INFORMATION PROVISION METHOD AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD
An information providing method includes: transmitting, in response to a user's access using a display terminal, first display data, including multiple check items to be used by the user who is choosing a service provider to be allowed to use a target device's log information to check the reliability of that service provider, to a display terminal; receiving selection information representing a set of selected check items including at least one check item selected from the check items included in the first display data using the display terminal; transmitting second display data representing a set of reference check items including, among multiple check items received from other users' terminals, check items which are either similar to, or the same as, check items included in the set of selected check items represented by the selection information, to the display terminal; afterward receiving editing information representing an edited set of check items obtained by editing the set of selected check items, from the display terminal after that; and providing the log information to a computer of the service provider who has been chosen based on the edited set of check items.
The present application relates to an information providing method and information processing method for use in an information management system to provide services by reference to the log information of a target device.
BACKGROUND ARTPeople have studied systems for collecting log information from a target device such as a consumer electronic device in a general household and providing services by reference to the log information thus collected. For example, Patent Document No. 1 mentions a system for aiding a consumer in maintaining his or her electronic device, and Patent Document No. 2 mentions a system for estimating the degree of deterioration of an air conditioner's performance.
CITATION LIST Patent LiteraturePatent Document No. 1: Japanese Patent No. 4559195
Patent Document No. 2: Japanese Patent No. 4206953
SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical ProblemHowever, such systems have not been realized yet and future studies and further improvements are needed to put those systems into practical use. Among other things, nobody has ever addressed a problem which should arise when the user is choosing a service provider who will be allowed to use log information in a system which is designed to collect the log information of a target device and give out that information to the service provider.
Solution to ProblemTo overcome the problem described above, an information providing method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is designed to be used in an information management system which collects log information from a target device through a network and provides services by reference to the log information. The method includes transmitting, in response to a user's access using a display terminal, first display data to the display terminal. The first display data includes a plurality of check items to be used by the user who is choosing a service provider to be allowed to use the log information to check the reliability of the service provider. The method further includes: receiving selection information representing a set of selected check items including at least one check item that has been selected from the plurality of check items included in the first display data using the display terminal; and transmitting second display data representing a set of reference check items to the display terminal. The set of reference check items includes, among a plurality of check items that have been received from a number of other users' terminals, check items which are either similar to, or the same as, check items that are included in the set of selected check items represented by the selection information. The method further includes receiving editing information representing an edited set of check items obtained by editing the set of selected check items by reference to the set of reference check items represented by the second display data at the display terminal, from the display terminal, and providing the target device's log information to a computer of the service provider who has been chosen based on the edited set of check items.
An information processing method according to another aspect of the present disclosure is designed to be used in an information management system which collects log information from a target device through a network and provides services by reference to the log information. The method is defined to make a computer built in a display terminal for use in the information management system present information based on first display data on a display screen. The first display data includes a plurality of check items to be used by the user who is choosing a service provider to be allowed to use the log information to check the reliability of the service provider. The computer is also made to transmit selection information, representing a set of selected check items including at least one check item that has been selected from the plurality of check items, to a server in the information management system. The computer is further made to receive second display data representing a set of reference check items belonging to a plurality of check items that have been received from a number of other users' terminals. The set of reference check items includes check items which the server of the information management system has found either similar to, or the same as, check items that are included in the set of selected check items represented by the selection information. And the computer is made to present the set of reference check items represented by the second display data on the display screen and present the set of selected check items in an editable state on the display screen.
These general and particular aspects are implementable as a system, method or a computer program or a combination thereof.
Advantageous Effects of InventionAccording to an aspect of the present disclosure, when a service provider who is going to be allowed to use a target device's log information is being chosen, materials for checking the reliability of that service provider is provided for the user. As a result, a system for providing services by reference to a target device's log information can be further improved.
First of all, the findings that form the basis of the present disclosure will be described.
In implementing a system for collecting log information from a target device and giving out that information to a service provider (which will be sometimes hereinafter referred to as an “information management system” or a “service providing system”), it is risky to leave the choice of a service provider who will be allowed to use the log information only to a company who collects the log information. If the log information collected could be given to a service provider that the user does not like, he or she couldn't give out his or her log information with confidence. That is why there should be demands for choosing a service provider who will be allowed to use the log information by the user him- or herself who gives out the log information.
Meanwhile, it is not clear for the user exactly how to check the reliability of the service provider, because the criterion to check the reliability is indefinite. Even if the user has handpicked a service provider who will be allowed to use the log information, he or she cannot be 100% confident that he or she has made the right decision.
Thus, it occurred to the present inventors that if a person who is going to check the reliability of a service provider who will be allowed to use his or her log information can refer to the criteria of decision that have been thought to be important by other people, he or she will be more confident about his or her decision.
There is a search aiding system which allows the user to understand the contents of, and correct, a search expression more easily by representing the logical combination of the search expression by the relative positions of data items in a tree structure when a database is searched with those data items that form the database (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-123578, for example). However, the technique disclosed in this document is nothing but a technique for searching information in a database with a data item or search expression that the user has selected by him- or herself. According to such a technique, the user cannot see what data items are selected by other users who are searching information in the same database for a similar purpose to his or hers.
In view of these considerations, the present inventors propose the following measures in order to improve the functionality of a service providing system.
An information providing method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is designed to be used in an information management system which collects log information from a target device through a network and provides services by reference to the log information. The method includes transmitting, in response to a user's access using a display terminal, first display data to the display terminal. The first display data includes a plurality of check items to be used by the user who is choosing a service provider to be allowed to use the log information to check the reliability of the service provider. The method further includes: receiving selection information representing a set of selected check items including at least one check item that has been selected from the plurality of check items included in the first display data using the display terminal; and transmitting, among a plurality of check items that have been received from a number of other users' terminals, second display data representing a set of reference check items to the display terminal. The set of reference check items includes check items which are either similar to, or the same as, check items that are included in the set of selected check items represented by the selection information. The method further includes receiving, by reference to the set of reference check items represented by the second display data at the display terminal, editing information representing an edited set of check items, obtained by editing the set of selected check items, from the display terminal, and giving the target device's log information to a computer of the service provider who has been chosen based on the edited set of check items.
