Patent Publication Number: US-10773726-B2

Title: Information provision device, and moving body

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an information provision device which provides information on a moving body to a potential purchaser, a user, or the like, who is considering purchasing the moving body, and the moving body. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     There has conventionally been proposed an information provision device for use in promoting sales of a vehicle when a potential purchaser is visiting a car dealer, and a customer service support method using the information provision device (for example, see Patent Literature 1). 
     The information provision device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 transmits, to a mobile terminal of the salesperson, data on customer service conditions (response speed, explanation level, and requirements), which are desired by the potential purchaser, entered into a terminal installed at an entrance of the dealer, data indicating the customer information and recommended products based on the past purchase history and preference of the potential purchaser, and other data. 
     Thus, the salesperson can proceed with negotiations with the potential purchaser by referring to customer service conditions, customer information, recommended products, and the like displayed on a display unit of a mobile terminal. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-128928 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The potential purchaser who is considering purchasing a moving body such as a vehicle often visits a retail store to receive an explanation of the moving body from a salesperson and then test-drives the moving body. For test drive, the potential purchaser enters a moving body prepared for test driving and checks the functions provided in the moving body. Since the functions provided in the moving body are diversified, it is difficult for the salesperson to identify and introduce the functions that interest the potential purchaser during the limited test drive time. 
     Further, the users of the moving body (such as owners of the moving body) other than the potential purchasers rarely recognize and use all of the diversified functions provided in the moving body. Thus, it is expected to increase the satisfaction level of the users to the moving body by introducing the functions that interest the users and encouraging the use of those functions. 
     An object of the present invention, which has been made in view of such a background, is to provide an information provision device and a moving body which can identify a function that interests the user from among the functions provided in the moving body and can provide the user of the moving body with information thereon. 
     Solution to Problem 
     A first aspect of an information provision device of the present invention is 
     an information provision device which functions in a moving body, the information provision device comprising: 
     an emotion estimation unit which estimates an emotion of a user of the moving body; 
     a function-of-interest estimation unit which estimates a specific function that interests the user from among the functions possessed by the moving body based on the emotion of the user estimated by the emotion estimation unit; and 
     an information provision unit which provides the user with information on the specific function. 
     According to the present invention, the emotion estimation unit estimates an emotion of the user and the function-of-interest estimation unit estimates a specific function that interests the user from among the functions possessed by the moving body based on the emotion of the user estimated by the emotion estimation unit. Then, the situation provision unit provides the user with information on the specific function. Thus, the specific function that the user is interested in while using the moving body can efficiently appeal to the user and can give the user a good impression of the moving body. 
     Further, the first aspect comprises an action detection unit which detects an action performed on the moving body by the user, wherein 
     the function-of-interest estimation unit estimates the specific function based on the action of the user detected by the action detection unit and the emotion of the user estimated by the emotion estimation unit when the action is detected. 
     According to this configuration, the specific function is estimated based on the action of the user detected by the action detection unit and the emotion of the user estimated by the emotion estimation unit when the action is detected. Thus, by reflecting the emotion of the user when the action of the user is detected, the specific function estimated by the function-of-interest estimation unit can be better meet the interest of the user. 
     Then, a second aspect of the information provision device of the present invention is 
     an information provision device which functions in a moving body, the information provision device comprising: 
     an action detection unit which detects an action performed on the moving body by the user of the moving body; 
     a function-of-interest estimation unit which estimates a specific function that interests the user from among the functions possessed by the moving body based on the action of the user detected by the action detection unit; and 
     an information provision unit which provides the user with the information on the specific function. 
     According to the present invention, the action of the user is detected by the action detection unit, and the specific function that interests the user is estimated from among the functions possessed by the moving body by the function-of-interest estimation unit based on the action of the user detected by the action detection unit. Then, the situation provision unit provides the user with the information on the specific function. Thus, the specific function related to the action of the user can efficiently appeal to the user and can give the user a good impression of the moving body. 
     Further, the information provision device comprises an operation situation detection unit which detects an operation performed by the user on an operation unit provided in the moving body, wherein 
     the action detection unit detects an action performed on the moving body by the user based on a detection result of the operation situation detection unit. 
     According to this configuration, the action detection unit can easily detect the action of the user by causing the operation situation detection unit to detect the operation situation of each of various operation units provided in the moving body. 
     Further, the information provision unit provides information encouraging operation for using the specific function as the information on the specific function. 
     According to this configuration, the user can be encouraged to actually experience a specific function assumed to interest the user by providing information encouraging operation for using the specific function as the information on the specific function. 
     Further, the information provision device comprises a surrounding situation recognition unit which recognizes a situation around the moving body, wherein 
     when the specific function is a function for improving driving performance, on condition that the surrounding situation recognition unit recognizes that the road on which the moving body is moving is empty, the information provision unit provides the information encouraging operation for using the specific function. 
