300 intermittently transmits location information x1, for example, location information from a GPS (Global Positioning System) to the activation target information selection unit 214 of the management center 200 (S1), and the activation target information selection unit 214 extracts the corresponding POI information from the activation target information storage unit 211 (POI information storage unit 211A) based on the location information x1 and supplies it to the activation control unit 215 (S2). The POI information may be extracted based on the user's usage rights. The activation control unit 215 sends the POI information x2 to the POI information/content information transmission unit 216 when the activation condition of the POI information is satisfied, and discards the POI information x2 when the activation condition of the POI information is not satisfied (S3). When the POI information/content information transmission unit 216 receives the POI information x2, it supplies the POI information x2 and the corresponding content access information x3 to the POI information acquisition unit 312 of the user terminal 300 (S4). The POI information acquisition unit 312, which has acquired the POI information x2 and the content access information x3, sends it to the POI information activation timing adjustment unit 313 (S5), which supplies the content access information to the content acquisition unit 314 at the adjusted timing (S6), which acquires the content from the content storage unit 213 via the content transmission unit 217 of the management center 200 and supplies it to the content playback unit 315 (S7, S8), and the content playback unit 315 plays the content (S9).

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram explaining the characteristic parts added to the skeletal components (Figure 4) of the POI information utilization system 100 of this embodiment, divided into the POI information management center 200 and the user terminal 300. In this figure, the POI information management center 200 further includes a POI group information storage unit 211B, a POI group information search unit 219, a usage right update unit 220, etc. The user terminal 300 further includes a POI group information utilization registration unit 316, etc.

The POI group information stored in the POI group information storage unit 211B is as shown in FIG. 15, and includes area information, theme information, and a list of included POI information.

POI group information is like a playlist for a music service, and contains one or more pieces of POI information as elements. One piece of POI information may be associated with multiple pieces of POI group information.

The POI group information has group configuration information (matching_condition=meta_data). Among the POI information registered on the system, the top N pieces of information with the highest matching level for the conditions of the group configuration information may be selected and associated with the POI group information. Here, the matching level may take into consideration the number of matches to the conditions and the popularity (popularity, fame) of the points of the POI information. In selecting POI information, word matching may be performed between the metawords of each POI information and the group configuration information (matching_condition) from among the POI information that matches the conditions such as the specified latitude and longitude range and time. The popularity of tourist spots in each area may have a value of, for example, 0 to 1, and the larger the value, the higher the popularity. This value may be determined by, for example, referring to the number of times the name of the point appears on the Internet. This may be registered and managed on the system, and the information may be updated periodically. An example of a word matching calculation is to count and add 1 when a word in the group configuration information (matching_condition) and a word in the meta_word of the POI information match perfectly, and when words match with a certain level of similarity (similarity: 0 to 1) based on a similar word dictionary or the like, add the similarity value, and select the top N POIs with the largest total value in order of a value that is greater than a specified value and takes into account the popularity value (e.g. multiplication), but the selection method is not limited to this.

POI group information may be created and updated periodically using group configuration information (matching_condition = meta_data) created in the system administrator's settings. In addition, users who use the service can create group configuration information and use that information to create their own POI group information. In this case, the private_level setting allows the information to be made public within the group to which the user belongs, or to be made public to general users.

If the conditions of the POI group information are for a limited period, such as an event or season, appropriate values for day_from, day_to, and expire date may be set for the period.

There are two types of POI information (POI): that which is defined by the service provider and provided to users of the service (official_POI), and that which is created by an external user, registered in a system prepared by the service provider on the network, and provided to users of the service (user-created_POI). Users who have the right to use the service are assumed to be able to create and register POIs here. These two types of POI information may be managed so that they can be distinguished on the system. For example, official POI information may only be changeable by the service provider.

The POI group information (G_POI) may be composed of a group of multiple POI information based on a specific theme. For example, themes such as "romantic spots" and "places that hold special memories for just the two of you" are conceivable.

This POI group information may be of two types: one that is defined by the service provider and provided to service users (Official_G_POI), and one that is created by an external user, registered in a system prepared by the service provider on the network, and provided to service users (User-Created_G_POI). These two types of POI group information may be managed so that they can be distinguished on the system. For example, official POI group information may only be changeable by the service provider.

As described above, each POI group information is defined with a set theme and selection conditions based on the theme, and among the POI information registered on the service provider's system that matches the conditions, the N pieces of POI information with the highest degree of match are associated with the POI group information. In this case, in the case of Official_G_POI, the POI information to be selected is only from Official_POI. In the case of User-Created_G_POI, selection may be made from both Official_POI and User-Created_POI.