In one embodiment, the information providing method includes determining, when the selection information is received, by reference to the plurality of check items that have been received from those other users' terminals, whether or not any other user has selected check items that are either similar to, or the same as, check items included in the set of selected check items represented by the selection information, and if the answer is yes, transmitting the second display data representing the set of reference check items to the display terminal.
In one embodiment, the information providing method includes transmitting, when the editing information is received, information about the number of other users who have selected the edited set of check items represented by that editing information to the display terminal.
In one embodiment, the set of reference check items includes at least a half of the check items that are included in the set of selected check items.
In one embodiment, the set of reference check items includes check items, of which the grade indicating a degree of similarity exceeds a predetermined grade. The degree of similarity is calculated based on the contents and arrangement order of those check items that are included in the plurality of check items received from those other users' terminals and on the contents and arrangement order of those check items that are included in the set of selected check items.
In one embodiment, the information providing method includes transmitting, when the editing information is received, third display data, including information about at least one service provider who deals with the edited set of check items represented by that editing information, to the display terminal. The third display data includes purpose of use information about the purpose for which each service provider is going to use that log information.
In one embodiment, the purpose of use information includes at least one item indicating for what purpose the log information is going to be used. The information providing method includes transmitting, when the choice of a service provider and a purpose of use that has been made through the display terminal is accepted, information about a period of time for which the service provider chosen is allowed to use the log information for the purpose of use to the display terminal.
In one embodiment, the third display data further includes purpose of use information about a purpose for which each service provider is going to use the log information and period-of-use information about a period of time for which each service provider is allowed to use the log information for that purpose of use.
In one embodiment, the target device includes a consumer electronic device that the user owns.
In one embodiment, the target device includes a first automatic ticket gate installed at a first railway station and a second automatic ticket gate installed at a second railway station. The log information includes entering history information indicating that the user has passed through the first automatic ticket gate to enter the first railway station from outside of the gate and leaving history information indicating that the user has passed through the second automatic ticket gate to leave the second railway station from inside of the gate. The entering history information includes a user ID by which the user is identifiable, first passage time information about a point in time when the user passed through the first automatic ticket gate, and a first railway station ID by which the first railway station is identifiable. And the leaving history information includes a user ID by which the user is identifiable, second passage time information about a point in time when the user passed through the second automatic ticket gate, and a second railway station ID by which the second railway station is identifiable.
An information processing method according to another aspect of the present disclosure is designed to be used in an information management system which collects log information from a target device through a network and provides services by reference to the log information. The method is defined to make a computer built in a display terminal for use in the information management system present information based on first display data on a display screen. The first display data includes a plurality of check items to be used by the user who is choosing a service provider to be allowed to use the log information to check the reliability of the service provider. The computer is also made to transmit selection information, representing a set of selected check items including at least one check item that has been selected from the plurality of check items, to a server in the information management system. The computer is further made to receive second display data representing a set of reference check items belonging to a plurality of check items that have been received from a number of other users' terminals. The set of reference check items includes check items which the server of the information management system has found either similar to, or the same as, check items that are included in the set of selected check items represented by the selection information. And the computer is made to present the set of reference check items represented by the second display data on the display screen and present the set of selected check items in an editable state on the display screen.
In one embodiment of the information processing method, the computer is further made to transmit editing information, representing an edited set of check items obtained by editing the set of selected check items, to the server of the information management system, and the edited set of check items is obtained by adding at least some check items, which are included in the set of reference check items presented on the display screen, to the set of selected check items.
In one embodiment of the information processing method, the computer is further made to receive the first display data and present the plurality of check items, represented by the first display data received, on the display screen.
In one embodiment of the information processing method, the computer is further made to present the set of selected check items on the display screen in parallel with the set of reference check items being presented on the display screen.
In one embodiment of the information processing method, the computer is further made to receive third display data, including information about at least one service provider who deals with the edited set of check items represented by the editing information, from the server of the information management system, and present the information about the at least one service provider on the display screen based on the third display data.
In one embodiment, the third display data includes purpose of use information about a purpose for which the at least one service provider is going to use the log information, and the information presented based on the third display data includes an indicator button indicating the purpose for which the at least one service provider is going to use the log information.
In one embodiment, the third display data includes purpose of use information about a purpose for which the at least one service provider is going to use the log information, and the information presented based on the third display data includes at least one item indicating the purpose for which the at least one service provider is going to use the log information.
In one embodiment, the third display data includes purpose of use information about a purpose for which the at least one service provider is going to use the log information. The information presented based on the third display data includes at least one item indicating the purpose for which the at least one service provider is going to use the log information. When a service provider who is going to be allowed to use the log information is chosen from the at least one service provider presented, the computer is further made to present the at least one item indicating the purpose for which the service provider chosen is going to use the log information on the display screen.
In one embodiment of the information processing method, the third display data includes purpose of use information about a purpose for which the at least one service provider is going to use the log information. The information presented based on the third display data includes an indicator button indicating the purpose for which the at least one service provider is going to use the log information. The computer is further made to present at least one item indicating the purpose for which the log information is going to be used on the display screen when the indicator button is pressed. The computer is further made to transmit information about a service provider who has been chosen from the at least one service provider and information about an item which has been selected from the at least one item indicating the purpose for which the log information is going to be used to the server in the information management system, and receive information about a period of time for which the service provider chosen is allowed to use the log information for the item selected from the server of the information management system.
In one embodiment of the information processing method, the computer is further made to transmit information about a service provider who has been chosen from the at least one service provider and information about an item which has been selected from the at least one item indicating the purpose for which the log information is going to be used to the server in the information management system. The computer is further made to receive information about a period of time for which the service provider chosen is allowed to use the log information for the item selected from the server of the information management system.