     According to this configuration, under limited circumstances where it is determined that there is no problem for driving from the surrounding road conditions, the user can be encouraged to experience the function for improving driving performance. 
     Further, the information provision device comprises: 
     a test drive recognition unit which recognizes that the user is test-driving the moving body and 
     a current moving body information acquisition unit which acquires information on a current moving body owned by the user, wherein 
     while the test drive recognition unit recognizes that the user is test-driving the moving body, the information provision unit provides the user with information on the specific function of the current moving body recognized from the information on the current moving body together with the information on the specific function of the moving body that the user is test-driving. 
     According to this configuration, the user can be made to recognize an advantage of replacing the current moving body with the moving body that the user is test-driving by providing the user (test driver) with information on both moving bodies, the information including the specific functions assumed to interest the user. 
     Further, while the test drive recognition unit recognizes that the user is test-driving the moving body, the information provision unit provides the user with information on the specific function of a competing moving body competing with the moving body that the user is test-driving from a brand of the current moving body recognized from the information of the current moving body, together with the information on the specific function of the current moving body and the moving body that the user is test-driving. 
     According to this configuration, when the current moving body of the user (test driver) is different from the brand (such as the manufacturer) of the moving body that the user is test-driving, the user is provided with information on both the competing moving body and the moving body that the user is test-driving in terms of the specific function assumed to interest the user. By doing so, the user can be made to recognize functional differences due to differences in brands and can be encouraged to change the brand of the moving body that the user is using. 
     Further, the information provision device comprises 
     a test drive recognition unit which recognizes that the user is test-driving the moving body and 
     a current moving body information acquisition unit which acquires information on a current moving body owned by the user, wherein 
     while the test drive recognition unit recognizes that the user is test-driving the moving body, the information provision unit provides the user with information on the specific function of a competing moving body competing with the moving body that the user is test-driving from a brand of the current moving body recognized from the information of the current moving body, together with the information on the specific function of the moving body that the user is test-driving. 
     According to this configuration, the user can be made to recognize an advantage of replacing the current moving body with the moving body that the user is test-driving by providing the user (test driver) with information on both moving bodies including the specific functions assumed to interest the user. 
     Further, the information provision device comprises: 
     a test drive recognition unit which recognizes that the user is test-driving the moving body; 
     a notification unit which notifies the user; and 
     a moving body emotion notification unit wherein while the test drive recognition unit recognizes that the user is test-driving the moving body, the notification unit notifies that the moving body is happy, and when it is switched from a state in which the test drive recognition unit recognizes that the user is test-driving the moving body, to a state in which the test drive recognition unit does not recognize that the user is test-driving the moving body, the notification unit notifies that the moving body feels sad. 
     According to this configuration, the notification that the moving body is happy can give the user (test driver) an impression that the moving body is enjoying driving with the user during test driving, and thus can enhance the user&#39;s affinity to the moving body. Further, at the end of test driving, the notification that the moving body feels sad can make the user feel sad to leave, which can encourage the user to continue to consider purchasing. 
     Then, a moving body of the present invention comprises any one of the above described information provision devices. The moving body comprising the information provision device can exert the same operational effects as the above described information provision devices and thereby can effectively increase the reputation level of the user to the moving body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an explanatory view of a four-wheeled vehicle (moving body) having an information provision device mounted thereon. 
         FIG. 2  is a control block diagram of the information provision device. 
         FIG. 3  is an explanatory view of an emotion engine. 
         FIG. 4  is a first flowchart of the information provision device. 
         FIG. 5  is a second flowchart of the information provision device. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are first explanatory views illustrating an operating situation of the information provision device during test drive.  FIG. 6A  illustrates a situation where the vehicle is being stopped, and  FIG. 6B  illustrates a situation where the vehicle is traveling. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are explanatory views where the information provision device notifies the test driver of vehicle emotions during test drive.  FIG. 7A  illustrates an example of an emotion notification while the vehicle is traveling, and  FIG. 7B  illustrates an example of an emotion notification while the test drive is finished. 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory view of a situation where a thank-you email is transmitted after the test drive is finished. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 8 . 
     1. Configuration of a Vehicle Having an Information Provision Device Mounted Thereon 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , an information provision device  60  is mounted on a four-wheeled vehicle  1  (which corresponds to a moving body of the present invention and hereinafter referred to as a vehicle  1 ). Note that the information provision device  60  of the present embodiment is a vehicle-mounted type, but the information provision device of the present invention may be a portable type which can be carried by a user and can be brought into a vehicle for use. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a situation where a test driver P 1  (which corresponds to the user of the present invention), who is a potential purchaser and is considering purchasing the same type of the vehicle  1 , sits on a driver&#39;s seat  5 R of the vehicle  1 , and a salesperson P 2  in charge of sales of the vehicle sits on a passenger seat  5 L. The salesperson P 2  carries a business terminal  9  (such as a tablet and a smartphone) and provides a customer service to the test driver P 1  through the business terminal  9 . 
