JP2004062688A - Information providing system based on position information, information providing device, and information acquisition device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to use an online coupon and advertisement effectively without forgetting them. <P>SOLUTION: A system connects an information acquisition device 1 and an information providing device 2 for communication via a portable telephone network 3 so that the information providing device 2 provides the information acquisition device 1 with coupon/advertisement information about one or more facilities. A current position of the information acquisition device 1 is detected by a navigation device 5, and coupon/advertisement information about facilities in or about the detected current position is presented to a user's portable telephone 4. When the user beside the information acquisition device 1 approaches facilities issuing coupon/advertisement information, the information providing device 2 can automatically present the user with the information on a coupon or the like of the facilities provided by the information acquisition device 1, to awake the user to the availability of the coupon or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information providing system based on position information and an information providing device and an information obtaining device used in the system, and is particularly suitable for use in a system for distributing coupons, advertisements, and the like through a network such as the Internet.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, the Internet connection service provided using a mobile phone network uses a mobile phone's e-mail function to distribute information such as discount service coupons and advertisements from a website registered by a user. Service is being performed. For example, the user is notified that an online coupon is available by e-mail distribution such as a mail magazine. Then, a user who has seen this can obtain an online coupon by accessing a corresponding website.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the timing at which the user receives the announcement by e-mail, the timing at which the user acquires the coupon and the advertisement information, and the timing at which the acquired coupon and advertisement are actually used at the distribution destination are different. Often. Therefore, even if the user knows that a coupon can be used, or even obtains a coupon on a mobile phone, the user forgets that and loses the opportunity to actually use it. There was a problem.
[0004]
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to enable a user to effectively use online coupons and advertisements without forgetting them.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, an information providing device and an information acquiring device are communicably connected via a network, and coupons or advertisement information relating to one or more facilities are transmitted from the information providing device to the information acquiring device. In the system configured to provide the information, the current position of the information acquisition device is detected, and coupons or advertisement information on the detected current position or facilities in the vicinity thereof are presented to the user. Thereby, when approaching the facility that issues the coupon or the advertisement information, the information such as the coupon related to the facility provided from the information providing apparatus to the information acquisition apparatus is automatically presented to the user. Therefore, the user is informed that a coupon or the like can be used.
[0006]
The facility from which the coupon or the advertisement information is desired to be acquired can be registered in advance from the information acquisition device to the information providing device. In this case, when approaching a facility registered in advance, information such as a coupon related to the facility provided from the information providing apparatus to the information acquiring apparatus is automatically presented to the user.
[0007]
It is also possible to register a destination of travel as a facility for which acquisition of coupons or advertisement information is desired. In this case, when the user arrives at the destination registered in advance, information such as a coupon related to the facility provided from the information providing device to the information acquiring device is automatically presented to the user.
[0008]
In another aspect of the present invention, when a destination is registered, guidance information on facilities at the destination is provided from the information providing device to the information acquisition device and presented to the user. In this way, when the destination is registered, the user is notified that there is a coupon or the like that can be used at the facility at the destination, and the user is alerted.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(1st Embodiment)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information providing system based on position information according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing system of the present embodiment is configured by connecting an information acquisition device 1 and an information providing device 2 via a mobile phone network 3 so as to be able to communicate with each other.
[0010]
The information acquisition device 1 includes a mobile phone 4 and an in-vehicle navigation device 5. The navigation device 5 has a function of detecting the current position of the vehicle. The mobile phone 4 and the navigation device 5 are connected via a wired or wireless communication interface, and exchange data with each other. The exchange of data with the information providing device 2 through the mobile phone network 3 is performed using the communication function of the mobile phone 4.
[0011]
The information providing device 2 includes a coupon / advertisement information database (DB) 6 that stores coupon or advertisement information relating to one or more facilities. The information stored in the coupon / advertisement information DB 6 includes not only the online coupon and advertisement information itself, but also POI (Point of Interest) information including accompanying information such as the facility name in addition to the location information of the facility, Information indicating service contents by coupons and advertisements (hereinafter, information such as POIs and service contents are collectively referred to as guidance information) is also included.