In one embodiment, the third display data includes purpose of use information about a purpose for which the at least one service provider is going to use the log information and period-of-use information about a period of time for which use of the log information is allowed for that purpose of use, and information presented based on the third display data further includes an indicator button indicating the period of time for which the log information is usable for the purpose of use.
In one embodiment, the third display data includes purpose of use information about a purpose for which the at least one service provider is going to use the log information and period-of-use information about a period of time for which use of the log information is allowed for that purpose of use, and information presented based on the third display data further includes at least one item indicating the purpose for which the at least one service provider is going to use the log information and information about the period of time for which the log information is usable for the purpose of use.
In one embodiment, when a service provider who is going to be allowed to use the log information is chosen from the at least one service provider presented, the computer is further made to present information about the purpose for which the service provider chosen is going to use the log information and information about a period of time for which the log information is usable for the purpose of use on the display screen.
In one embodiment, the target device includes a consumer electronic device that the user owns.
In one embodiment, the target device includes a first automatic ticket gate installed at a first railway station and a second automatic ticket gate installed at a second railway station. The log information includes entering history information indicating that the user has passed through the first automatic ticket gate to enter the first railway station from outside of the gate and leaving history information indicating that the user has passed through the second automatic ticket gate to leave the second railway station from inside of the gate. The entering history information includes a user ID by which the user is identifiable, first passage time information about a point in time when the user passed through the first automatic ticket gate, and a first railway station ID by which the first railway station is identifiable. The leaving history information includes a user ID by which the user is identifiable, second passage time information about a point in time when the user passed through the second automatic ticket gate, and a second railway station ID by which the second railway station is identifiable.
In this description, the terms are defined as follows:
The target device refers herein to a device which uses electric power for its heat source, light source or power source and from which information needs to be collected. The target device may be a consumer electronic device for use at home or in office or some device to be installed for business use at a railway station or at a store. Examples of consumer electronic devices include fridges, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, air cleaners, TV sets, recorders/players, audio reproduction equipment, illuminators, hair dryers, and electric cookware. Examples of those devices for business use include automatic ticket gates to be installed at a railway station and cash registers (cashiers) to be installed at a store.
The log information refers herein to a record concerning the processing or operation that the target device has performed and the manipulations that the user has made on the target device. The log information may include various kinds of information that can be obtained from the target device such as information about the operation status or operation date and time of the target device. Examples of the log information include the viewing history of TV programs, the recording schedule of a recorder, the date and time of operation of a washing machine and the load of laundry put into the washing machine, the date and time and number of times a fridge was opened and closed, the history of a person's entering and leaving railway stations through automatic ticket gates, and the history of purchase at a cash register.
The user refers herein to a person who uses the service providing system, more specifically, a person who receives a service based on the log information given out or a person who does various settings about the log information given out using a service providing system. Such settings include the user's manipulation of choosing a service provider whom he or she allows to use the log information of the target device. In a general household, the head of the family who signed the contract with a service providing system may be the “user”. For business use, on the other hand, a company, corporation or natural person who signed the contract with a service providing system may be the “user”. If the target device is a consumer electronic device, the “user” in a general household is the person who owns the consumer electronic device, of which the log information will be given out, and the family members (including the “user” him- or herself) are the persons who use that consumer electronic device. The “user” may be the same as, or different from, the person who uses the consumer electronic device. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the “user” is supposed to be the same as the person who uses the consumer electronic device for convenience sake. However, they may be different from each other. On the other hand, if the target device is a device for business use such as an automatic ticket gate installed at a railway station or a cashier installed at a store, the person who owns that device is different from the “user”.
The display data refers herein to any arbitrary kind of data to be presented on a display screen. The form of the data is not limited to any particular one, but may be data in XML (Exchangeable Markup Language) form, text data, or image data, for example. The “display data” may be numerical value data which is not compliant with any existent data form. If the display terminal constitutes a user interface that receives and presents the numerical value data, the numerical value data can be said to be “display data”.
The display terminal refers herein to an information device with the ability to present information on a display screen. The “display terminal” may be not only a device with a built-in display screen but also a device which presents information on an external display screen. Examples of the “display terminals” include smartphones, tablet terminals, cellphones, laptop computers, desktop computers, and dedicated display terminals. Alternatively, a consumer electronic device with a display screen (such as a fridge, a washing machine or a TV set) may also be used as a “display terminal”. Such a consumer electronic device not only outputs log information but also can perform a service provider choosing operation according to the present disclosure.
The cloud server refers herein to a computer or storage medium which is connected to a display terminal so as to communicate with the display terminal through a network and which feeds the display terminal with information that is needed for the user to choose a company to be allowed to use the log information. The “cloud server” is typically implemented as a combination of a general-purpose computer and software (i.e., a computer program) to perform the operation described above.
The network refers herein to a network which is made up of telecommunications lines. Examples of the “network” include the Internet, dedicated lines and LANs (local area networks).
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Each of the embodiments to be described below shows a specific example of the present disclosure. The numerical values, shapes, components, steps and order of steps to be adopted in those embodiments are just examples and are never intended to limit the scope of the technique of the present disclosure. Also, among the components to be mentioned in the following description of embodiments, components which are not described in any independent claim at the time of filing of the present application will be described as arbitrary components. Furthermore, what will be described herein as embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in any arbitrary combination.
1. Outline of Services Provided
First of all, the services provided by a service providing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
The user group 100 may be a company, an association or a household, for example, and may have any size. The user group 100 includes a plurality of consumer electronic devices 101 including Devices A and B and a home gateway 102. Each of the plurality of consumer electronic devices 101 has a telecommunication function and can transmit and receive data to/from other devices. The plurality of consumer electronic devices 101 may include devices with configuration and ability to be connected directly to the Internet and devices without such configuration or ability. Examples of devices of the former type include smartphones, tablet terminals, dedicated display terminals, personal computers (PCs) and TV sets. Examples of the devices of the latter type include illuminators, washing machines and fridges. As can be seen, there may be a plurality of devices which can be connected to the Internet through the home gateway 102. The plurality of consumer electronic devices 101 in the user group 100 may be used by one or more users 10. It should be noted that the users 10 are illustrated just for the sake of convenience and actually do not form part of this service providing system.
