Server apparatus that determines whether shaking is due to an earthquake

A device has a storage and an information processor. The storage stores presentation information received from a server apparatus. The information processor reads the presentation information from the storage, and controls screen display on a notifier, based on the read presentation information. The screen display on the notifier includes map information of a predetermined region, information about at least one unit representing an occupied part in a unit ownership building that exists in the predetermined region or a building that exists in the predetermined region and that is a building other than a unit ownership building, and shaking-intensity information for each unit.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a terminal device that provides a user with information when an earthquake occurs, a server apparatus, an information presentation method, and a storage medium storing a computer program.

2. Description of the Related Art

Heretofore, a system that provides a user with information when an earthquake occurs has been known (see, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-254239 (hereinafter referred to as “Patent Document 1”)). In the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, acceleration sensors are installed on a plurality of floors in a building, a recording unit installed in the building analyzes data from the acceleration sensors to obtain the shaking intensities of the floors, and an indicator installed in the building displays the obtained shaking intensities. This allows a user in the building to know the shaking intensities of the respective floors during the occurrence of an earthquake.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, the techniques disclosed here feature a terminal device according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The terminal device includes: a storage that stores presentation information used for screen display; and an information processor that reads the presentation information from the storage and controls the screen display based on the presentation information. The screen display includes map information of a predetermined region, information about at least one unit representing an occupied part in a unit ownership building that exists in the predetermined region or a building that exists in the predetermined region and that is a building other than a unit ownership building, and shaking-intensity information for each unit.

According to the present disclosure, even when a user is away from a building during the occurrence of an earthquake, he or she can check the shaking intensity for each unit in the building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First, a description will be given of items that the present inventors have studied in order to realize the aspects according to the present disclosure.

In the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, since a shaking intensity is displayed on an indicator in a building, a user who is away from the building when an earthquake occurs cannot check the shaking intensity. Also, in the system in Patent Document 1, since the shaking intensity for each floor is displayed, the user cannot check a shaking intensity for each unit (e.g., a home or an office of the entity for which he or she works) in a building.

The present disclosure provides a terminal device that allows a user to check a shaking intensity for each unit in a building even when he or she is away from the building during the occurrence of an earthquake, a server apparatus, an information presentation method, and a storage medium storing a computer program.

A terminal device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a storage that stores presentation information used for screen display; and an information processor that reads the presentation information from the storage and controls the screen display based on the presentation information. The screen display includes map information of a predetermined region, information about at least one unit representing an occupied part in a unit ownership building that exists in the predetermined region or a building that exists in the predetermined region and that is a building other than a unit ownership building, and shaking-intensity information for each unit.

With this arrangement, even when a user is away from a building during the occurrence of an earthquake, he or she can check the shaking intensity for each building unit.

A server apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a storage that stores map information of a predetermined region, location information indicating a location of at least one unit representing an occupied part in a unit ownership building that exists in the predetermined region or a building that exists in the predetermined region and that is a building other than a unit ownership building, and shaking-intensity information indicating a shaking intensity for each unit, the shaking intensity being calculated based on a shaking-detection result obtained by a sensor installed at each unit; a generator that generates first control information, based on the map information, the location information, and the shaking-intensity information read from the storage; and a transmitter that transmits the first control information, generated by the generator, to a terminal device through a network. Screen display of the terminal device is controlled based on the first control information transmitted by the transmitter. And the screen display of the terminal device may include the map information, the information about the at least one unit representing the occupied part or the building, and the shaking-intensity information for each unit.

With this arrangement, even when the user is away from a building during the occurrence of an earthquake, information regarding a shaking intensity for each building unit can be presented to a terminal device used by the user.

In the server apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the generator may determine a building whose collapse risk is high, based on the shaking-intensity information and may generate second control information, based on the map information, the location information, and the shaking-intensity information read from the storage and information about the building whose collapse risk is high. The transmitter may transmit the second control information, generated by the generator, to the terminal device through the network, and screen display of the terminal device may be controlled based on the second control information transmitted by the transmitter. And the screen display of the terminal device may include the map information, the information about the at least one unit representing the occupied part or the building, the shaking-intensity information for each unit, and the information about the building whose collapse risk is high.

With this arrangement, the information about the building whose collapse risk is high can be presented to the user of the terminal device.

In the server apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the generator may determine whether or not shaking that has occurred is due to an earthquake, based on the shaking-intensity information, may generate the first control information or the second control information, upon determining that the shaking is due to an earthquake, and may determine, upon determining that the shaking is not due to an earthquake, a unit where the shaking has occurred, based on the shaking-intensity information, and generates third control information, based on a result of the unit determination. The transmitter may transmit the third control information to the terminal device, upon determining that the shaking is not due to an earthquake. Screen display of the terminal device may be controlled based on the third control information. And the screen display of the terminal device may include information indicating that the shaking is not due to an earthquake and information about the unit where the shaking has occurred.

With this arrangement, when shaking occurs, information regarding whether or not it is due to an earthquake can be presented to the user of the terminal device.

In the server apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, upon determining that the shaking is not due to an earthquake, the generator may determine that a first unit is the unit where the shaking has occurred, when a first shaking intensity calculated for the first unit is higher than a second shaking intensity calculated for a second unit that exists in surroundings of the first unit.

With this arrangement, the server apparatus can determine that the source of the shaking is the first unit.

The server apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure may further include: a receiver that receives shaking-detection result information indicating the shaking-detection result for each unit through the network; and a calculator that calculates the shaking intensity for each unit, based on the shaking-detection result information.

With this arrangement, the server apparatus can calculate a shaking intensity for each unit.

In the server apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the screen display may include information indicating a magnitude of a change with time in the shaking intensity for each unit.

With this arrangement, information regarding a change with time in the peak of shaking can be presented to the user of the terminal device.

In the server apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a processor may be used to perform at least one of the storage, the generator, and the transmitter.

With this arrangement, at least one of the storage, the generator, and the transmitter can be realized using a processor.

An information presentation method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: reading, from a predetermined storage device, map information of a predetermined region, location information indicating a location of at least one unit representing an occupied part in a unit ownership building that exists in the predetermined region or a building that exists in the predetermined region and that is a building other than a unit ownership building, and shaking-intensity information indicating a shaking intensity for each unit, the shaking intensity being calculated based on a shaking-detection result obtained by a sensor installed at each unit; generating control information, based on the map information, the location information, and the shaking-intensity information read from the predetermined storage device; and transmitting the control information, generated in the generating, to a terminal device through a network.