[0012]
The information providing device 2 provides coupon or advertisement information stored in the coupon / advertisement information DB 6 to the information acquisition device 1 via the mobile phone network 3. When the navigation device 5 detects arrival at a facility registered in advance, the information acquisition device 1 selectively presents a coupon or advertisement information relating to the arrived facility to the user's mobile phone 4.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of the information acquisition device 1. In the configuration of the navigation device 5 shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a map storage medium such as a DVD-ROM, which stores various map data necessary for map display, route finding, and the like. Here, the DVD-ROM 11 is used as a recording medium for storing map data, but another recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a hard disk may be used. A DVD-ROM control unit 12 controls reading of map data from the DVD-ROM 11.
[0014]
The map data recorded on the DVD-ROM 11 is managed in a hierarchy of units called levels, from a high-level map for overlooking a wide area to a low-level map describing a narrow area in detail. Each level is divided in units of a rectangular area called a section divided by predetermined longitude and latitude. The map data of each section is specified by specifying a section number, and can be read out.
[0015]
The map data for each section includes drawing units consisting of various data required for map display, road units consisting of data necessary for various processes such as map matching, route search, and route guidance, and detailed data of intersections. And an intersection unit comprising: The drawing unit described above includes data of a background layer necessary for displaying a building or a river, and data of a character layer necessary for displaying a municipal name, a road name, and the like. The above-described road unit corresponds to a node corresponding to a point where a plurality of roads intersect, such as an intersection or a branch, and a road or a lane connecting a certain node on the road with another node adjacent thereto. Including links.
[0016]
Reference numeral 13 denotes a position measuring device for measuring the current position of the vehicle, which is composed of a self-contained navigation sensor, a GPS receiver, a position calculation CPU, and the like. The self-contained navigation sensor includes a vehicle speed sensor (distance sensor) that outputs one pulse every predetermined traveling distance, and an angular velocity sensor (relative direction sensor) such as a vibrating gyroscope that detects the rotation angle (movement direction) of the vehicle. . The self-contained navigation sensor detects the travel distance of the vehicle based on the output of the vehicle speed sensor, and detects the relative position and direction of the vehicle based on the travel distance and the output of the angular velocity sensor.
[0017]
The GPS receiver receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites with a GPS antenna, and performs three-dimensional positioning processing or two-dimensional positioning processing to calculate the absolute position and direction of the vehicle. Further, the position calculation CPU calculates the absolute own vehicle position (estimated vehicle position) and the vehicle direction based on the data of the relative position and direction of the own vehicle output from the independent navigation sensor.
[0018]
A map information memory 14 temporarily stores map data read from the DVD-ROM 11 under the control of the DVD-ROM control unit 12. That is, the DVD-ROM control unit 12 inputs the information on the current position of the vehicle and outputs an instruction to read out map data in a predetermined range including the current position of the vehicle, so that the map display and the search for the guidance route can be performed. Data is read from the DVD-ROM 11 and stored in the map information memory 14.
[0019]
Reference numeral 15 denotes an operation unit such as a remote controller (remote controller), which allows the user to set various information (for example, a route guidance destination) on the navigation device 5 and to perform various operations (for example, menu selection operation, enlargement). / Various operations (buttons, joysticks, etc.) for performing a zoom-in / out operation, manual map scrolling, numerical input, and the like. The remote controller 15 is also used when registering a desired facility. Reference numeral 16 denotes a remote controller interface, which receives an infrared signal from the remote controller 15 according to the operation state.
[0020]
Reference numeral 17 denotes a facility information memory which stores information on a desired facility registered by operating the remote controller 15. The facility information registered in the facility information memory 17 includes, for example, the name and location of the facility (position information corresponding to the map data recorded on the DVD-ROM 11).
[0021]
Reference numeral 18 denotes a coupon / advertisement information memory for temporarily storing coupon / advertisement information relating to facilities registered by operating the remote controller 15 among the coupon / advertisement information stored in the coupon / advertisement information DB 6. That is, the facility information registered by the remote controller 15 is notified to the information providing apparatus 2. The information providing device 2 having received the notification searches the coupon / advertisement information stored in the coupon / advertisement information DB 6 for coupon / advertisement information regarding the notified facility, and provides the information acquisition device 1 with the coupon / advertisement information. The information acquisition device 1 stores the coupon / advertisement information provided from the information providing device 2 in the coupon / advertisement information memory 18 of the navigation device 5.
[0022]
A processor (CPU) 19 controls the entire navigation device 5. Reference numeral 20 denotes a ROM, which stores various programs (guide route search processing program, information acquisition / presentation program such as coupon, etc.). A RAM 21 temporarily stores data obtained in the course of various processes and data obtained as a result of various processes.