The home gateway 102 receives log information about the device's operation from each of the plurality of consumer electronic devices 101 and transmits the log information to a cloud server 111. The home gateway 102 accumulates the log information and feeds that log information accumulated to the cloud server 111 once a day, for example.
Although only one home gateway 102 is illustrated in
The data center operating company 110 includes the cloud server 111, which is a virtualization server that operates in cooperation with various devices through the Internet, for example. The cloud server 111 manages a group of data of huge sizes that are too big to handle with any existent general technology (i.e., so-called “big data”) such as an ordinary database management tool. The data center operating company 110 makes data management, management of the cloud server 111 and operates a data center that makes those managements. The role played by the data center operating company 110 will be described in detail later.
The data center operating company 110 does not have to be a company which makes only the data management or manages the cloud server 111.
The cloud server 111 may be implemented as not only a piece of hardware such as a computer but also a piece of software in which the function that the cloud server 111 needs to have is programmed.
The service provider 120 has a server 121. In this description, the “server” 121 refers herein to a computer or storage medium with the ability to provide either data or services based on that data. As long as the server 121 has that ability, its size is not particularly limited. For example, considering that data can be provided using a person's PC, either that person's PC itself or a storage medium such as a memory built in the person's PC may also be a “server”. In some cases, the service provider 120 may have no servers 121.
It should be noted that the home gateway 102 is not an essential component for the server providing system described above. For example, if the cloud server 111 manages every piece of data, no home gateway 102 is needed. Also, if each and every device in a household has configuration and function to be connected to the Internet (i.e., if there are no devices that cannot be connected to the Internet by themselves), the home gateway 102 may also be omitted. In that case, the log information may be given out directly to the cloud server 111 by a plurality of consumer electronic devices 101 through the Internet.
Next, it will be described how and where information flows according to these services.
First of all, either Device A or B in the user group 100 transmits its own log information to the cloud server 111 in the data center operating company 110. In response, the cloud server 111 receives and accumulates the log information that has been sent by Device A or B (as indicated by the arrow (a) in
Next, the cloud server 111 of the data center operating company 110 feeds the log information accumulated on a constant unit basis to the service provider 120. In this case, the “constant unit” may be either a unit on which the data center operating company can sort out the information accumulated and feed it to the service provider 120 or a unit required by the service provider 120. Even though the log information accumulated is supposed to be fed “on a constant unit basis”, sometimes the log information may not be fed on a constant unit basis. Rather, depending on the situation, the amount of log information fed may vary. The log information is saved as needed in the server 121 that the service provider 120 has (as indicated by the arrow (b) in
The service provider 120 sorts out the log information into a type of information that matches the service to be provided for the users, and provides that information for the users. The users to be provided with that information may be either the users 10 who use or own the plurality of consumer electronic devices 101 or external users 20. As to how to provide services for the users, the service provider 120 may directly provide the services for the users (as indicated by the arrows (b) and (e) in
It should be noted that the users 10 may or may not be identical with the users 20. Also, not all of the plurality of consumer electronic devices 101, the cloud server 110 and the server 121 have to be installed in the same country. For example, all of the plurality of consumer electronic devices 101 may be installed in Japan, but the cloud server 111 and the server 121 may be installed in the United States, or vice versa. If at least one of the cloud server 111 and server 121 provides a result of analysis in response to the user's manipulation (or control) and if the user can check out the result of analysis on a display terminal such as a PC, it can be said that the user is enjoying the benefits of that system in his or her own country. In that case, it is substantially no different from a situation where the system is installed within a single country.
It should be noted that when the log information is collected (as indicated by the arrows (a) and (b) in
The station 1100 is a railway station run by the railway company 1110 and has a plurality of automatic ticket gates 1101 including Ticket Gates A and B. Each of those ticket gates has the ability to open the gate by sensing an IC ticket card approach. The store 2100 may be a convenience store, for example, and has one or more cashiers 2101 including Cashier C which accepts payment with an IC ticket card. Each of the automatic ticket gates 1101 and cashiers 2101 has a telecommunication function, and can transmit information about the history of use to the cloud server 111 managed by the railway company 1110. Although not shown in
In this example, the railway company 1110 functions as the data center operating company 110 described above, and manages the log information which has been collected from the automatic ticket gates 1101 and the cashiers 2101 using the cloud server 111. The log information of the automatic ticket gates 1101 may include entering history information indicating that the user 10 has passed through a first automatic ticket gate installed at a first railway station to enter the first railway station from outside of the gate and leaving history information indicating that the user 10 has passed through a second automatic ticket gate installed at a second railway station to leave the second railway station from inside of the gate. The log information of the cashier 2101 may include purchase history information about the types and quantities of products which have been purchased with an IC ticket card.
Such log information is sent to the cloud server 111, which further forwards the information to the service provider's (120) server 121 where the information is used. The service provider 120 sorts out the log information into information that matches the kind of the service to provide, and provides that information for the user. The user to be provided with that information may be the user 10 who holds the IC ticket card or another user 20.
As can be seen, the target device from which the log information is collected does not have to be a consumer electronic device but may also be device for business use such as an automatic ticket gate or a cashier. Optionally, the same technique is also applicable to a different type of target device such as an IC card reader which is installed inside a bus instead of the automatic ticket gates at a railway station.
2. Outline of Operation of Choosing Service Provider
Next, the operation of choosing a service provider according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be outlined.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the user 10 shown in
On receiving the first display data, the terminal presents the checklist on the display screen. In this case, the terminal presents the checklist so as to allow the user to select at least one of a plurality of check items. In the following description, at least one check item selected by the user will be hereinafter referred to as a “set of selected check items”. Once the set of selected check items has been determined by the user (in Step S3), the terminal transmits information about the set of selected check items (which will be hereinafter referred to as “selection information”) to the server (in Step S4).