Screen display of the terminal device may be controlled based on the third control information transmitted in the transmitting. And the screen display of the terminal may include the map information, the information about the at least one unit representing the occupied part or the building, and the shaking-intensity information for each unit.

With this arrangement, even when the user is away from a building during the occurrence of an earthquake, information regarding a shaking intensity for each building unit can be presented to a terminal device used by the user.

In the information presentation method according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a processor may be used to perform at least one of the reading the location information and the shaking-intensity information, the generating the control information, and the transmitting the control information.

With this arrangement, at least one of the reading the location information and the shaking-intensity information, the generating the control information, and the transmitting the control information can be realized using a processor.

A storage medium storing a computer program according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a non-transitory storage medium storing a computer-readable computer program. The computer program causes a computer to execute: reading, from a predetermined storage device, map information of a predetermined region, location information indicating a location of at least one unit representing an occupied part in a unit ownership building that exists in the predetermined region or a building that exists in the predetermined region and that is a building other than a unit ownership building, and shaking-intensity information indicating a shaking intensity for each unit, the shaking intensity being calculated based on a shaking-detection result obtained by a sensor installed at each unit; generating control information, based on the map information, the location information, and the shaking-intensity information read from the predetermined storage device; and transmitting the control information generated in the generating to a terminal device. Screen display of the terminal device is controlled based on the third control information transmitted in the transmitting. And the screen display of the terminal device may include the map information, the information about the at least one unit representing the occupied part or the building, and the shaking-intensity information for each unit.

With this arrangement, even when the user is away from a building during the occurrence of an earthquake, information regarding a shaking intensity for each building unit can be presented to a terminal device used by the user.

Embodiment

<Overall Picture of Service to be Provided>

First, an overall picture of a service to be provided according to the present embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 1A to 1C.FIGS. 1A to 1Care diagrams illustrating an overview of an information presentation system in the present embodiment.FIG. 1Aillustrates an overall picture of an information presentation system in the present embodiment.

A group10is, for example, a company, an entity, or a household, and the scale thereof is not limited. The group10has a plurality of devices10a(e.g., devices100and300described below), including devices A and B, and a home gateway10b.

The plurality of devices10acan connect to the Internet and include, for example, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal computer (PC), a television (TV), and critical infrastructure equipment. Examples of the critical infrastructure equipment include a power distribution board, an electricity meter, a gas meter, and a water meter. The critical infrastructure equipment has an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration during the occurrence of shaking.

The plurality of devices10amay be any equipment that can connect to the Internet via the home gateway10beven if they are not capable of connecting to the Internet on their own.

The group10includes users1that use the plurality of devices10a. The users1are, for example, users that can use an information-presenting service. The information-presenting service is a service that provides, when an earthquake occurs, presentation information to at least one of the devices10aused by the users1. The “presentation information” as used herein refers to, for example, information that indicates a shaking intensity for each unit in a building that exists in a region specified by the user1. The “unit in a building” as used herein refers to an occupied part in a unit ownership building (e.g., one unit corresponding to an occupied part (such as an apartment or a condominium) in a multi-unit residential complex or one lot corresponding to an occupied part in an office building) that exists in a predetermined region or a building (e.g., a unit corresponding to a single-family detached house) that exists in a predetermined region and that is a building other than a unit ownership building.

A data-center operating company11has a cloud server11a. The cloud server11ais a virtualization server that cooperates with various types of device through the Internet. The data-center operating company11performs data management, management of the cloud server11a, operations of a data center that performs the management, and so on. Details of a service provided by the data-center operating company11are described later.

In this case, the data-center operating company11is not limited to a company that performs only data management, operations of the cloud server11a, or the like. For example, when a device manufacturer that develops and manufactures one of the devices10aalso performs data management, management of the cloud server11a, and so on, this device manufacturer corresponds to the data-center operating company11(seeFIG. 1B).

The data-center operating company11is not limited to a single company. For example, when the device manufacturer and another management company perform data management and operation of the cloud server11ain cooperation with each other or in a shared manner, one of or both the device manufacturer and the other management company is/are assumed to correspond to the data-center operating company11(seeFIG. 1C).

A service provider12has a server12a(e.g., a server apparatus200, described below). The service provider12may also have a plurality of servers12a, depending on the purpose.

In the service described above, the home gateway10bis not essential. For example, when the cloud server11aperforms all data management, the home gateway10bmay be eliminated. There are also cases in which the devices10ado not include any device that is incapable of connecting to the Internet on their own, as in a case in which all the devices in the group10are connected to the Internet.

Next, a description will be given of a flow of information in the above-described service. First, the device A or B in the group10transmits information (e.g., shaking-sensing result information, described below) to the cloud server11ain the data-center operating company11. The cloud server11aaggregates the information from the device A or B (as indicated by (a) inFIG. 1A).

The information may also be directly supplied from the devices10ato the cloud server11athrough the Internet. The information from the devices10amay also be temporarily aggregated in the home gateway10band be supplied from the home gateway10bto the cloud server11a.

Next, the cloud server11ain the data-center operating company11supplies the aggregated information to the service provider12in a certain unit of information. The certain unit of information may be a unit with which the data-center operating company11can organize the aggregated information and can supply it to the service provider12or may be a unit requested by the service provider12. The certain unit of information may be variable, and there are also cases in which the amount of information to be supplied changes depending on the situation.

The information aggregated in the cloud server11ais stored in the server12aof the service provider12, as needed (as indicated by (b) inFIG. 1A). The service provider12then organizes the stored information into information (e.g., presentation information, described below) that suits a service to be provided to users, and provides the service to the users. The users to which the service is provided may be the users1of the device10aor may be users2outside the group10.

A method for supplying the service to the users may be, for example, a method in which the service is directly supplied from the service provider12to the users (as indicated by (f) and (e) inFIG. 1A). For example, the method for supplying the service to the users may be, for example, a method in which the service is supplied to the users after going through the cloud server11ain the data-center operating company11again (as indicated by (c) and (d) inFIG. 1A). The cloud server11ain the data-center operating company11may also organize the aggregated information into information that suits the service to be provided to the users, and may provide the service to the users.

The users1and the users2may be the same or may be different from each other.

<Configuration of Information Presentation System>

Next, a configuration example of an information presentation system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 2.FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating one example of the configuration of the information presentation system according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the information presentation system has a device100, a server apparatus200, and a device300.