[0023]
The above-described CPU 19 uses the map data stored in the map information memory 14 to search for a guidance route with the smallest cost from the departure point to the destination according to the guidance route search processing program stored in the ROM 20. I do. The CPU 19 also performs a process of guiding the vehicle to the destination based on the data of the searched guidance route. That is, by controlling the guidance route generation unit 27 described later, the guidance route is drawn thicker in a different color from other roads on the map screen while the vehicle is running, or the vehicle is fixed at a guidance intersection on the guidance route. Guiding the direction of travel when approaching within a distance.
[0024]
The CPU 19 further performs a process of acquiring coupon / advertisement information from the information providing device 2 and presenting the acquired coupon / advertisement information to the user's mobile phone 4 in accordance with a coupon / information acquisition / presentation program stored in the ROM 20.
[0025]
That is, the CPU 19 controls a communication interface 33 described later to obtain coupon / advertisement information on the facility registered by operating the remote controller 15 from the information providing device 2 via the mobile phone 4, and the coupon / advertisement information memory 18 To be stored. Then, when the position measuring device 13 detects that the vehicle has arrived at the facility registered in advance, the arrival of the vehicle is selected from the coupon / advertisement information of each facility stored in the coupon / advertisement information memory 18. The coupon / advertisement information related to the facility is searched and presented to the mobile phone 4.
[0026]
Reference numeral 22 denotes a guidance route memory which stores data of the guidance route searched by the CPU 19. The guidance route data stores the position of each node and an intersection identification flag indicating whether each node is an intersection, corresponding to each node from the departure point to the destination.
[0027]
Reference numeral 23 denotes an intersection enlarged view memory, which temporarily stores enlarged map data of all the guidance target intersections in the guidance route (an enlarged view of an intersection for guiding a vehicle to a destination, an image of a destination, and an arrow of a traveling direction). To be stored. The data of the intersection enlarged view is also appropriately read from the DVD-ROM 11 under the control of the DVD-ROM control unit 12.
[0028]
A display controller 24 generates map image data necessary for display on the display device 30 based on the map data stored in the map information memory 14. Reference numeral 25 denotes a video RAM which temporarily stores map image data generated by the display controller 24. That is, the map image data generated by the display controller 24 is temporarily stored in the video RAM 25, and the map image data for one screen is read and output to the image synthesizing unit 29.
[0029]
Reference numeral 26 denotes a menu generation unit which generates and outputs a menu image necessary for performing various operations using the remote controller 15. Reference numeral 27 denotes a guidance route generating unit which generates guidance route data using the processing result of the guidance route search processing program stored in the guidance route memory 22. In other words, the guidance route data stored in the guidance route memory 22 is selectively read out from the guidance route data contained in the map area drawn on the video RAM 25 at that time, and superimposed on the map image with a predetermined color to emphasize the guidance. Draw a route. Further, when the own vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance from the guidance intersection located ahead of the guidance route, an image of the guide map of the approaching intersection is generated based on the intersection enlarged map data stored in the intersection enlarged map memory 23. And output.
[0030]
Reference numeral 28 denotes a mark generation unit which generates and outputs a vehicle position mark displayed at the vehicle position after the map matching processing, various landmarks indicating a gas station, a convenience store, and the like. Note that the map matching processing includes the map data read out to the map information memory 14, the data of the own vehicle position and the vehicle direction by the GPS receiver measured by the position measuring device 13, and the estimated vehicle by the independent navigation sensor. It refers to a process of correcting the running position of the own vehicle on the road in the map data using the data of the position and the vehicle direction.
[0031]
Reference numeral 29 denotes an image synthesizing unit which synthesizes various images and outputs the synthesized images. That is, image data output from each of the menu generating unit 26, the guide route drawing unit 27, and the mark generating unit 28 are superimposed on the map image data read by the display controller 24 to perform image synthesis. Output to As a result, on the screen of the display device 30, map information around the own vehicle is displayed together with the vehicle position mark, the departure point mark, the destination mark, and the like. A guidance route is displayed on this map, and an enlarged view of the intersection is displayed when the position of the vehicle approaches the vicinity of the intersection.