Users of the service can use POI information for which they have the right to use it. They can also search for a theme that suits their purpose, and use the POI group information that matches that theme and for which they have the right to use it. In doing so, users can search only among Official_G_POI, or they can search among both Official_G_POI and User-Created_G_POI.

POI information available to the user can be registered collectively for the POI information associated with the POI group information selected by the user. In this case, the POI information set by the POI group information is selected with priority over POI information originally set in the same area. For example, when POI group information with the theme "A place of memories just for the two of you" for the Kamakura area is selected and registered, the priority_level of the POI information set by the POI group information is set higher than the POI information originally available in the Kamakura area. Even if multiple pieces of associated POI information are found within a certain range of the user's current location when the user moves around the Kamakura area, the POI information that corresponds to the theme "A place of memories just for the two of you" set in the POI group information is selected with priority, so that the user can have the experience they expect.

The operation of the configuration example of FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the POI group information usage registration unit 316 of the user terminal 300 transmits the desired conditions x5 input by the user to the POI group information search unit 219 of the management center 200 (S10), and the POI group information search unit 219 of the management center 200 returns the search result POI group information x6 to the POI group information usage registration unit 316 (S11). The POI group information usage registration unit 316 receives the search result and appropriately sets usage registration for the POI group information, and this usage registration request x7 and setting information are supplied to the usage right update unit 220 of the management center 200, usage registration is performed for the POI group information and the POI information contained therein, and the usage registration information is written to the POI group information storage unit 211B and the POI information storage unit 211A (S12, S13).

You can also register POI information for use in the same way as you register POI group information for use.

Next, the activation control of POI group information will be explained with reference to Figures 4 and 8.

4 and 8, the location information transmission unit 311 of the user terminal 300 intermittently transmits location information x1, for example, location information from a GPS (Global Positioning System) to the activation target information selection unit 214 of the management center 200 (S1), and the activation target information selection unit 214 extracts the corresponding POI group information from the activation target information storage unit 211 based on the location information x1 and supplies it to the activation control unit 215 (S2). The POI group information may be extracted based on the user's usage rights. When the activation condition of the POI group information is satisfied, the activation control unit 215 extracts the member POI information from the POI information storage unit 211A, further checks the activation condition, and when the activation condition of the member POI information is satisfied, sends the member POI information x2 to the POI information/content information transmission unit 216, and discards the POI information x2 when the activation condition of the member POI information is not satisfied (S3). When the POI information/content information transmission unit 216 receives the POI information x2, it supplies the POI information x2 and the corresponding content access information x3 to the POI information acquisition unit 312 of the user terminal 300 (S4). The POI information acquisition unit 312, which has acquired the POI information x2 and the content access information x3, sends it to the POI information activation timing adjustment unit 313 (S5), which supplies the content access information to the content acquisition unit 314 at the adjusted timing (S6), which acquires the content from the content storage unit 213 via the content transmission unit 217 of the management center 200 and supplies it to the content playback unit 315 (S7, S8), and the content playback unit 315 plays the content (S9).

The POI group information may be used only for collective registration of member POI information. In this case, it is not necessary to extract and control activation of the POI group information based on the user's location, etc. Control and activation of the member POI information based on the user's location, etc. may simply be performed.

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating other characteristic parts added to the skeletal components (Figure 4) of the POI information utilization system 100 of this embodiment, divided into the POI information management center 200 and the user terminal 300. In this figure, the POI information management center 200 further includes a POI information creation support unit 221, a POI group information creation support unit 222, a regulation conformity inspection unit 223, etc. The user terminal 300 further includes a POI information creation unit 318, a POI group information creation unit 319, etc.

The operation of the configuration example of FIG. 9 will be described with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. First, the creation of POI information will be described. Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the user creates POI information using the POI information creation unit 318 and supplies it to the POI information creation support unit 221 of the management center 200 (S14). The POI information creation unit 318 has an editing function, a viewing function, etc., and may create new POI information, or may search the POI information storage unit 211A, view and edit desired existing POI information, and create preferred POI information. The object of viewing and editing is typically POI information registered by the user or another user, but may also be information prepared by the management center 200. The POI information creation support unit 221 of the management center 200 provides the POI information creation unit 318 of the user terminal 300 with access and search functions for the POI information storage unit 211A, and also sends newly created POI information and edited POI information to the regulation conformity inspection unit 223 to inspect whether it conforms to predetermined regulations (S15). The POI information creation support unit 221 supplies the inspected POI information to the POI information storage unit 211A based on a registration request from the POI information creation unit 318 of the user terminal 300, and the POI information storage unit 211A newly stores and manages it (S16, S17).