On receiving the selection information, the server extracts a set of check items which is similar to the set of selected check items from multiple sets of check items that have been received from other users' terminals (i.e., sets of check items that have been determined by other users) (in Step S5). The set of check items extracted in this process step will be hereinafter referred to as a “set of reference check items”. A single set of reference check items is not always extracted but sometimes multiple sets of reference check items may be extracted. It should be noted that the set of reference check items is a set of check items including check items that are either similar to, or the same as, the check items that are included in the set of selected check items represented by the selection information. A specific method of determining the set of reference check items will be described later. The server transmits second display data including the set of reference check items extracted to the terminal (in Step S6).
On receiving the second display data, the terminal presents the set of reference check items that are included in the second display data on the display screen. In this case, the terminal presents the set of reference check items so as to allow the user to edit the set of selected check items by reference to the set of reference check items. Such a set of check items that has been obtained by the user by editing (i.e., changing) the set of selected check items will be hereinafter referred to as a “edited set of check items”. Once the user has determined the edited set of check items (in Step S7), the user transmits information about the edited set of check items (which will be hereinafter referred to as “editing information”) to the server (in Step S8).
Next, on receiving the edited set of check items, the server determines at least one service provider by reference to that information. In this case, the server may transmit information about that service provider to the terminal to prompt the user to make another choice or may decide to transmit the log information to that service provider's computer. In any case, the server transmits the log information to the computer of the service provider that has been chosen by reference to the edited set of check items (in Step S9). At an appropriate timing before performing the processing step S9, the server has collected the log information from the consumer electronic device 101.
When the first display data is transmitted in Step S2 from the server to the terminal, the terminal presents a set of check items on the display screen as shown in portion (a) of
Information about the set of selected check items that has been determined in this manner (i.e., selection information) is transmitted to the server in Step S4. In response, the server determines a set of reference check items in Step S5 based on the set of selected check items. In this case, the server searches multiple sets of check items that have been collected from multiple other users' terminals to find and extract at least one set that is similar to the set of selected check items and then transmits that set as second display data to the terminal. The number of sets of check items to be extracted in this process step does not have to be one but may also be more than one. Those sets of check items to be compared have been determined by other users and are stored in a database. The degree of similarity may be determined by checking out how many check items belonging to a given set are either the same as, or similar to, the ones included in the set of selected check items. For example, if a given set of check items has turned out to include a half or more of the check items that form the set of selected check items, then the server may find that set of check items “similar to” the set of selected check items. Alternatively, if a grade indicating the degree of similarity between those two sets exceeds a predetermined grade, then the server may find that set of check items “similar to” the set of selected check items. In this case, the degree of similarity is calculated based on the contents and arrangement order of check items that are included in the set of check items to be compared and on the contents and arrangement order of check items that are included in the set of selected check items. The set of reference check items just needs to include some check items that are either the same as, or similar to, the ones included in the set of selected check items among a number of check items that have been received from other users' terminals. And the set of reference check items may be determined in any arbitrary manner.
Next, on receiving the second display data that has been transmitted from the server, the terminal presents a set of reference check items, represented by the second display data, on the display screen in Step S6 as shown in portion (b) of
As can be seen from the foregoing description, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in choosing a service provider who the user is going to allow to use log information, the user can make a decision not only based on his or her own criterion but also by reference to other users' criteria as well. As a result, the user can notice an important criterion that he or she should miss if he or she made a decision solely by him- or herself, and therefore, can choose a service provider more carefully and more appropriately.
Optionally, on receiving the editing information, the server may transmit information about the number of other users who have selected the edited set of check items represented by the editing information to the display terminal. Also, on receiving the editing information, the server may transmit third display data, including information about at least one service provider who deals with the edited set of check items represented by that editing information, to the display terminal. In this case, the third display data may further include purpose of use information about the purpose for which each service provider is going to use that log information. The purpose of use information may include at least one item indicating for what purpose the log information is going to be used. In such an embodiment, on accepting the choice of a service provider and a purpose of use that has been made through the display terminal, the server may transmit information about a period of time for which the service provider chosen is allowed to use the log information for the purpose of use to the display terminal. Alternatively, the third display data may include not only the purpose of use information about a purpose for which each service provider is going to use the log information but also period-of-use information about a period of time for which each service provider is allowed to use the log information for that purpose of use.
In an embodiment in which the server receives the editing information and then transmits the third display data, including information about the service provider, to the terminal, the terminal can present the information about the service provider on the display screen based on the third display data received. If the third display data includes purpose of use information about a purpose for which the service provider is going to use the log information, an indicator button indicating the purpose of use may be displayed on the display screen. In such an embodiment, by pressing the indicator button, the user can get the purpose of use presented on the display screen. Or instead of displaying such an indicator button, when a service provider who is going to be allowed to use the log information is chosen from at least one service provider presented, at least one item indicating the purpose for which the service provider chosen is going to use the log information may be presented on the display screen. Also, when the user chooses a service provider and the purpose of use, the terminal may transmit those pieces of information about his or her choice to the server and may receive information about the period for which that service provider is allowed to use the log information for that purpose of use from the server. In this manner, the period-of-use information can be presented and the user can be prompted to choose the period of use. The period-of-use information may be presented when the indicator button indicating that period-of-use information is pressed by the user.
According to such an embodiment, the user can not only choose a service provider but also specify the purpose and period for which the log information will be used. As a result, the log information can be given out with the user's intention further respected.
Next, more specific embodiments that are based on the basic idea described above will be described.