[0032]
Reference numeral 31 denotes a voice generation unit which generates voices for intersection guidance and various operation guidance voices. Reference numeral 32 denotes a speaker, which outputs the sound generated by the sound generating unit 31 to the outside. A communication interface 33 exchanges data with the mobile phone 4 in a wired or wireless manner. The communication function of the mobile phone 4 is used through the communication interface 33 when a desired facility is registered in the information providing device 2 from the navigation device 5 and coupon / advertisement information is acquired from the information providing device 2. When the coupon / advertisement information provided from the information providing device 2 to the navigation device 5 is presented to the mobile phone 4, the coupon / advertisement information is sent from the navigation device 5 to the mobile phone 4 through the communication interface 33.
[0033]
In the configuration of the mobile phone 4 shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 41 denotes a processor (CPU), which controls the entire mobile phone 4. A ROM 42 stores various programs. Reference numeral 43 denotes a RAM, which temporarily stores data obtained in the course of various processes and data obtained as a result of various processes.
[0034]
A communication interface 44 exchanges data with the navigation device 5 by wire or wirelessly. As described above, when the coupon / advertisement information provided from the information providing device 2 is sent to the navigation device 5 and stored in the coupon / advertisement information memory 18, the coupon / advertisement information stored in the coupon / advertisement information memory 18 is used. Is presented to the mobile phone 4, data is exchanged through the communication interface 44. A communication unit 45 performs data communication with the information providing apparatus 2 via the mobile phone network 3. Reference numeral 46 denotes a display controller, which performs control for displaying coupon / advertisement information transmitted from the navigation device 5 via the communication interface 44 on the display device 47.
[0035]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of the information providing device 2. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 51 denotes a processor (CPU), which controls the entire information providing apparatus 2. A ROM 52 stores various programs. Reference numeral 53 denotes a RAM, which temporarily stores data obtained in various processes and data obtained as a result of various processes.
[0036]
A communication unit 54 performs data communication with the information acquisition device 1 via the mobile phone network 3. For example, it receives information on a desired registered facility from the navigation device 5 of the information acquisition device 1 and transmits the coupon / advertisement information read from the coupon / advertisement information DB 6 to the navigation device 5. Reference numeral 55 denotes a facility information memory, which stores information on a desired facility registered through the communication unit 54 from the navigation device 5 of the information acquisition device 1.
[0037]
Reference numeral 56 denotes a search unit that searches for coupon / advertisement information on a desired facility stored in the facility information memory 55 from the coupon / advertisement information of each facility stored in the coupon / advertisement information DB 6. This search may be performed using the facility name held by the facility information stored in the facility information memory 55 as a keyword, or may be performed using the position information held by the facility information as a keyword.
[0038]
Reference numeral 57 denotes a reading control unit which controls reading of coupon / advertisement information from the coupon / advertisement information DB 6. Specifically, the coupon / advertisement information retrieved by the retrieval unit 56 is read from the coupon / advertisement information DB 6 and supplied to the communication unit 54. The communication unit 54 provides the read coupon / advertisement information to the information acquisition device 1 via the mobile phone network 3.
[0039]
Next, the operation of the information providing system of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information providing system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, the user operates the remote controller 15 to register desired facility information in the facility information memory 17 of the navigation device 5 (step S1). Subsequently, the CPU 19 of the navigation device 5 controls the communication interface 33 to transmit the facility information registered in the facility information memory 17 to the information providing device 2 through the mobile phone 4 (Step S2).
[0040]
The information providing device 2 receives the facility information sent from the navigation device 5 and stores it in the facility information memory 55 (Step S3). The search unit 56 searches the coupon / advertisement information DB 6 using the facility information stored in the facility information memory 55 as a keyword, and controls the readout control unit 57 to extract coupon / advertisement information related to the registered facility (step). S4). Then, the communication unit 54 transmits the extracted coupon / advertisement information to the navigation device 5 through the mobile phone 4 (Step S5).
[0041]
The navigation device 5 receives the coupon / advertisement information sent from the information providing device 2 and stores it in the coupon / advertisement information memory 18 (step S6). In the navigation device 5, the current position is always detected by the position measuring device 13 in order to guide the traveling of the vehicle (step S7). The CPU 19 determines whether the vehicle has arrived at the registered facility based on the current position of the vehicle detected by the position measuring device 13 and the position information of the facility information stored in the facility information memory 17. Is determined (step S8).
[0042]
If the vehicle has not arrived at the registered facility, the process returns to step S7 to continue position detection. On the other hand, when it is detected that the vehicle has arrived at the registered facility, the CPU 19 retrieves the coupon / advertisement information relating to the arrived facility from the coupon / advertisement information memory 18 and provides it to the mobile phone 4 via the communication interface 33. (Step S9). In response, the mobile phone 4 presents the coupon / advertisement information received from the navigation device 5 to the user by displaying it on the display device 47 (step S10).