Next, the creation of POI group information will be described. Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 11, the user creates POI group information using the POI group information creation unit 319 and supplies it to the POI information creation support unit 221 of the management center 200 (S18). The POI group information creation unit 319 has an editing function, a viewing function, etc., and may create new POI group information. The POI group information creation support unit 222 of the management center 200 may provide a search function for POI information based on themes such as purpose and mood and regions, and may present POI information candidates to be included in the POI group information. In addition, a search may be performed on the POI group information storage unit 211B, and desired existing POI group information may be viewed and edited to create preferred POI group information. The object of viewing and editing is typically POI information registered by the user or another user, but it may also be information prepared by the management center 200. As described above, the POI group information creation support unit 222 of the management center 200 provides the POI group information creation unit 319 of the user terminal 300 with access and search functions for the POI information storage unit 211A and the POI group information storage unit 211B, and also sends newly created POI group information and edited POI group information to the regulation conformity inspection unit 223 to inspect whether it conforms to the predetermined regulations (S19). The POI group information creation support unit 222 supplies the inspected POI group information to the POI group information storage unit 211B based on a registration request from the POI group information creation unit 319 of the user terminal 300, and the POI group information storage unit 211B newly stores and manages it (S20, S21).

Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating another characteristic part added to the framework of the POI information utilization system 100 of this embodiment (Figure 4). This characteristic part creates new POI information and POI group information in the management center 200 using statistical information such as the usage history of POI information. In Figure 12, the management center 200 further includes a POI information automatic generation unit 224, a POI group information automatic generation unit 225, a POI information usage history storage unit 226, a location/event information storage unit 227, etc. The POI information automatic generation unit 224 refers to the POI information usage history storage unit 226 to analyze the POI information usage history, and further refers to the location information and event information held in the location/event information storage unit 227 to create new POI information, which is recorded and managed in the POI information storage unit 211. The POI group information automatic generation unit 225 creates POI group information for the user from the usage history of POI information, and stores and manages it in the POI group information storage unit 211B.

The location information may be, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, and the event information may be, for example, as shown in FIG. 17. The location/event information storage unit 227 stores and manages information associated with locations, and is capable of searching by location information or category. Examples of categories include "sightseeing," "food," "shopping," "enjoying," and "local events."

In this embodiment, regional mesh data may be defined as a longitude and latitude grid on a map in order to digitize information on the map and to collect various statistical information. The mesh specifications may use information defined by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, or may be defined independently by the service. For example, regional mesh data as shown in FIG. 18 may be defined. In the example of FIG. 18, this mesh information on the map is expressed as a regional mesh, and the smallest mesh range is an area block.

Next, we will explain other specific examples.

Figure 19 explains the service usage form of this embodiment, in which a POI service provider 500 provides a popularity information management storage 501 for each location, an event information management storage 502 for each location, a management tool 503, a POI service provider back-end server 504, and a POI service provider front server 505. A POI service user 600 can register POI information with a POI registrant client, and can use the POI information using a POI service user client 602. A content distribution server 700 distributes content to the POI service user client 602.

Figure 20 illustrates an alternative form of service usage, in which a server 603 for a service provided by a third party is further provided. The third party adds added value and provides the service to the user. A user of the third party's service can use this service by using a client 800 for a third-party service user. The client 800 for a third-party service user may be a client for a POI registrant or a client 602 for a POI service user.

Figure 21 shows the details of the POI information utilization system 100, focusing on the configuration of the service provider back-end server 504, the service provider front-end server 505, and the POI service user client 602 used when utilizing POI information. The service provider back-end server 504 has an official POI information master database 510, a user authentication database 511, a content information storage 512, etc., and the service provider front-end server 505 has a user authentication server 513, a POI information distribution server 514, a POI-related content distribution server 515, etc. In this figure, the databases and storages may be physically separated and managed, or may be logically separated and managed. For example, they may be managed as individual tables. The same applies below. The POI service user client 602 performs authentication using the user authentication server 513 (X101, X102), obtains POI information related to the current position from the position information (X103, X104), and obtains related content based on this (X105).