InFIG. 2, the device100and the server apparatus200are connected to each other through a network400. The server apparatus200and the device300are also connected to each other through the network400. The network400may be a wireless network, a wired network, or a network including both a wired network and a wireless network.

Although only one device100is illustrated inFIG. 2, the device100exists in each unit in a building, and it is thus assumed that there are two or more devices100. Also, although only one device300is illustrated inFIG. 2, the number of devices300may be two or more.

First, a description will be given of the configuration of the device100.

The device100is, for example, critical infrastructure equipment, such as a power distribution board, an electricity meter, a gas meter, or a water meter. The device100may also be battery equipment, such as a solar cell or a battery. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that one piece of critical infrastructure equipment or battery equipment is installed in each unit in a building. As described above, the “unit in a building” as used herein refers to an occupied part in a unit ownership building (e.g., one unit corresponding to an occupied part in a multi-unit residential complex or one lot corresponding to an occupied part in an office building) that exists in a predetermined region or a building (e.g., a unit corresponding to a single-family detached house) that exists in a predetermined region and that is a building other than a unit ownership building. Such a building unit is hereinafter referred to as “one unit”.

The device100has an acceleration sensor101, a storage unit102, a controller103, and a transmitter104.

The acceleration sensor101is built into the device100to detect acceleration.

For example, the acceleration sensor101detects acceleration when shaking occurs and outputs, to the controller103, shaking-detection result information (hereinafter referred to as “acceleration information”) indicating a detection result of the acceleration.

The storage unit102is a storage device, such as a memory or a hard-disk device.

For example, the storage unit102stores identification information (hereinafter referred to as a “device ID”) of the device100.

The controller103is a control device, such as a processor, that executes various types of information processing.

For example, upon input of the acceleration information from the acceleration sensor101, the controller103reads the device ID from the storage unit102. The controller103then causes the transmitter104to execute transmission of the acceleration information and the device ID to the server apparatus200. The acceleration information and the device ID are collectively referred to as “shaking-sensing result information”.

The transmitter104serves as a communication interface that transmits information to the server apparatus200.

For example, the transmitter104transmits the shaking-sensing result information to the server apparatus200.

The configuration of the device100has been described thus far.

Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the server apparatus200.

The server apparatus200is an information processing apparatus that realizes the information-presenting service by generating presentation information (one example of third control information) on the basis of the shaking-sensing result information from the device100and transmitting the generated presentation information to the device300.

The server apparatus200includes a transmitter/receiver201, an information processor202, and a storage unit203.

The transmitter/receiver201serves as a communication interface that transmits information to other apparatuses and devices and that receives information transmitted from other apparatuses and devices.

For example, the transmitter/receiver201receives the shaking-sensing result information from the device100through the network400.

Also, for example, the transmitter/receiver201transmits the presentation information, generated by a generator205included in the information processor202, to the device300through the network400.

The information processor202is a control device, such as a processor, that executes various types of information processing. The information processor202includes a calculator204and the generator205.

The calculator204calculates shaking intensities for the respective units in buildings on the basis of the shaking-sensing result information that the transmitter/receiver201received from the devices100(more specifically, the acceleration information included in the shaking-sensing result information) and registers the shaking intensities in the storage unit203. The “shaking intensities” as used herein refers to, for example, measured shaking intensities calculated based on acceleration waveforms or shaking intensity scales or the like converted from measured shaking intensities. In the present embodiment, a case in which the shaking-intensity information is a shaking intensity scale will be described below by way example. Since methods for calculating the measurement shaking intensities and the shaking intensity scales are known, descriptions thereof are not given hereinafter.

When the calculator204calculates the shaking intensities, the generator205reads location information and shaking-intensity information corresponding thereto from the storage unit203. The location information indicates the location of one unit. Details of the location information are described later with reference toFIG. 4. The shaking-intensity information indicates the shaking intensity of one unit which was calculated by the calculator204.

Also, the generator205reads map information and building image information from the storage unit203. The “map information” as used herein refers to information showing an image of a map of a predetermined region (e.g., a predetermined region in countries, including Japan, around the world). The location information is associated with a site on the map. The term “building image information” refers to information showing an image of a building that exists in a predetermined region shown by the map information. The building image information is associated with the location information described above. When a building of interest is a unit ownership building (which is a building in which units are independently owned by owners, such as an apartment building or an office building), the building image information includes an image of the entire unit ownership building and an image of an all-unit layout. The all-unit layout is a drawing showing a layout of each unit for each floor in a unit ownership building. When the building is a building (e.g., a single-family detached house) other than a unit ownership building, the building image information includes an image of the entire building.

The generator205then generates presentation information on the basis of the above-described location information, shaking-intensity information, map information, and building image information. When displayed at the device300, this presentation information shows the units in buildings that exist in the predetermined region on the map for the predetermined region and also indicates the pieces of shaking-intensity information for the units in the buildings. Since the device300performs screen display on the basis of the presentation information, the presentation information can be said to be control information for controlling the screen display at the device300. An example of display of the presentation information is described later with reference toFIG. 5.

After generating the presentation information, the generator205causes the transmitter/receiver201to execute transmission of the presentation information to the device300.

Details of the processing performed by the generator205are described later with reference to a flowchart inFIG. 3.

The storage unit203is a storage device, such as a memory or a hard-disk device.

For example, the storage unit203stores the above-described location information. For example, the location information is pre-registered in the storage unit203in association with the device ID. This registration is performed by, for example, an administrator of the server apparatus200or the like. When the calculator204calculates a shaking intensity, the shaking-intensity information indicating the shaking intensity is registered in association with the corresponding location information.

For example, the storage unit203stores the above-described map information. For example, an administrator or the like of the server apparatus200registers the map information in the storage unit203.

Also, for example, the storage unit203stores the above-described building image information. For example, an administrator of the server apparatus200or the like registers the building image information in the storage unit203.

The configuration of the server apparatus200has been described thus far.

Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the device300.

The device300is an information processing apparatus (a terminal device) that can use the information-presenting service provided by the server apparatus200. Examples of the device300include a smartphone, a tablet computer, a PC, and a TV.

The device300has an input unit301, a notifier302, a storage unit303, a transmitter/receiver304, and an information processor305.

The input unit301is an input device, such as a button and/or a touch panel.

The notifier302is a display device, such as a display, or an output device, such as a speaker.

For example, the notifier302displays the above-described presentation information. An example of display of the presentation information is described later with reference toFIG. 5.