[0043]
As described above in detail, in the first embodiment, the coupon / advertisement information about the facility registered by the user is received from the information providing device 2 to the navigation device 5, and when the vehicle arrives at the registered facility, Since the corresponding coupon / advertisement information is read and presented on the user's mobile phone 4, if the user registers a desired facility in advance, the coupon / advertisement information is automatically given to the user when the user goes to the facility. Will be presented. Thereby, the coupon and the like can be used effectively without forgetting the user. In addition, it is very convenient because there is no need to access a dedicated website to obtain coupon / advertisement information.
[0044]
In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the coupon / advertisement information is presented to the mobile phone 4 when the vehicle arrives at the registered facility. However, the current position of the vehicle detected by the position measurement device 13 or the current position of the vehicle is displayed. If there is a facility that issues a coupon or the like in the vicinity, it may be presented as needed. For example, of the coupon / advertisement information of each facility stored in the coupon / advertisement information memory 18, information on a facility included in the map area drawn on the video RAM 25 at that time is selectively read, and this is read out from the mobile phone 4. To be presented.
[0045]
In this way, even if the registered facility has not actually arrived, or if the registered facility is merely on the sidewalk, the facility that issues the coupon / advertisement information is approached. Then, the coupon / advertisement information relating to the facility is automatically presented to the user, so that the user can be informed that a coupon or the like can be used.
[0046]
Further, in the first embodiment, an example has been described in which coupon / advertisement information of a registered facility is provided from the information providing apparatus 2 to the navigation apparatus 5 and stored in advance, but is provided when the registered facility is reached. You may do it. In this case, when the navigation device 5 detects that it has arrived at the facility registered in its own facility information memory 17, it notifies the information providing device 2 of the fact. At the time of this notification, the name or location information of the facility that has arrived is also notified.
[0047]
The information providing device 2 that has received the notification searches the coupon / advertisement information DB 6 using the notified facility name or location information as a keyword, extracts coupon / advertisement information related to the relevant facility, and provides the navigation device 5 with it. The navigation device 5 supplies the coupon / advertisement information provided from the information providing device 2 to the mobile phone 4 and presents it to the user. In such a configuration, the facility information memory 55 of the information providing device 2 is unnecessary.
[0048]
Also in this case, the coupon / advertisement information relating to the current position of the vehicle detected by the position measurement device 13 or the surrounding facilities is searched not only when the vehicle arrives at the registered facility but also at any time as described above. The information providing device 2 may provide the navigation device 5 with the information. In this case, the navigation device 5 needs to notify the information providing device 2 of the current position detected by the position measuring device 13 intermittently.
[0049]
In the first embodiment, an example in which a desired facility is registered in advance has been described. However, instead of specifying and registering the facility itself, a desired genre may be specified and registered. good. Registering a desired genre is equivalent to registering a plurality of facilities belonging to the genre all at once.
[0050]
Alternatively, the desired coupon / advertisement information may be provided based on only the current position of the vehicle detected by the position measuring device 13 without registering the desired facility or genre. For example, the navigation device 5 intermittently notifies the information providing device 2 of the current position of the vehicle detected by the position measuring device 13. At the time of this notification, the name or position information of the current position or the surrounding facilities is also notified.
[0051]
The information providing device 2 that has received the notification searches the coupon / advertisement information DB 6 using the notified facility name or location information as a keyword, extracts coupon / advertisement information related to the relevant facility, and provides the navigation device 5 with it. The navigation device 5 supplies the coupon / advertisement information provided from the information providing device 2 to the mobile phone 4 and presents it to the user.
[0052]
Further, in the first embodiment, an example in which only the mobile phone 4 has a communication unit in the information acquisition device 1 and data communication with the information providing device 2 is performed via the mobile phone 4 will be described. However, the navigation device 5 may have a communication unit. In this case, it is possible to directly perform data communication between the navigation device 5 and the information providing device 2.
[0053]
In the first embodiment, the information acquisition device 1 is configured by the mobile phone 4 and the navigation device 5, but instead of the mobile phone 4, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a notebook personal computer, or another mobile terminal is used. You may do it. Recently, portable terminals equipped with a position measuring device such as a GPS receiver have been provided, and some portable terminals can receive simple route guidance by themselves. Such a mobile terminal with a position measuring device may be used alone as the information acquiring device 1.