Figure 22 shows details of the POI information utilization system 100, focusing on the configuration of the service provider back-end server 504, the service provider front-end server 505, and the POI service user client 602, which are used when applying to use POI group information. The service provider back-end server 504 further has an official POI group information database 516, and the service provider front-end server 505 further has an official POI group information utilization support server 517. The POI service user client 602 can use the official POI group information utilization support server 517 to search for and register the official POI group information desired by the user (X106, X107).

Figure 23 shows details of the POI information utilization system 100, focusing on the configuration of the service provider back-end server 504, service provider front-end server 505, POI registrant client 601, and POI service user client 602, which are used when a user creates and registers POI information, and the service provider back-end server 504 further has a user-created POI information management database 518, and the service provider front-end server 505 further has a POI information registration server 519. A user can use the POI registrant client 601 to register POI information created by the user (X108, X109).

Figure 24 shows details of the POI information utilization system 100, focusing on the configuration of the service provider back-end server 504, service provider front-end server 505, POI registrant client 601, and POI service user client 602, which are used when a user creates and registers POI group information. The service provider back-end server 504 further has a user-created POI group information database 520, and the service provider front-end server 505 further has a POI group information registration server 521. A user can use the POI registrant client 601 to register POI group information created by the user (X110, X111).

25 describes the contents of a specific example of official POI information. An example of an entry of official POI information includes the following items.
POI_ID: POI_R_1
poi_name: Kamakura Hachiman Shrine place_name: Kamakura Hachiman Shrine lon: 139.556442
lat:35.326123
content_category: location information content_type: music
content_id: MU_00000001
area: Wakamiya-oji area, Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecturepoi_category: Shrines and templesmeta: Feel the history, Engrave the history, Nature in every season, Flower spot, Genpei Pond, Peony garden, Shinto ritual, Girls trip, Kamakura Shogunate, Power spot, Date spot, Goshuin, Presence, Vivid colors, Noble pedigreemessage_id: T_POI_R_1_001
message_text: "Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine" is a popular shrine that is visited by many people and is a symbol of Kamakura. Not only is it a place related to the Genji clan, but it also has many attractions such as seasonal flowers and events, making it an attractive and popular tourist spot.
day_from: -1
day_to: -1
time_from: -1
time_to: -1
suspend_period: 10800
expiry date: 9999-99-99
num_max_count: 10
priority_level: 1
public_level: 2

26 describes a specific example of the contents of user-created POI information. An example of an entry of user-created POI information includes the following items.
POI_ID: POI_U_1
poi_name: Zeniarai Benzaiten place_name: Zeniarai Benzaiten lon: 139.54225
lat:35.325672
content_category: location information content_type: video
content_id: VP_000000003
area: Genjiyama area, Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture poi_category: Shrines and temples meta: strolling, fortune, blessings, popular, date spot, power spot, goshuin, cave, sacred water, Minamoto no Yoritomo, extraordinary, unique, relaxing, cool, cleansing message_id: T_POI_U_1_001
message_text: I hope this will bring you good luck with money day_from: -1
day_to: -1
time_from: 800
time_to: 1630
suspend_period: 7200
expiry date: 9999-99-99
num_max_count: 2
priority_level: 3
public_level: 0

27 describes a specific example of the contents of official POI group information. An example of an entry of official POI group information includes the following items.
group_id: G_POI_R_1
group_name: Kamakura Popular tourist spot area_name: Kamakura area max_lon: 139.513477
min_lon: 139.575085
max_lat: 35.327521
min_lat: 35.304479
theme_name: A popular tourist spot theme_type: Regular
meta_data: Kamakura area, sightseeing, famous places, feel the history, seasonal flowers, enjoy nature, stroll, food tour, date spot, fantastic, extraordinary, beautiful, num_poi: 6
poi_content: POI_R_1, POI_R_2, POI_R_3, POI_R_4, POI_R_5, POI_R_6
day_from: -1
day_to: -1
time_from: -1
time_to: -1
expiry date: 9999-99-99 1
priority_level: 1
public_level: 2

28 describes a specific example of the contents of user created POI group information. An example of an entry of user created POI group information includes the following items.
group_id: G_POI_U_1
group_name: Kamakura private date area_name: Kamakura area max_lon: 139.513477
min_lon: 139.575085
max_lat: 35.327521
min_lat: 35.304479
theme_name: strolling date theme_type: special
meta_data: Kamakura area date spot stroll relaxing power spot romantic num_poi: 4
poi_content: POI_R_1, POI_R_3, POI_R_5, POI_U_1
day_from: -1
day_to: -1
time_from: -1
time_to: -1
expiry date: 9999-99-99
priority_level: 1
public_level: 2

Figure 29 illustrates an example of a user authentication table.