The storage unit303is a storage device, such as a memory or a hard-disk device.

For example, the storage unit303stores the presentation information received from the server apparatus200.

The transmitter/receiver304serves as a communication interface that transmits information to another apparatus or device and that receives information transmitted from another apparatus or device.

For example, the transmitter/receiver304receives the presentation information from the server apparatus200through the network400.

The information processor305is a control device, such as a processor, that executes various types of information processing.

For example, the information processor305causes the storage unit303to temporarily store the presentation information that the transmitter/receiver304received from the server apparatus200. The information processor305then reads the presentation information from the storage unit303at a predetermined timing and controls the screen display on the notifier302on the basis of the presentation information.

The configuration of the device300has been described thus far.

<Operation of Server Apparatus200>

Next, an example operation of the server apparatus200in the information presentation system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of the server apparatus200according to the present embodiment.

In step S101, for example, an administrator of the server apparatus200or the like registers the location information in the storage unit203.

Now, an example of the location information will be described with reference toFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a table illustrating one example of the location information registered in the storage unit203.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the location information is stored in the storage unit203in association with the device ID and the shaking-intensity information.

As described above, each device ID is identification information of the corresponding device100that is critical infrastructure equipment installed in one unit.

The location information is information indicating the location of one unit, as described above. Although each piece of location information is an address in this example, the location information is not limited thereto. InFIG. 4, the location information corresponding to a device ID “001” indicates, for example, the location of one room (an occupied part) in an apartment building. The location information corresponding to a device ID “002” indicates, for example, one lot (an occupied part) in an office building. The location information corresponding to a device ID “003” indicates, for example, the location of a single-family detached house.

The shaking-intensity information (or the acceleration information included in the shaking-intensity information) indicates the shaking intensity of one unit which is calculated by the calculator204, as described above. In this example, since a shaking-intensity calculation (in step S103described below) has not been performed, the shaking-intensity information corresponding to each device ID is blank.

One example of the location information has been described above thus far. Now, a description will be given with reference back to the flowchart inFIG. 3.

When an earthquake occurs, in step S102, the transmitter/receiver201receives the shaking-sensing result information from the device100.

In step S103, the calculator204calculates a shaking intensity on the basis of the acceleration information included in the shaking-sensing result information. On the basis of the device ID included in the shaking-sensing result information, the calculator204registers the calculated shaking intensity in association with the location information stored in the storage unit203. For example, when the shaking intensity calculated based on the acceleration information included in the shaking-sensing result information in conjunction with the device ID “001” is “3”, the calculator204registers shaking-intensity information “3” in the table inFIG. 4in association with the device ID “001”. As described above, when an earthquake occurs, pieces of shaking-intensity information calculated for respective units in buildings are registered in association with the corresponding pieces of pre-registered location information.

In step S104, the generator205generates presentation information on the basis of the shaking-intensity information, the location information, the map information, and the building image information read from the storage unit203.

Now, a description will be given of one example of processing for generating the presentation information.

First, when the shaking-intensity information is registered in the storage unit203, the generator205reads the shaking-intensity information and the location information corresponding thereto from the storage unit203. The generator205also reads the map information and the building image information from the storage unit203. The map information read in this case is, for example, the map information for a region specified by the user of the device300. Now, as an example, it is assumed that “Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo” is specified by the user and the map information indicating this region is read. The building image information read in this case is, for example, the building image information of a building that exists in a predetermined region shown by the map information. In this case, as an example, it is assumed that the building image information indicating buildings located in “Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo” has been read.

Next, the generator205identifies pieces of location information for the predetermined region shown by the map information, the pieces of location information being read from the storage unit203, and generates an image so that, when the map corresponding to the map information is displayed at the device300, the pieces of shaking-intensity information corresponding to the pieces of location information are displayed for the respective units in the buildings.

Now, by way of example, a description will be given of an example of a case in which the location information and the shaking-intensity information corresponding to the device ID “001”, the map information for “Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo”, and the building image information for buildings located in “Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo” are read. A specific example will be described below for each type of building.

First, a description will be given of a case in which, for example, a building of interest is an apartment building (e.g., a case of the device ID “001” inFIG. 4). In this case, the generator205identifies location information “1-10-1, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo” in an image (hereinafter referred to as a “map image”) showing a map of “Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo”. The generator205then superimposes images (an image of an entire unit ownership building and an image of an all-unit layout), included in the building image information, on the position “1-10-1, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo” on the map image. The generator205then superimposes an image indicating shaking-intensity information “3” on a position corresponding to “room 304” in the image of the all-unit layout. Similarly, images indicating shaking-intensity information for units other than for the unit “room 304” are superimposed on the all-unit layout image. An image generated in such a manner is displayed, for example, like an image51described below and illustrated inFIG. 5.

Next, a description will be given of a case in which, for example, the building of interest is an office building (e.g., a case of the device ID “002” inFIG. 4). In this case, the generator205identifies location information “2-10-34, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo” in the map image for “Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo”. The generator205then superimposes an image of the entire unit ownership building and an image of the all-unit layout on the position “2-10-34, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo” in the map image. The generator205then superimposes an image indicating, for example, shaking-intensity information “4” on a position corresponding to “lot A on the 4th floor” in the image of the all-unit layout. Images indicating shaking-intensity information for units other than for the unit “lot A on the 4th floor” are superimposed on the all-unit layout image. An image generated in such a manner is displayed, for example, like an image52described below and illustrated inFIG. 5.

Next, for example, a description will be given of a case in which the building of interest is a single-family detached house (a case of the device ID “003” inFIG. 4). In this case, the generator205identifies location information “2-16-27, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo” in the map image for “Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo”. The generator205then superimposes an image of the entire building on the position “2-16-27, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo” in the map image. The generator205then superimposes an image indicating, for example, shaking-intensity information “5” on the image of the entire building. An image generated in such a manner is displayed, for example, like an image53described below and illustrated inFIG. 5.

As described above, image information that shows shaking-intensity information for units in buildings that exist in a predetermined region is generated in a map for a predetermined region. This image information serves as the presentation information.

One example of the processing for generating the presentation information has been described thus far.

In step S105, the generator205causes the transmitter/receiver201to execute transmission of the generated presentation information to the device300through the network400.

The above-described presentation information is received by the device300and is displayed. Since the presentation-information display processing performed by the device300has already been described above, the description is not given hereinafter.