3. Service Providing System According to Embodiment 1
The cloud server 200 includes a storage medium which stores a computer program 250, a CPU which executes the program 250, and a number of databases (DBs), which include a selection criterion DB 210, a similarity selection criterion DB 220, a company DB 230 and a user information DB 240. The cloud server 200 has the ability to collect log information from a plurality of consumer electronic devices 101 in the user group 100 and transmit that information to the computer of a service provider 400 which will be allowed to use the log information. The cloud server 200 also communicates with the display terminal 300 through a network and feeds the display terminal 300 with necessary information which will be referred to by the user in choosing a service provider who will be allowed to use the log information.
3.1 Configuration of Cloud Server 200The communications circuit 290 communicates with other communications devices (such as the communications circuit of the display terminal 300 shown in
The CPU 270 controls the operation of the cloud server 200, and performs a group of instructions which are described in the computer program 250 that has been loaded in the memory 260. As a result, the CPU 270 can perform various functions. The computer program 250 describes a group of instructions that should be carried out to allow the cloud server 200 to perform the operation to be described later.
The computer program 250 may be circulated as a product on the market by being recorded on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or downloaded through a telecommunications line such as the Internet. When loaded with the computer program 250, a device including the hardware shown in
Optionally, the CPU 270 and the memory 260 that stores the computer program 250 may also be implemented as a piece of hardware such as a DSP (digital signal processor) in which a computer program has been installed in a single semiconductor circuit. Such a DSP can carry out all by itself (i.e., by a single integrated circuit) every processing to be performed by the CPU 270 when executing the computer program 250 described above. Thus, the CPU 270 and memory 260 shown in
Next, the functional configuration to be realized by the processor 280 will be described with reference to
The check item list getting section 282 accesses the selection criterion DB 210 to get a list of check items which will be used as a criterion in checking the reliability of a service provider. The similar check item getting section 283 accesses the similarity selection criterion DB 220 to get check items that have been determined by other users. The company information getting section 284 accesses the company information DB 230 to get information about a company that is the service provider. The user information saving section 285 saves information about the user who is using the service providing system in the user information DB 240. The user information getting section 286 gets recorded user information from the user information DB 240. The log information converting section 287 converts the log information that has been collected from the consumer electronic devices into the form required by the service provider. The control section 281 controls the respective elements of the cloud server 200, thereby performing various kinds of processing that should be carried out to collect log information, choose a service provider who will be allowed to use the log information, and to give out the log information to the service provider. Although the four databases 210, 220, 230 and 240 are supposed to be provided inside the cloud server 200 in this embodiment, those databases 210, 220, 230 and 240 may also be provided outside of the cloud server 200. In that case, the cloud server 200 may be configured to get necessary information from those databases through a network and save that information.
3-2. Configuration of Display Terminal 300Next, the configuration and function of the display terminal 300 will be described.
The user interface 310 is an input device which accepts an instruction that has been entered by the user, and may be implemented as a touchscreen, a hardware button, a keyboard, a mouse, or a combination thereof. The display device 320 is a device which displays a requested image in accordance with the instruction given by the processor 340. The display device 320 may be implemented as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. If a touchscreen is adopted as the display device 320, then the display device 320 also functions as the user interface 310.
The communications circuit 350 communicates with other communications devices (such as the communications circuit 290 of the cloud server 200) over a network. The communications circuit 290 makes communications compliant with the Ethernet™ standard, for example.
The CPU 341 controls the operation of the display terminal 300, and performs a group of instructions which are described in the computer program 343 that has been loaded in the memory 342. As a result, the CPU 341 can perform various functions. The computer program 343 describes a group of instructions that should be carried out to allow the display terminal 300 to perform the operation to be described later.
The computer program 343 may be circulated as a product on the market by being recorded on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or downloaded through a telecommunications line such as the Internet. If the display terminal 300 is implemented as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, the computer program 343 may be either put on sale or provided free of charge as an application. Alternatively, when loaded with this computer program 343, any other device including the hardware shown in
Optionally, the CPU 341 and the memory 342 that stores the computer program 343 may also be implemented as a piece of hardware such as a DSP (digital signal processor) in which a computer program has been installed in a single semiconductor circuit. Such a DSP can carry out all by itself (i.e., by a single integrated circuit) every processing to be performed by the CPU 341 when executing the computer program 343 described above. Thus, the CPU 341 and memory 342 shown in
Next, the functional configuration to be realized by the processor 340 will be described with reference to
The on-screen image generating section 347 generates an image to be presented on the display device 320. The transmission data generating section 348 generates data to be transmitted over the network through the communications circuit 350. The control section 346 controls the respective elements of the display terminal 300, thereby performing various kinds of processing that should be carried out to determine a service provider who will be allowed to use the log information.
3-3. Configurations of DatabasesNext, exemplary configurations of the respective databases according to this embodiment will be described.
The table 220b shown in
The table 220c shown in
Specifically, on the table 240a shown in
On the table 240b shown in
It should be noted that the configurations of the databases described above are just an example. The databases may have any other configurations as long as the operation to be described below can get done.
3-4. OperationNext, it will be described with reference to
First of all, look at
When the user logs in a user dedicated website provided by a cloud server (log information management server) 200 using a display terminal 300, a user management on-screen image is presented on the display screen as shown in portion (a) of
On receiving the request from the display terminal 300, the cloud server 200 extracts a check item list by reference to the selection criterion DB 210 (in Step S103), and then transmits the check item list extracted to the display terminal 300 over a network (in Step S104).
On receiving the check item list, the reception terminal 300 presents it on the display screen (in Step S105). In this process step, the display terminal 300 presents the list so as to allow the user to select at least one check item. For example, an on-screen image such as the one shown in
In the example shown in
Next, it will be described with reference to
On receiving information about the set of selected check items, the cloud server 200 accesses the similarity selection criterion DB 220 to search for a set of check items (i.e., a set of reference check items) which is similar to the set of selected check items (in Step S201). The degree of similarity may be determined by the method that has already been described with reference to
On receiving information about the set of reference check items, the display terminal 300 presents that information on the display screen (in Step S206). In this process step, the display terminal 300 presents the sets of reference check items one by one along with information about the number of users registered beside the set of selected check items as shown in portion (a) of
Once the set of check items has been edited in this manner, the display terminal 300 inquires of the cloud server 200 how many users have registered about the new set of check items (in Step S208). In response to the inquiry, the cloud server 200 accesses the similarity selection criterion DB 220 again to get information about the number of users registered (in Step S209). After that, the cloud server 200 transmits the information gotten about the number of users registered to the display terminal 300 (in Step S210). On receiving that information about the number of users registered about the new set of check items, the display terminal 300 presents that information on the display screen (in Step S211).
