JP7738185B2 - Environmental load management device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an environmental load management device that handles environmental load information.

Patent document 1 describes how to reliably determine the amount of CO2 reduction caused by activities outside the home.

JP 2012-38234 A

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

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide an environmental load management device that can provide users with appropriate standard information on the amount of environmental load generated by their actions.

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

This invention makes it possible to provide appropriate reference information for environmental impact information based on similar users.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an environmental load management server 100 according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a user information DB 110. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing specific examples of electricity usage information and basic information thereof; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing movement information and its basic information. 4 is a flowchart showing the operations of the environmental load management server 100 and the terminal 200. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a lifestyle information DB. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an environmental load management server 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Where possible, identical parts will be designated by the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

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

The similar user acquisition unit 101 is a part that extracts user information from the user information DB 110 and acquires similar users who are similar to a user (target user) who is the target of behavioral change. Details of how to acquire similar users will be described later.

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

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

User information DB110 is a database that stores user information. Figure 2 shows a specific example of user information DB110. As shown in the figure, user ID, age group, place of residence, family composition, place of work/school, etc. are stored in association with each other. The user ID is an identifier that identifies the user. Other information about the user is also stored. This information is obtained from mobile phone subscriber information, etc., but may also be information separately registered by each user.

In addition to the information shown in Figure 2, user information DB110 may also include gender, workplace, distance to the nearest station, and work style (desk work, field sales, telecommuting, etc.).

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

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

The travel information DB130 is a database that stores user travel information. Figure 4 is a diagram showing travel information and its basic information. As shown in Figure 4(a), travel information is information that associates a user ID, target date, means of transportation, travel distance, and CO2 emissions. The target date is the day on which travel took place. The means of transportation is a means of transportation such as a private car or train. The travel distance indicates the distance traveled by the means of transportation. The CO2 emissions indicate the amount of CO2 emitted by the means of transportation. The CO2 emissions are calculated according to the travel distance based on a predetermined formula. A record of travel information is created for each target date.

Figure 4(b) shows the basic information of travel information. As shown in the figure, this information associates user ID, age, place of residence, family composition, place of commuting to work or school, and means of commuting to work or school.

The operation of the environmental load management server 100 configured in this manner will now be described. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the environmental load management server 100 and the terminal 200. User information is registered in the terminal 200 (S101). Then, in the environmental load management server 100, the user information DB 110 stores the user information sent from the terminal 200 (S102). As mentioned above, user information may also be obtained from a separate management server or the like that manages user information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In addition, while contract amperes have been given as an example of contract information when receiving energy supply from an external source, gas contract information (basic information) can also be considered.

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

The lifestyle information DB stores the following information. Note that contracted amperes and other electricity usage information are also included in the basic information on electricity usage and basic information on mobility described above, but may also be stored in the lifestyle information DB.

Transportation: Distance traveled (for example, average distance per month), means of transportation (distance traveled by walking, bicycle, car, train, bus, etc.), holiday patterns (weekdays, weekends, holidays, etc.)
Electricity: electricity usage, contracted amperes, whether solar power generation is installed or not Water: water usage Purchasing: purchase of sustainable products, purchase of energy-saving products, bringing one's own bag, investment history in SDG-related stocks Note that while Figure 6 shows the distance traveled for each means of transportation, the main means of transportation may also be stored.

By storing such user lifestyle information, it is possible to calculate standard values for CO2 reduction amounts according to differences in lifestyle.

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

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

In addition, the similar user acquisition unit 101 acquires, based on lifestyle information, multiple other users who frequently use their cars on weekdays and have a contracted amperage of xxA as similar users.

The similar user acquisition unit 101 also references purchasing information from the lifestyle information to acquire users with a high level of sustainability awareness. For example, users who purchase target products (energy-saving home appliances, etc.), who have a reusable bag rate of x% or more, and who have a track record of investing in specific stocks are acquired as similar users.

This lifestyle information indicates the user's living patterns, and differences in those patterns can be used to determine whether it is appropriate to acquire them as similar users or whether they can be used as reference information.

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

The unit used to present the amount of CO2 emission reduction to the user may be a score value devised by the system operator (other than g-CO2).

User information may be obtained from information input by the user, or it may be inferred from information other than user input, such as the location and means of commuting to work/school being inferred from the trajectory of terminal location information.