Now, an example of display of the presentation information on the notifier302of the device300will be described with reference toFIG. 5.FIG. 5illustrates an example of display of the presentation information, the display being performed by the device300.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the images51to53of buildings are displayed on a map on the notifier302. Each image51shows, for example, the entire building and the all-unit layout of an apartment building having a plurality of units. Each image52shows, for example, the entire building and an all-lot layout of an office building having a plurality of units. Each image53also shows, for example, the entire building of a single-family detached house, which itself is one unit. The pieces of shaking-intensity information (numerical values indicating shaking intensities) for the respective units are indicated on the images51to53. Although the images51to53are depicted inFIG. 5as images representing the entire buildings in a three-dimensional manner, they may also be images representing the entire buildings in a two-dimensional manner.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the user is away from a building during the occurrence of an earthquake, he or she can check the shaking intensity for each unit in the building. For example, when an earthquake occurs when the user is at a remote location on a business trip or the like, he or she can check the shaking intensities of his or her home and its vicinity or the shaking intensities of the entity for which he or she works and its vicinity, while at the remote location.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the shaking intensities of the respective units in buildings in each region during the occurrence of an earthquake may be recorded as an archive so as to allow each user to freely view the archive. This can provide the advantages described below.

Each resident can recognize the shaking intensity of his or her home, the entity for which he or she works, or the like and thus can make corresponding preparations. For example, when the shaking intensity of the home is high, each resident can prepare emergency supplies and can take measures for preventing toppling of furniture and so on, in preparation for the next earthquake.

Public institutions can recognize the shaking intensities for the respective units in buildings in their jurisdictional areas and thus can utilize the shaking intensities for administrative measures and policies. For example, when there is a building whose shaking intensity is significantly higher than that of buildings in its vicinity in the jurisdictional area, an administrative institution can create, near the building, a park that can be used as an evacuation place, can carry out improvement work for the building or the soil thereof, and can enlighten the residents near the building to enhance their disaster prevention awareness.

By recognizing the shaking intensities for the respective units in buildings in each region, each housing company (e.g., a building-construction company or a real-estate company) can utilize the shaking intensities for its own business. For example, each housing company can build a new building, avoiding regions in which there are many units whose shaking intensities are high. Also, for example, each housing company can emphasize to their clients that a quake at a building it sells is weaker and so on, when the shaking intensity of the building is lower than those of nearby buildings other companies sell.

Although one embodiment has been described above, various changes and modifications can be made to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Modifications of the above-described embodiment will be described below.

The generator205may also generate the presentation information so that units whose shaking-intensity information is larger than or equal to a predetermined value are displayed in a highlighted manner.FIG. 6illustrates an example in which this presentation information is displayed on the notifier302of the device300. In the example illustrated inFIG. 6, units whose shaking-intensity information indicates “5” are displayed in a highlighted manner by being surrounded by frames60. This allows the user to recognize, at a glance, the units whose shaking intensities are high.

The calculator204may also determine collapse risks for respective buildings. The description below will be given of specific examples 1 to 3 for determining the collapse risks. It is assumed in this case that the collapse risks are determined for a plurality of single-family detached houses (hereinafter referred to simply as “houses”) that are located in a predetermined region, as an example.

A description will now be given of specific example 1. First, the calculator204calculates pieces of shaking-intensity information for the respective houses, calculates shaking-center distances on the basis of the acceleration information, and registers the pieces of shaking-intensity information and pieces of information of the shaking-center distances in the storage unit203in association with the corresponding pieces of location information. Since the calculation method for shaking-center distances are known, a description thereof is not given herein.

Next, the generator205reads the pieces of location information, the shaking-intensity information, and the shaking-center distance information for the respective houses from the storage unit203. The generator205then determines whether or not there is a difference in the pieces of shaking-intensity information of the houses whose pieces of shaking-center distance information are the same. As a result of this determination, with respect to each house whose shaking-intensity information is large compared with the other houses, the generator205determines that the strength of the building or the strength of the soil is low and the collapse risk is high.

A description will now be given of specific example 2. In this example, it is assumed that pieces of building strength information indicating the strengths of buildings are pre-registered for respective houses in association with the corresponding pieces of location information. Examples of the building strength information include earthquake-resistance strengths. For example, an administrator of the server apparatus200or the like pre-registers the building strength information.

The generator205calculates pieces of shaking-intensity information and shaking-center distances for respective houses. And the generator205registers the calculated pieces of shaking-intensity information and the calculated shaking-center distances in the storage unit203, as in specific example 1 described above.

Next, the generator205reads the pieces of location information, shaking-intensity information, shaking-center distance information, and building strength information for the respective houses from the storage unit203. The generator205then determines whether or not there is a difference in the pieces of shaking-intensity information of the houses whose pieces of shaking-center distance information are the same and whose pieces of building strength information are the same. As a result of this determination, with respect to each house whose shaking-intensity information is large compared with the other houses, the generator205determines that the strength of the soil is low and the collapse risk is high.

A description will now be given of specific example 3. In this example, it is assumed that pieces of soil strength information indicating the strengths of the soils are registered for respective houses in association with the corresponding pieces of location information. Examples of the soil strength information include soil amplification factors. For example, an administrator of the server apparatus200or the like pre-registers the soil strength information.

Next, the generator205reads the pieces of location information, shaking-intensity information, shaking-center distance information, and soil strength information for the respective houses from the storage unit203. The generator205then determines whether or not there is a difference in the pieces of shaking-intensity information of the houses whose pieces of shaking-center distance information are the same and whose pieces of soil strength information are the same. As a result of this determination, with respect to each house whose shaking-intensity information is large compared with the other houses, the generator205determines that the strength of the building is low and the collapse risk is high.

Specific examples 1 to 3 of the collapse-risk determination have been described thus far.

After the determination described above, the generator205reads the map information and the building image information from the storage unit203and generates presentation information (one example of second control information) so that the pieces of the shaking-intensity information for the respective units in the buildings are displayed on a map for the predetermined region, as described in the above embodiment. In this case, the generator205generates the presentation information so that the location indicated by the location information of each house for which it is determined in any of specific examples 1 to 3 that the collapse risk is high is displayed in a highlighted manner. This presentation information is transmitted from the server apparatus200to the device300through the network400and is displayed on the notifier302of the device300.