When finding the edited set of check items to be no problem, the user finalizes that editing by pressing the ENTER button (in Step S212). In response, the display terminal 300 transmits the edited check items that have been finally fixed to the cloud server 200 (in Step S214).
Next, it will be described with reference to
On receiving information about the edited set of check items, the cloud server 200 accesses the company information DB 230 to search for and extract any companies that meet the criteria of the edited set of check items (in Step S301). More specifically, the cloud server 200 refers to various pieces of information about each company, including the number of years of service, the number of users registered, the average user rating, and the degree of safety, as on the table 230a shown in
On getting the company information, the display terminal 300 presents a list of matching companies on the display screen (in Step S305). For example, the names of multiple matching companies received may be presented in line as shown in portion (a) of
In this case, the user can choose one or more companies which he or she'd like to allow to use the log information from the list of companies presented. As shown in portion (b) of
Next, it will be described with reference to
As the user scrolls the area where the detailed information about the company is displayed (in Step S401), a link to a “list of purposes of use” will be soon displayed (in Step S402). When the user selects that link (in Step S403), a list of purposes of use is presented as shown in portion (b) of
The user can choose one or more items from the list of purposes of use presented (in Step S405). The log information is transmitted to the chosen company within the purposes of use that have been selected in this manner. For example, if only the items “to apply consumer electronics log to marketing” and “to survey PC running time” have been selected, only log information that needs to be referred to just for those purposes is transmitted to the chosen company. In this case, multiple companies may be chosen at a time. Portion (b) of
Next, it will be described with reference to
When the purpose of use is fixed, the display terminal 300 presents a list of periods of use for which use of the log information will be allowed on the display screen (in Step S501). When the user chooses one of these periods of use and presses the “enter period of use” button (in Step S502), the period of use is entered, and the choice of company enter button is ready to be pressed (i.e., the answer to the query of the processing step S503 is YES). When the “choice of company enter button” shown in
By performing these process steps, the choice of a log-use-allowed company by the user gets done. According to this embodiment, the user can make the choice of a company not only based on his or her own criterion but also by reference to other people's criteria as well. As a result, a company can be chosen more appropriately than ever.
Next, it will be described with reference to
When the service provider requests the cloud server 200 to feed log information (in Step S601), the server 200 searches for a user who is ready to give out log information to that company (in Step S602). If there are no such users (i.e., if the answer to the query of the processing step S603 is NO), the cloud server 200 notifies the service provider of an error (in Step S604). On the other hand, if there is any such user (i.e., if the answer to the query of the processing step S603 is YES), the server 200 gets the user's device information (in Step S605). If there are no devices (i.e., if the answer to the query of the processing step S606 is NO), then the server 200 notifies the service provider of an error (in Step S607). On the other hand, if there is any such device, then the server 200 collects log information from that device (in Step S608). When the log information is collected, the server 200 converts that log information into a font that is required by the service provider and that protects personal information (in Step S609). Then, the server 200 transmits the converted log information to the service provider (in Step S610).
In the example illustrated in
As can be seen from the foregoing description, according to this embodiment, in choosing a service provider who the user is going to allow to use log information, the user can make a decision not only based on his or her own criterion but also by reference to other users' criteria as well. As a result, the user can choose a company to be allowed to use the log information by reference to other people's decisions and with important check items that he or she should miss if he or she made a decision solely by him- or herself taken into account.
In addition, according to this embodiment, when the user either selects or edits a set of check items, he or she can learn how many other users have ever selected that check item set. That is why if only a few people have ever used that combination of check items selected or edited, the user can make a decision easily to select check items all over again, for example.
On top of that, according to this embodiment, after a set of check items has been edited, detailed information about a company that meets the criteria of that check item set is provided. At the same time, information about the purpose of using the log information and the period of use is also provided. That is why the user can specify not only a company to which he or she agrees to give out the log information but also the purpose of using the log information and the period of use as well. As a result, the user can learn not only information about that company but also exactly for what purpose the company is going to use that log information and how long they will use that information. Consequently, the user can control the risk of giving out log information to a certain degree by him- or herself, and he or she can give out the log information with more confidence and more at ease. What is more, the user can decide who will be allowed to use the log information according to their purpose of use and their planned period of use, and therefore, the reliability of the overall system that gives out the log information can be increased. Meanwhile, since the purposes of use can be prepared by the service provider who will use the log information, the log information can be collected on the unit of information required by the service provider.
From the standpoint of the user who is going to give out log information, the log information is sensitive personal information that should be handled carefully. For that reason, the user needs to not only choose a company who will be allowed to use the log information but also define the range in which the log information can be used by specifying a purpose of use and period of use which are acceptable for him or her for each company chosen. On the other hand, the companies need to use the log information for different purposes and for different periods of time from one company to another. Furthermore, a service provider of some large scale should have a high degree of reliability but would use the log information in a broad range. In view of these considerations, according to this embodiment, the purpose and period for which a company is going to use the log information are presented in association with the information displayed about that company.
3-6. Modified ExamplesNext, modified examples of this embodiment will be described.
4. Service Providing System According to Embodiment 2
When a user enters or leaves a railway station using an IC ticket card, the automatic ticket gate 1101 transmits log information including a user ID identifying the user, the time when he or she entered or left the railway station, and railway station ID identifying that railway station to the cloud server 200 that the railway company manages. On the other hand, when a user purchases a product using an ID card, the cashier 2101 transmits log information including a user ID identifying that user, the time of purchase, and a store ID identifying that store to the cloud server 200.