In addition, the similar user acquisition unit 101 may acquire similar users by vectorizing and normalizing user information, lifestyle information, etc., and calculating cosine similarity. For example, age groups may be quantified, such as 1 for early 20s, 2 for late 20s, and 3 for early 30s. Places of residence and places of work/school may also be quantified by area, or based on the distance between them. The same applies to family structure, but it may also be simply the number of people.

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

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

This allows standard information to be set in a way that avoids a sense of unfairness between users. In other words, different users have different living environments and lifestyles, and if standard information were set uniquely, some users would find the standard unsatisfactory. As mentioned above, by calculating standard information based on the CO2 emissions of similar users, it is possible to create standard information that is convincing.

In addition, the environmental load management server 100 disclosed herein is equipped with a notification unit 103 that notifies a user of information for improving environmentally damaging behavior based on the reference information.

This will enable users to improve their environmentally-impacting behavior. For example, they can change their behavior to reduce their electricity usage and car use, which are believed to lead to environmental impact.

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

This allows users to understand how much environmental impact (or actions that lead to environmental impact) they should reduce based on environmental impact information.

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

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

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

In the present disclosure, the similar user acquisition unit 101 acquires similar users based on the attribute information or lifestyle patterns of a single user.

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

Lifestyle patterns include basic lifestyle information that serves as a benchmark for energy usage in a user's life. This basic lifestyle information includes user behavior that cannot be easily changed. A user's basic lifestyle information is based on contract information when receiving energy from an external source, such as the contracted amperes with the electric power company. A user's basic lifestyle information includes routine activities among the user's daily activities, such as using a car to commute to work.

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

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

This disclosure focuses on CO2 emissions and provides technology that encourages users to change their behavior to reduce environmental impact. However, it is also possible to encourage users to change their behavior to reduce emissions of other greenhouse gases, such as methane gas, in addition to CO2 emissions. For example, to reduce CO2 emissions, a user may be encouraged to take certain action, and to reduce methane gas, a notification may be provided encouraging the user to take certain action.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The block diagrams used to explain the above embodiments show functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of hardware and/or software. Furthermore, there are no particular limitations on how each functional block is realized. That is, each functional block may be realized using a single device that is physically or logically coupled, or may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are connected directly or indirectly (e.g., using wires, wirelessly, etc.) and these multiple devices. A functional block may also be realized by combining software with the single device or multiple devices.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be composed of, for example, at least one of ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. Memory 1002 may also be referred to as a register, cache, main memory (primary storage device), etc. Memory 1002 can store executable programs (program code), software modules, etc. for implementing an environmental load management method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

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

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

The input device 1005 is an input device (e.g., a keyboard, mouse, microphone, switch, button, sensor, etc.) that accepts input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (e.g., a display, speaker, LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside. Note that the input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one device (e.g., a touch panel).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in this disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, relative values from a predetermined value, or other corresponding information. For example, radio resources may be indicated by an index.

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

In this disclosure, terms such as "Mobile Station (MS)," "user terminal," "User Equipment (UE)," and "terminal" may be used interchangeably.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In this disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "combined" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different."

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

Claims (10)

a similar user acquisition unit that refers to a lifestyle information storage unit that stores purchase information as lifestyle information, and acquires users who have purchased specific products based on the purchase information as similar users who are similar to the target user who has a high level of sustainability awareness;
a calculation unit that refers to a storage unit that stores environmental load information corresponding to user behavior for each user, extracts environmental load information of the similar users, and calculates reference information based on the environmental load information;
An environmental load management device comprising: a notification unit that notifies the target user of information for improving environmentally damaging behavior based on the reference information;
The environmental load management device according to claim 1 . the calculation unit calculates a difference value between the reference information and the environmental load information of the target user;
the notification unit transmits the difference value to the user as information for improving the environmentally damaging behavior.
The environmental load management device according to claim 2 . The user behavior includes at least one of energy usage and user movement.
The environmental load management device according to claim 1 . The energy usage includes the usage and amount of at least one of electricity, gas, or water;
The environmental load management device according to claim 4. The user behavior includes the user's means of transportation and the distance traveled.
The environmental load management device according to claim 1 . the similar user acquisition unit acquires similar users based on attribute information or lifestyle patterns of the target user;
The environmental load management device according to claim 1 . The lifestyle pattern includes basic lifestyle information that serves as a reference for energy usage in the user's life.
The environmental load management device according to claim 7. The user's basic living information is based on contract information when receiving energy from an external source.
The environmental load management device according to claim 8. The user's basic life information includes routine activities among the user's daily activities.
The environmental load management device according to claim 8.