FIG. 7illustrates an example of the presentation information displayed on the notifier302of the device300. In the example illustrated inFIG. 7, the pieces of shaking-intensity information are displayed for the respective units in the buildings, and the images of the buildings for which it is determined that the collapse risks are high are displayed in a highlighted manner by being surrounded by frames70. This allows the user to recognize, at a glance, the buildings whose collapse risks are high.

Although an example of single-family detached houses, which are each one unit itself, has been described in this modification, the determination and highlighting can also be performed for the collapse risks of apartment buildings or office buildings, which each have a plurality of units, in the manner described above.

The method for determining the collapse risks is not limited to specific examples 1 to 3 described above, and a related technology (e.g., a method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-278990) may also be used.

Also, although the description in this modification has been given of an example of a case in which the generator205determines the collapse risks on the basis of measurement results of a single earthquake (i.e., the shaking-intensity information, the shaking-center distance information, and so on), the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the generator205may be adapted to determine the collapse risks on the basis of measurement results of a plurality of earthquakes (i.e., the shaking-intensity information, the shaking-center distance information, and so on), the measurement results being pre-stored in the storage unit203. In addition, the generator205may be adapted to determine the collapse risks by using both the measurement results of a plurality of earthquakes and official earthquake information released by a meteorological agency. This makes it possible to realize a higher-accuracy collapse-risk determination.

In addition, although the description in this modification has been given of an example of a case in which the generator205determines the collapse risks, a determiner (not illustrated) that is different from the generator205may also determine the collapse risks in the manner described above.

If the server apparatus200does not receive the shaking-sensing result information from the predetermined device100even when an earthquake has occurred, there is a possibility that the building (which may be the entire building or a unit in the building) where the device100is installed has collapsed. In such a case, the server apparatus200may be adapted to present the possibility of collapse to the device300.

For example, if the generator205does not receive the shaking-sensing result information from the predetermined device100within a predetermined time although the transmitter/receiver201has received official earthquake information released by a meteorological agency, the generator205determines that there is a possibility that the building where the device100is installed has collapsed. The generator205then generates the presentation information so that the positions of the buildings for which it is determined that there is a possibility of collapse are displayed in a highlighted manner on the map (e.g., the images of the buildings are surrounded by frames, as illustrated inFIG. 6 or 7). This presentation information may also include a message indicating that there is a possibility that the building has collapsed. This presentation information is transmitted from the server apparatus200to the device300and is displayed on the notifier302of the device300.

Although the description in this modification has been given of an example of a case in which the generator205determines the possibility of collapse, a determiner (not illustrated) that is different from the generator205may also be adapted to determine the possibility of collapse in the manner described above.

The generator205may also be adapted to determine, when shaking occurs and the calculator204calculates the shaking-intensity information, whether or not the shaking that has occurred is due to an earthquake on the basis of the calculated shaking-intensity information and to generate the presentation information in accordance with a result of the determination. Specific examples of this modification will be described with reference toFIGS. 8 and 9A to 9E.

First, an example of a case in which shaking has occurred in one room in an apartment building will be described with reference toFIG. 8. In this case, the generator205reads, from the storage unit203, the pieces of shaking-intensity information of individual units in an apartment building illustrated inFIG. 8and identifies a unit whose shaking-intensity information is the largest. In the case inFIG. 8, the generator205identifies the unit whose shaking-intensity information is “3”.

Next, the generator205compares the shaking-intensity information of the identified unit (hereinafter referred to as an “identified unit”) with the pieces of shaking-intensity information of the units (hereinafter referred to as “surrounding units”) that exist in the surroundings of the identified unit. The surrounding units are, for example, units that are adjacent to the identified unit (e.g., units located at the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the identified unit).

When a result of the comparison indicates that the number of pieces of shaking-intensity information of the surrounding units, the shaking-intensity information being smaller than the shaking-intensity information of the identified unit, is larger than or equal to a predetermined number, the generator205determines that the shaking that has occurred is not due to an earthquake and originated at the identified unit. For example, when the predetermined number is set to “4”, the number of pieces of shaking-intensity information of the surrounding units, the shaking-intensity information being smaller than the shaking-intensity information “3” of the identified unit, is four or more in the case inFIG. 8. Accordingly, the generator205determines that the shaking is not due to an earthquake and has occurred at the identified unit whose shaking-intensity information is “3”. Possible examples of a case in which the shaking is not due to an earthquake include a case in which a person is moving a relatively heavy object (e.g., furniture) in the identified unit, a case in which a person is doing exercise in the identified unit, and a case in which a child is playing in the identified unit.

Next, the generator205generates presentation information on the basis of the result of the determination. This presentation information indicates that the shaking is not due to an earthquake and indicates the identified unit where the shaking has occurred. Display of the presentation information on the notifier302allows the user to recognize, when shaking occurs, whether or not the shaking is due to an earthquake and also to know the source of the shaking.

When the result of the above-described comparison indicates that the number of pieces of shaking-intensity information of the surrounding units, the shaking-intensity information being smaller than the shaking-intensity information of the identified unit, is smaller than the predetermined number (e.g., the pieces of shaking-intensity information of the surrounding units located at the left and right sides of the identified unit are the same as the shaking-intensity information of the identified unit), the generator205determines that the shaking that has occurred is due to an earthquake. In this case, the generator205generates either the presentation information described in the above embodiment or the presentation information described in the second modification.

Next, an example of a case in which shaking has occurred at a plurality of single-family detached houses along a road will be described with reference toFIGS. 9A to 9E. Now, a case in which single-family detached houses (hereinafter referred to simply as “houses”) are located along a road and a vehicle, such as a truck, passes on the road to thereby cause shaking at the houses will be described as an example.

It is desirable that devices having the acceleration sensors101be installed outside the respective houses.

Alternatively, it is desirable that the server apparatus200determine whether or not shaking that has occurred is due to an earthquake, for example, by using the shaking-intensity information corresponding to a shaking intensity calculated based on the shaking-sensing result information transmitted from the device installed outside each house. In this case, it is desirable that the server apparatus200manage information regarding the place where each device is installed.

This is because the devices installed outside houses can easily detect shaking caused by passage of a truck on a road, compared with the devices installed inside houses.

The “device installed outside a house” is, for example, battery equipment, such as a battery, installed outside a house.

FIGS. 9A to 9Care schematic views illustrating, in a time series, a state in which a truck91travels on a road90. The truck91travels from right to left inFIGS. 9A to 9C. A group of houses92is built along the road90, and a group of houses93is built adjacent to the group of houses92. A region in which the groups of houses92and93exist is assumed to be a predetermined region.