Figure 30 shows an example of a personal group description.

Figure 31 explains the attributes of user-created POI group information.

Figure 32 explains the attributes of user-created POI information.

Figure 33 shows an example of a description of POI group information available to users.

Figure 34 shows an example of a description of POI information available to users.

This concludes the explanation of the embodiment.

Note that this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. It should also be noted that the various features of the embodiments can be used in combination, except where such combinations are clearly not reasonable, or where such combinations are explicitly or implicitly excluded.

100 POI information utilization system 200 POI information management center 211 Activation target information storage unit 211A POI information storage unit 211B POI group information storage unit 212 POI information utilization history storage unit 213 Content storage unit 213 POI information activation timing adjustment unit 214 POI information selection unit 215 Activation target information activation control unit 216 POI information/content information transmission unit 217 Content transmission unit 219 POI group information search unit 220 Usage right update unit 221 POI information creation support unit 222 POI group information creation support unit 223 Regulation conformity inspection unit 224 POI information automatic generation unit 225 POI group information automatic generation unit 226 POI information utilization history storage unit 227 Location/event information storage unit 300 User terminal 300 Management center 311 Position information transmission unit 312 POI information acquisition unit 313 POI information activation timing control unit 314 Content acquisition unit 315 Content playback unit 316 POI group information usage registration unit 318 POI information creation unit 319 POI group information creation unit 400 Communication network

Claims (9)

A POI information utilization system including a management site that manages POI information units including location range information for specifying a location range and information to be provided, and a user device that acquires the POI information units from the management site , wherein when location information of the user device intermittently transmitted from the user device corresponds to the location range information of the POI information unit, the management site controls the supply of the information to be provided of the POI information unit to the user device ,
The POI information unit further includes provision control information,
The provision control information includes at least one provision control information selected from a group including a suspension period from the last use, a usage time zone, a usage period, and an expiration date,
The user device utilizes the provision target information of the POI information unit transmitted from the management site based on the provision control information of the POI information unit;
Furthermore, the management site manages POI group information units that identify multiple POI information units that have the same theme, and makes the POI information units contained in the POI group information units available to user devices that have licensing rights for the POI group information units.This POI information utilization system is characterized by this. The POI information utilization system according to claim 1, further comprising a POI information unit registration device that allows a user to register the POI information unit on the management site. The POI information utilization system according to claim 1, further comprising a POI group information unit registration device that allows a user to register the POI group information unit on the management site. The POI group information unit use registration device further includes:
The POI group information unit utilization registration device is
2. The POI information utilization system according to claim 1, further comprising: searching said POI group information units registered in said management site; and registering for utilization said POI group information units and corresponding POI information units based on the search results. In the management site used in the POI information utilization system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A storage means for storing the POI information unit;
a storage means for storing the POI group information unit;
a management site for providing said POI information unit to said user device based on said POI group information unit; In the management site used in the POI information utilization system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A management site characterized by transmitting a POI information unit to the user device when the user device has a right of use and the provision control information is satisfied based on a location notification transmitted intermittently from the user device. A user device used in the POI information utilization system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A user device characterized in that, based on location notifications transmitted intermittently from the user device, the user device transmits to the user device a POI information unit for which the user device has the right to use and which corresponds to a certain distance range taking into account the direction of movement relative to the current location of the user device, and the user device controls the activation of the POI information unit based on the provision control information of the POI information unit. A POI information utilization system includes a management site that manages POI information units including location range information that specifies a location range and information to be provided , and a user device that acquires the POI information units from the management site, and when location information of the user device intermittently transmitted from the user device corresponds to the location range information of the POI information unit, the management site controls the supply of the information to be provided of the POI information unit to the user device ,
The POI information unit further includes provision control information,
The provision control information includes at least one provision control information selected from a group including a suspension period from the last use, a usage time zone, a usage period, and an expiration date,
The user device utilizes the provision target information of the POI information unit transmitted from the management site based on the provision control information of the POI information unit;
The management site is characterized in that it manages POI information units registered by an administrator of the management site separately from POI information units registered by users. The management site manages a POI group information unit that identifies a plurality of POI information units having the same theme, and allows a user device having a license right for using the POI group information unit to use the POI information units included in the POI group information unit;
9. The management site according to claim 8 , wherein the management site manages the POI group information units registered by a manager of the management site separately from the POI group information units registered by users.

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