[0054]
(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The schematic configuration of the information providing system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of FIG. However, the internal configurations of the information acquisition device 1 and the information providing device 2 are different from those of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of the information acquisition device 1 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 5, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 2 have the same functions as each other, and thus redundant description will be omitted here.
[0055]
As shown in FIG. 5, in the second embodiment, a desired facility is not registered by the remote controller 15, and the navigation device 5 does not have a facility information memory. Further, the coupon / advertisement information memory for storing the coupon / advertisement information acquired from the information providing device 2 is not provided.
[0056]
In the second embodiment, when a destination is registered in the guidance route memory 22 by operating the remote controller 15, the CPU 19 controls the communication interface 33 to send the facility name or position information of the destination to the information providing device 2. Notify, and obtain the guidance information of the facility via the mobile phone 4. Further, when the position measurement device 13 detects that the vehicle has arrived at the destination, it controls the communication interface 33 to notify the information providing device 2 of the fact, and transmits the coupon / advertisement information of the arrival destination. Acquired via the mobile phone 4.
[0057]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of the information providing device 2 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 6, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 3 have the same functions as each other, and thus redundant description will be omitted here. As shown in FIG. 6, in the second embodiment, a facility information memory for storing a desired facility registered by the navigation device 5 is not provided.
[0058]
In FIG. 6, when the destination set in the navigation device 5 is notified through the communication unit 54, the search unit 56 searches the coupon / advertisement information DB 6 and outputs the guidance information of the facility corresponding to the destination. Take out. The communication unit 54 provides the guidance information to the navigation device 5 via the mobile phone 4. This notifies the user that coupon / advertisement information exists for the destination.
[0059]
When the navigation device 5 notifies the arrival of the vehicle to the destination via the communication unit 54, the search unit 56 searches the coupon / advertisement information DB 6 to search for the coupon / facility of the facility corresponding to the destination. Retrieve advertising information. The communication unit 54 provides the coupon / advertisement information to the mobile phone 4. Thereby, the coupon / advertisement information of the facility related to the destination is presented to the user through the display device 47 of the mobile phone 4.
[0060]
Next, the operation of the information providing system according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the information providing system according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 7, the user operates the remote controller 15 of the navigation device 5 to set a desired destination (step S11). Subsequently, the CPU 19 of the navigation device 5 controls the communication interface 33 to notify the information providing device 2 of the destination registered in the guidance route memory 22 through the mobile phone 4 (Step S12). This notification is made by transmitting the facility name or the location information of the destination.
[0061]
The information providing device 2 searches the coupon / advertisement information DB 6 by the search unit 56 using the destination information sent from the navigation device 5 as a keyword, and provides guidance for coupon / advertisement information and the like regarding facilities at the destination. Information is extracted (step S13). Then, the communication unit 54 transmits the extracted guidance information to the navigation device 5 through the mobile phone 4 (Step S14).
[0062]
The navigation device 5 receives the guidance information sent from the information providing device 2 and displays the guidance information on the display device 30 so that the existence of the coupon / advertisement information with respect to the set destination and the service content thereof can be determined. The user is notified (step S15).
[0063]
In the navigation device 5, the current position is always detected by the position measuring device 13 in order to guide the traveling of the vehicle (step S16). The CPU 19 determines whether or not the vehicle has arrived at the destination based on the current position of the vehicle detected by the position measuring device 13 and the position information of the destination stored in the guidance route memory 22. (Step S17).
[0064]
If the vehicle has not arrived at the destination, the process returns to step S16 to continue position detection. On the other hand, when it is detected that the vehicle has arrived at the destination, the CPU 19 controls the communication interface 33 to notify the information providing device 2 via the mobile phone 4 that the vehicle has arrived at the destination (step S18). ). This notification is made by arriving at the destination and transmitting the facility name or location information of the destination. The destination facility name or location information does not need to be sent again if the information sent in step S12 is stored in the information providing device 2.
[0065]
The information providing apparatus 2 searches the coupon / advertisement information DB 6 by the search unit 56 using the destination information sent from the navigation apparatus 5 as a keyword, and extracts coupon / advertisement information related to the facility at the destination (step). S19). Then, the communication unit 54 transmits the extracted coupon / advertisement information to the mobile phone 4 (Step S20). The mobile phone 4 receives the coupon / advertisement information sent from the information providing device 2 and displays the coupon / advertisement information on the display device 47, thereby presenting the user with the coupon / advertisement information related to the set destination facility (step). S21).