In this case, when the truck91passes near the group of houses92, as illustrated inFIGS. 9A to 9C, the shaking-intensity information of the group of houses92is calculated to be higher than the shaking-intensity information of the group of houses93(or the shaking-intensity information of the group of houses93is calculated to be lower than the shaking-intensity information of the group of houses92).

This is because the distance between the houses in the group of houses93and the road90is larger than the distance between the houses in the group of houses92and the road90. The shaking that occurs when the truck91passes on the road90decays when the shaking is transmitted on the road90and the ground surface between the road90and the houses in the group of houses92. The larger the distance between the road90and the houses is, the larger the degree of the decay of the shaking is.

The houses in the group of houses92are located closer to the road90than the houses in the group of houses93. Thus, the shaking detected by the devices100(specifically, the acceleration sensors101) installed in the houses in the group of houses92becomes greater than shaking detected by the devices100(specifically, the acceleration sensors101) installed in the houses in the group of houses93.

Thus, the shaking-sensing result information (specifically, the shaking-detection results included in the acceleration information (e.g., the magnitudes of the shaking)) transmitted from the devices100installed in the houses in the group of houses92to the server apparatus200becomes larger than the shaking-sensing result information transmitted from the devices100installed in the houses in the group of houses93.

Accordingly, the shaking-intensity information of the group of houses92which is calculated by the server apparatus200becomes higher than the shaking-intensity information of the group of houses93.

The server apparatus200has a feature in that it utilizes a difference in the pieces of shaking-intensity information of the groups of houses92and93, the pieces of shaking-intensity information being calculated as described above, to determine whether or not shaking that has occurred in the group of houses92and93is due to an earthquake.

First, the generator205detects a change in the pieces of shaking-intensity information of houses in a predetermined region at a predetermined time (e.g., the time at which the truck91passes) and determines whether or not both a house (hereinafter referred to as a “first house”) whose shaking-intensity information changes by a value larger than or equal to a predetermined value and a house (hereinafter referred to as a “second house”) whose shaking-intensity information changes by a value smaller than the predetermined value exist.

When a result of the determination indicates that the first house and the second house do not exist in the predetermined region at the same time (e.g., all houses in the predetermined region correspond to either the first house or the second house), the generator205determines that the shaking that has occurred is due to an earthquake. In this case, the generator205generates either the presentation information (one example of the third control information) described in the above embodiment or the presentation information (one example of the second control information) described above in the second modification.

On the other hand, when the result of the determination indicates that both the first house and the second house exist in the predetermined region, the generator205determines that the shaking that has occurred is not due to an earthquake and is due to an external environmental factor of the first house (e.g., due to passage of a truck). For example, when the predetermined value is set to “2”, the group of houses92(one example of the first house) whose shaking-intensity information changes by a value larger than or equal to the predetermined value “2” exists in the case inFIGS. 9A to 9C, and the group of houses93(one example of the second house) whose shaking-intensity information changes by a value smaller than the predetermined value “2” exists. Accordingly, the generator205determines that the shaking is not due to an earthquake and has occurred due to an external environmental factor of the group of houses92.

Next, the generator205generates presentation information on the basis of the result of the determination. This presentation information is information (one example of first control information) indicating that shaking is not due to an earthquake and indicating the first house (e.g., the group of houses92) at which the shaking has occurred.

FIG. 9Dillustrates an example in which this presentation information is displayed on the notifier302of the device300. In the example inFIG. 9D, the group of houses92whose shaking-intensity information has changed at a value larger than or equal to the predetermined value is displayed in a highlighted manner by being surrounded by a frame94. A message (not illustrated) indicating that the shaking is not due to an earthquake is also displayed together with the image illustrated inFIG. 9D. Thus, when shaking occurs, the user can recognize whether or not it is due to an earthquake and can also know the source of the shaking.

An image showing that shaking has occurred in a time series may also be displayed in addition to the image illustrated inFIG. 9D.FIG. 9Eillustrates an example of such an arrangement. InFIG. 9E, images95to97are graphs showing, in a time series, changes in the shaking-intensity information, with the vertical axis indicating shaking intensity (i) and the horizontal axis indicating time (t). When changes in the shaking-intensity information are detected, the generator205generates the images95to97showing the changes in the shaking-intensity information for each house in the group of houses92. Next, the generator205combines the images95to97to generate an image98and includes the image98in the above-described presentation information. Thus, when the presentation information is displayed at the device300, the image98is displayed together with the image illustrated inFIG. 9D. By seeing the image98, the user can recognize the state in which the peak of the shaking changes with time.

Although this modification has been given of a case in which the generator205determines whether or not the shaking that has occurred is due to an earthquake on the basis of the shaking-intensity information calculated by the calculator204, the determination method is not limited thereto. For example, the generator205may determine whether or not the shaking that has occurred is due to an earthquake, by using only official earthquake information released by a meteorological agency or by using the earthquake information together with the shaking-intensity information calculated by the calculator204.

In addition, for example, the server apparatus200or the device100may have a traveling-history acquirer (not illustrated) that acquires the traveling history of vehicles from an external server. This external server is, for example, a server that obtains and accumulates information regarding traveling routes, traveling times, and so on that a global positioning system (GPS) has obtained from vehicles or a server that obtains and accumulates information from sensors or the like that are installed on roads, utility poles, traffic lights, and so on and that obtain information regarding traveling of vehicles. When the vehicle traveling histories corresponding to individual locations have been obtained and accumulated in the external server in the manner described above, the traveling-history acquirer can acquire the traveling history of all vehicles that have passed within a predetermined region from the location where the device100is installed. With this arrangement, when there is history indicating that a vehicle has traveled in the vicinity of the device100when shaking occurred, it is possible to decide that the shaking is due to the traveling of the vehicle and is not due to an earthquake.

Also, a determination as to whether or not the shaking is due to an earthquake may be made through analysis of information about the shaking. Examples of the information about the shaking include a frequency and the time from the time point when the shaking started to the time point when it stopped. For example, when the frequency is higher than or equal to (or is lower than or equal to) a predetermined frequency, it may be decided that the shaking is not due to an earthquake. Also, for example, when the time from the time point when the shaking started to the time point when it stopped is smaller than or equal to (or larger than or equal to) a predetermined time, it may be decided that the shaking is not due to an earthquake. This makes it possible to eliminate apparent noise other than shaking due to an earthquake and makes it possible to reduce false detection.