Just like the first embodiment described above, the cloud server 200 also includes a selection criterion DB 210, a similarity selection criterion DB 220, a company information DB 230 and a user information DB 240. Now it will be described how different these databases are from the counterparts of the first embodiment.
In this embodiment, information about the history of entering and leaving a railway station through an automatic ticket gate and information about the history of purchase at a store are supposed to be managed collectively. However, these pieces of information may also be managed separately from each other. For example, the table shown in
5. Types of Cloud Services to Implement Service Providing System
The technology that has been described for the embodiments may be implemented as the following types of cloud services. It should be noted that these types of cloud services are just examples and there can be other types of cloud services as well.
5.1. Service Type 1: Cloud Service Using in-House Data Center
According to this type, the service provider 120 operates and manages the data center (cloud server) 203, and also manages an operating system (OS) 202 and an application 201. And the service provider 120 provides services using the OS 202 and application 201 that are managed by the service provider 120 by itself (as indicated by the arrow 204).
5.2. Service Type 2: Cloud Service Using IaaS
According to this type, the data center operating company 110 operates and manages the data center (cloud server) 203, and collects information from target devices which are installed at a user group 100 such as a house, a store 2100 and a railway station 1100. Meanwhile, the service provider 120 manages an OS 202 and an application 201. And the service provider 120 provides services using the OS 202 and application 201 that are managed by the service provider 120 by itself (as indicated by the arrow 204).
5.3. Service Type 3: Cloud Service Using PaaS
According to this type, the data center operating company 110 manages the OS 202, operates and manages the data center (cloud server) 203, and collects information from target devices which are installed at a user group 100 such as a house, a store 2100 and a railway station 1100. Meanwhile, the service provider 120 manages an application 201. And the service provider 120 provides services using the OS 202 managed by the data center operating company 110 and the application 201 managed by the service provider 120 itself (as indicated by the arrow 204).
5.4. Service Type 4: Cloud Service Using SaaS
According to this type, the data center operating company 110 manages the application 201 and the OS 202, operates and manages the data center (cloud server) 203, and collects information from target devices which are installed at a user group 100 such as a house, a store 2100 and a railway station 1100. Meanwhile, the service provider 120 provides services using the OS 202 and application 201 managed by the data center operating company 110 (as indicated by the arrow 204).
According to any of these types of cloud services, the service provider 120 provides services. Also, either the service provider or the data center operating company may either develop an OS, an application or a database of big data by themselves or have it developed by a third party.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYThe technique of the present disclosure can be used effectively to implement a service providing system which provides cloud services using log information of consumer electronic devices.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
- 10, 20 user
- 100 user group
- 101 consumer electronic device
- 102 home gateway
- 110 data center operating company
- 111 cloud server
- 120 service provider
- 121 service provider's server
- 200 cloud server
- 201 application
- 202 OS
- 203 data center (cloud server)
- 210 selection criterion DB
- 220 similarity selection criterion DB
- 230 company information DB
- 240 user information DB
- 250 computer program
- 300 display terminal
- 400 service provider
- 1100 railway station
- 1101 automatic ticket gate
- 2100 store
- 2101 cashier
Claims
1. An information providing method for use in an information management system which collects log information from a target device through a network and provides services by reference to the log information, the method comprising: and
- transmitting, in response to a user's access using a display terminal, first display data to the display terminal, the first display data including a plurality of check items to be used by the user who is choosing a service provider to be allowed to use the log information to check the reliability of the service provider;
- receiving selection information representing a set of selected check items including at least one check item that has been selected from the plurality of check items included in the first display data using the display terminal;
- transmitting second display data representing a set of reference check items to the display terminal, the set of reference check items including, among a plurality of check items that have been received from a number of other users' terminals, check items which are either similar to, or the same as, check items that are included in the set of selected check items represented by the selection information;
- receiving editing information representing an edited set of check items obtained by editing the set of selected check items by reference to the set of reference check items represented by the second display data at the display terminal, from the display terminal;
- transmitting, when the editing information is received, third display data, including information about at least one service provider who deals with the edited set of check items represented by that editing information, to the display terminal, the third display data including purpose of use information about the purpose for which each service provider is going to use that log information;
- providing the target device's log information to a computer of the service provider who has been chosen based on the edited set of check items.
2. The information providing method of claim 1, wherein the purpose of use information includes at least one item indicating for what purpose the log information is going to be used, and
- the method comprising transmitting, when the choice of a service provider and a purpose of use that has been made through the display terminal is accepted, information about a period of time for which the service provider chosen is allowed to use the log information for the purpose of use to the display terminal.
3. The information providing method of claim 1, wherein the third display data further includes purpose of use information about a purpose for which each service provider is going to use the log information and period-of-use information about a period of time for which each said service provider is allowed to use the log information for that purpose of use.
4. The information providing method of claim 1, wherein the target device includes a consumer electronic device that the user owns.
5. The information providing method of claim 1, wherein the target device includes a first automatic ticket gate installed at a first railway station and a second automatic ticket gate installed at a second railway station,
- the log information includes entering history information indicating that the user has passed through the first automatic ticket gate to enter the first railway station from outside of the gate and leaving history information indicating that the user has passed through the second automatic ticket gate to leave the second railway station from inside of the gate,
- the entering history information includes a user ID by which the user is identifiable, first passage time information about a point in time when the user passed through the first automatic ticket gate, and a first railway station ID by which the first railway station is identifiable, and
- the leaving history information includes a user ID by which the user is identifiable, second passage time information about a point in time when the user passed through the second automatic ticket gate, and a second railway station ID by which the second railway station is identifiable.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 8, 2018
Publication Date: Jan 17, 2019
Inventors: Kotaro HAKODA (Osaka), Motoji OHMORI (Osaka)
Application Number: 16/029,606