[0066]
As described in detail above, in the second embodiment, when the user sets a destination for route guidance, when the vehicle arrives at the destination, the corresponding coupon / advertisement information is obtained from the information providing device 2. And present it to the user's mobile phone 4, so that if the user sets a destination to receive a desired route guidance, the coupon / advertisement information is automatically given to the user when the user goes to the destination. Will be presented. Thereby, the coupon and the like can be used effectively without forgetting the user.
[0067]
Further, in the second embodiment, when the user sets a route guidance destination, guidance information on coupon / advertisement information issued by the facility of the destination at that time is acquired from the information providing device 2. As a result, the user can be informed in advance that the coupon / advertisement information can be used for the set destination, and the user can be alerted.
[0068]
In the above-described second embodiment, an example has been described in which coupon / advertisement information relating to a facility at a destination is provided from the information providing apparatus 2 to the information acquiring apparatus 1 upon arrival at the destination. Alternatively, the data may be transmitted from the second device to the navigation device 5 and stored. For example, at the time of step S14 in FIG. 7, the coupon / advertisement information is transmitted to the navigation device 5 together with the guidance information and stored. In this case, when detecting that the navigation device 5 has arrived at the destination, the navigation device 5 reads out the coupon / advertisement information stored therein and presents it to the user's mobile phone 4.
[0069]
In the second embodiment, an example in which only the mobile phone 4 has a communication unit in the information acquisition device 1 and data communication with the information providing device 2 is performed via the mobile phone 4 will be described. However, the navigation device 5 may have a communication unit. In this case, it is possible to directly perform data communication between the navigation device 5 and the information providing device 2.
[0070]
In the second embodiment, the information acquisition device 1 is configured by the mobile phone 4 and the navigation device 5, but instead of the mobile phone 4, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a notebook personal computer, or another mobile terminal is used. You may do it. Recently, portable terminals equipped with a position measuring device such as a GPS receiver have been provided, and some portable terminals can receive simple route guidance by themselves. Such a mobile terminal with a position measuring device may be used alone as the information acquiring device 1.
[0071]
In addition, each of the first and second embodiments is merely an example of the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted in a limited manner. It must not be. That is, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.
[0072]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the current position of the information acquisition device is detected, and, for example, when it is detected that the user has arrived at a desired facility or a destination of movement, the information providing device sends the information to the facility. Since the acquired coupon / advertisement information is presented to the user, when the user goes to the facility that issues the coupon / advertisement information, the coupon / advertisement information that matches the user's preference is automatically automatically generated in real time. It can be presented, and the user can use coupons and advertisements online effectively without forgetting them.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information providing system based on position information according to first and second embodiments.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information acquisition device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the information providing system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information acquisition device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information providing apparatus according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the information providing system according to the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Information acquisition device
2 Information providing device
3 Mobile phone network
4 mobile phones
5 Navigation device
6 coupon / advertisement information DB
11 DVD-ROM
12 DVD-ROM control unit
13 Position measuring device
14 Map information memory
15 Remote control
16 Remote control interface
17 Facility information memory
18 Coupon / Advertising Information Memory
19 CPU
20 ROM
21 RAM
22 Guidance route memory
23 Intersection enlarged map memory
24 Display controller
25 Video RAM
26 Menu generator
27 Guidance route generator
28 Mark generator
29 Image synthesis unit
30 Display device
31 sound generator
32 speakers
33 Communication Interface
41 CPU
42 ROM
43 RAM
44 Communication Interface
45 Communication unit
46 Display controller
47 Display device
51 CPU
52 ROM
53 RAM
54 Communication unit
55 Facility information memory
56 Search section
57 Read control unit

Claims (12)

In a system in which an information providing device and an information acquiring device are communicably connected via a network,
Information storage means such as a coupon for storing coupons or advertisement information relating to one or more facilities in the information providing apparatus;
A coupon or the like information providing means for providing the coupon or advertisement information stored in the coupon or the like information storage means from the information providing device to the information acquiring device,
Position detection means for detecting the current position of the information acquisition device,
Providing information based on position information, comprising: a coupon or other information presenting means for presenting a user with a coupon or advertisement information relating to a current position of the information acquisition device detected by the position detecting means or a facility around the current position. system. A facility registration means for registering a desired facility;
The coupon or the like information providing means searches coupon or advertisement information stored in the coupon or the like information storage means for coupon or advertisement information related to the facility registered by the facility registration means and provides the information to the information acquisition device. And