In addition, although the description in this modification has been given of an example of a case in which the generator205determines whether or not the shaking that has occurred is due to an earthquake, a determiner (not illustrated) that is different from the generator205may also be adapted to make the determination in the manner described above.

The generator205may also generate, for each unit in a building, presentation information indicating the rate of decay of shaking per predetermined time (e.g., the magnitude of a change with time in the shaking intensity). A specific example of this modification will be described below. For example, the generator205calculates, for each unit in a building, the rate of decay on the basis of shaking-intensity information m at time t and shaking-intensity information m′ at time t′ (t′>t). For example, the rate of decay is calculated using (m′−m)/(t′−t). A smaller value of the rate of decay indicates that the quake is less likely to die down. The generator205then generates presentation information so that, for each unit in a building, a value indicating the calculated rate of decay is displayed on the map for a predetermined region singularly or together with the shaking-intensity information. In this case, the generator205may also generate presentation information so that each building unit whose rate of decay is higher than or equal to a predetermined value or is lower than the predetermined value is displayed in a highlighted manner (e.g., by surrounding the image of the building unit with a frame). Thus, according to this modification, the user can recognize whether or not it is easy for a quake to die down for each unit in a building.

The controller103in the device100may also execute the calculation of the shaking-intensity information and/or the determination of the collapse risk by using a method that is similar to that executed by the server apparatus200described above. In this case, information indicating a result of the execution, together with the device ID, is transmitted from the device100to the server apparatus200and is used for the presentation-information generation performed by the server apparatus200.

The acceleration sensors101may not only be built into the critical infrastructure equipment, but also be installed on, for example, traffic lights, streetlights, road signs, guardrails, and billboards.

The sensor that is included in the device100to detect shaking is not limited to the acceleration sensors101. For example, a seismic sensor or a shaking sensor may also be included in the device100.

Although the description in the above embodiment has been given of an example of a case in which an address is used as an example of the location information and one unit in a unit ownership building is identified based on the address and the all-unit layout, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, GPS information may be used as the location information so as to allow one unit in a unit ownership building to be identified based on the GPS information and height information indicating the height of each pre-registered building.

Modifications of the present embodiment have been described thus far. The modifications described above may be arbitrarily combined together.

<Example Realized by Computer Program>

While the embodiment according to the present disclosure has been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the functions of the above-described devices100and300and the server apparatus200(each of which is hereinafter referred to as “each apparatus”) can be realized by a computer program.

FIG. 10is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computer that realizes the functions of the constituent elements by using a program. This computer1000includes an input device1001, such as an input button and/or a touch pad, an output device1002, such as a display and/or a speaker, a central processing unit (CPU)1003, a read only memory (ROM)1004, a random access memory (RAM)1005, a storage device1006, such as a hard-disk device or a solid-state drive (SSD), a reading device1007for reading information from a storage medium, such as a digital versatile disk read-only memory (DVD-ROM) or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory, and a transmission/reception device1008for performing communication through a network. These elements are connected through a bus1009.

The reading device1007reads a program for realizing the functions of the aforementioned elements from a storage medium storing the program, and then the program is stored in the storage device1006. Alternatively, the transmission/reception device1008communicates with a server apparatus, connected to the network, to download the program for realizing the functions of the aforementioned elements from the server apparatus, and the program is stored in the storage device1006.

The CPU1003then copies the program, stored in the storage device1006, to the RAM1005, sequentially reads instructions included in the program from the RAM1005, and executes the instructions to thereby realize the functions of the elements. During execution of the program, information obtained in the various types of processing described above in the embodiment is stored in the RAM1005or the storage device1006and is used as appropriate.

The hardware configuration of the computer that realizes the functions of each apparatus by using a program has been described in the above example. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, any of the functions of each apparatus may be implemented by, for example, dedicated hardware (a processing circuit).

It goes without saying that all of the functions of each apparatus may be implemented by, for example, dedicated hardware (a processing circuit). Examples of the dedicated hardware include an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

The technology described in the above embodiment can be realized, for example, by the following types of cloud service. However, the types of service for which the technology described in the above embodiment is realized are not limited to the types described below.

FIG. 11is a diagram illustrating service type 1 (an inhouse data center type). This type is a type in which a service provider12obtains information from a group10and provides a user with a service. In this type, the service provider12has functions of a data-center operating company. That is, the service provider12has a cloud server11athat manages big data. Thus, no data-center operating company exists.

In this type, the service provider12operates and manages a data center1200c(the cloud server11a). The service provider12manages an operating system (OS)1200band an application1200a. The service provider12uses the OS1200band the application1200a, managed by the service provider12, to provide a service1200d.

FIG. 12is a diagram illustrating service type 2 (an IaaS usage type). IaaS is an acronym of Infrastructure as a Service and is a cloud-service-providing model that provides, as a service over the Internet, infrastructure itself for constructing and operating a computer system.

In this, type, a data-center operating company operates and manages a data center1200c(corresponding to the cloud server11a). A service provider12manages an OS1200band an application1200a. The service provider12uses the OS1200band the application1200a, managed by the service provider12, to provide a service1200d.

FIG. 13is a diagram illustrating service type 3 (a PaaS usage type). PaaS is an acronym of Platform as a Service and is a cloud-service-providing model that provides, as a service over the Internet, a platform that serves as a foundation for constructing and operating software.

In this type, a data-center operating company11manages an OS1200band operates and manages a data center1200c(corresponding to the cloud server11a. A service provider12manages an application1200a. The service provider12uses the OS1200b, managed by the data-center operating company11, and the application1200a, managed by the service provider12, to provide a service1200d.

FIG. 14is a diagram illustrating service type 4 (a SaaS usage type). SaaS is an acronym of Software as a Service. SasS is a cloud-service-providing model having, for example, a function that allows companies and individuals (users) that do not own a data center (a cloud server) to use, over a network such as the Internet, applications provided by a platform provider that owns a data center (a cloud server).

In this type, a data-center operating company11manages an application1200aand an OS1200band operates and manages a data center1200c(corresponding to the cloud server11a). The service provider12uses the OS1200band the application1200a, managed by the data-center operating company11, to provide a service1200d.

It is assumed that, in any of the types described above, the service provider120provides a service. Also, for example, the service provider or the data-center operating company may itself develop the OS, the application, a database for big data, or the like or may also outsource the development to a third party.

The present disclosure is useful for a server apparatus that aids users' reservation for a service provider, an information presentation method, and a storage medium storing a computer program.