The coupon etc. information presenting means, when the position detecting means detects arrival at one of the facilities registered by the facility registration means, the coupon of each facility provided by the coupon etc. information providing means. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein a coupon or advertisement information on the arriving facility is retrieved from the advertisement information and presented to the user. A facility registration means for registering a desired facility;
The coupon or other information providing means, when the position detecting means detects arrival at one of the facilities registered by the facility registering means, the coupon or advertisement information stored in the coupon or information storing means. From among the coupons or advertising information related to the arriving facility is searched and provided to the information acquisition device,
The information providing system based on position information according to claim 1, wherein the coupon or other information presenting means presents a coupon or advertisement information provided by the coupon or other information providing means to a user. A destination registration means for registering a desired destination,
The coupon or other information providing means, when the position detection means detects that the destination registered by the destination registration means has been reached, the coupon or advertisement information stored in the coupon or information storage means. From among them, search for a coupon or advertisement information related to the facility at the destination that arrived and provide it to the information acquisition device,
The information providing system based on position information according to claim 1, wherein the coupon or other information presenting means presents a coupon or advertisement information provided by the coupon or other information providing means to a user. A destination registration means for registering a desired destination,
The coupon or other information providing means searches coupon or advertisement information stored in the coupon or information storage means for a coupon or advertisement information relating to a facility at a destination registered by the destination registration means, and retrieves the information. To the acquisition device,
The coupon etc. information presenting means, when the position detecting means detects that the destination registered by the destination registering means has been reached, the destination already provided by the coupon etc. information providing means. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the coupon or the advertisement information is presented to the user. Guidance information providing means for providing guide information on facilities at the destination to the information acquisition device when a desired destination is registered by the destination registration means;
The information providing system based on position information according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising: guide information presenting means for presenting guide information provided by said guide information providing means to a user. An information providing device used in the information providing system according to claim 2,
Information storage means such as the coupon,
Facility information acquisition means for acquiring information about a desired facility registered by the facility registration means,
The coupon or information providing means for searching for a coupon or advertisement information related to the facility acquired by the facility information acquiring means from the coupon or advertising information stored in the coupon or information storing means and providing the information to the information acquiring apparatus. An information providing device comprising: An information providing device used in the information providing system according to claim 4,
Information storage means such as the coupon,
Destination information acquisition means for acquiring information about a desired destination registered by the destination registration means,
Arrival information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to reaching the destination from the information acquisition device,
When the information indicating that the user has arrived at the destination is obtained by the arrival information obtaining means, the coupon or advertisement relating to the facility at the destination is selected from the coupon or advertisement information stored in the information storage means such as the coupon. An information providing device comprising: the information providing means for searching for information and providing the information to the information acquiring device. A guide information providing means for providing guide information on facilities at the destination to the information acquisition device when the information on the desired destination is obtained by the destination information obtaining means. Item 9. The information providing device according to Item 8. It is an information acquisition device used for the information providing system according to claim 2,
The position detecting means,
Said facility registration means,
Coupon or other information acquisition means for acquiring coupons or advertisement information relating to one or more facilities registered by the facility registration means from the information providing device;
When it is detected by the position detecting means that the vehicle has arrived at one of the facilities registered by the facility registering means, the coupon or advertisement information of each facility acquired by the information acquiring means such as the coupon may be used. An information acquiring apparatus comprising: the coupon or other information presenting means for retrieving a coupon or advertisement information relating to an arriving facility and presenting the information to a user. An information acquisition device used in the information providing system according to claim 4,
The position detecting means,
Said destination registration means,
Information such as a coupon for acquiring a coupon or advertising information relating to the facility of the arrival destination from the information providing device when the position detection unit detects that the destination registered by the destination registration unit has been reached. Acquisition means;
An information acquisition apparatus, comprising: the coupon or information presentation means for presenting a coupon or advertisement information acquired by the information acquisition means or the like to a user. When a desired destination is registered by the destination registration means, guidance information acquisition means for acquiring guidance information on facilities at the destination from the information acquisition device,
The information acquisition apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: guidance information presenting means for presenting guidance information acquired by the guidance information acquiring means to a user.

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