     The vehicle  1  comprises a front camera  11 , a front radar  12 , a rear camera  13 , and a rear radar  14  as the configuration for recognizing the surrounding situation of the vehicle  1 , and comprises a navigation device  40  having a global positioning system (GPS) unit  41  and a map database (DB)  42  to be detailed later as the configuration for acquiring route information to the destination. 
     As the configuration for recognizing the situation of the driver of the vehicle  1 , the vehicle  1  comprises a driver&#39;s seat camera  20  which captures an image of at least a face portion of the driver and a driver&#39;s seat microphone  21  which enters driver&#39;s voice. 
     As the configuration for detecting an operation performed by a driver on a vehicle operation unit, the vehicle  1  comprises: a steering angle sensor  25  which detects a steering angle of a steering wheel; a torque sensor  26  which detects a steering torque applied to the steering wheel; an accelerator pedal sensor  24  which detects a depression amount of an accelerator pedal; a brake pedal sensor  27  which detects a depression amount of a brake pedal; and a sports mode switch  28  which accepts setting and releasing of a sports mode (a driving mode with improved response, such as control of great increase in driving force relative to accelerator operation). 
     The vehicle  1  comprises door sensors  30 R,  30 L,  31 R,  31 L, and  32  which detect opening and closing of front doors  2 R, and  2 L, rear doors  3 R, and  3 L, and back door  4 ; and seat sensors  33 R,  33 L,  34 R, and  34 L which detect the presence or absence of a seated occupant on each of a driver&#39;s seat  5 R, a passenger seat  5 L, and a rear seat  6 . Further, the vehicle  1  comprises a speaker  22  (which corresponds a notification unit of the present invention) and a display unit  23  (which corresponds the notification unit of the present invention) for notifying a passenger. 
     The vehicle  1  comprises a control unit  50  which controls the overall operation of the vehicle  1 . The control unit  50  is an electronic circuit unit including a CPU, a memory, various interface circuits, and the like, which are not illustrated. The control unit  50  comprises a communication device  51  and an information provision device  60 . 
     The control unit  50  receives data imaged by the front camera  11 , the rear camera  13 , and the driver&#39;s seat camera  20 , and data of an object position detected by the front radar  12  and the rear radar  14 . The control unit  50  receives signals detected by the steering angle sensor  25 , the torque sensor  26 , the accelerator pedal sensor  24 , the brake pedal sensor  27 , the door sensors  30 R,  30 L,  31 R,  31 L, and  32 , and the seat sensors  33 R,  33 L,  34 R, and  34 L. 
     Further, the control unit  50  receives an audio signal inputted into the driver&#39;s seat microphone  21 . In addition, the control unit  50  communicates with the navigation device  40  and communicates with the business terminal  9  and the like via the communication device  51 . 
     In addition, the control unit  50  outputs control signals to control the operation of the speaker  22 , the display unit  23 , the communication device  51 , the navigation device  40 , and the like. 
     2. Configuration of the Information Provision Device 
     Then, with reference to  FIG. 2 , the information provision device  60  is formed of the CPU which executes the control programs for the information provision device  60  stored in the memory of the control unit  50 . The information provision device  60  comprises a test drive recognition unit  61 , a current vehicle information acquisition unit  62  (which corresponds to the current moving body information acquisition unit of the present invention), a vehicle information acquisition unit  63 , an operation situation detection unit  64 , an action detection unit  65 , an emotion engine  66  (which corresponds to the emotion estimation unit of the present invention), a function-of-interest estimation unit  67 , a surrounding situation recognition unit  68 , an information provision unit  69 , an image transmission unit  70 , and a vehicle emotion notification unit  71  (which corresponds to the moving body emotion notification unit of the present invention). 
     The test drive recognition unit  61  recognizes that the test drive of the vehicle  1  is performed, by the communication with the business terminal  9  or the like. The current vehicle information acquisition unit  62  acquires information on a vehicle (current vehicle) currently owned by the test driver P 1 , who is test-driving the vehicle  1 , by accessing a customer database (DB)  101  of a customer information server  100  via a communication network  110 . 
     The vehicle information acquisition unit  63  acquires information on the ON/OFF of an ignition switch (unillustrated) of the vehicle  1 , the operation of a safety device system (unillustrated) (operation of an advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), an antilock brake system (ABS), an air bag, an emergency call, and the like), vehicle speed, acceleration/deceleration, and the like, through a control area network (CAN) or the like. The operation situation detection unit  64  detects the operation situation of each operation unit of the vehicle  1  operated by the test driver P 1  based on the signal detected by each of the sensors  24  to  27 ,  30 R,  30 L,  31 R,  31 L,  32 ,  33 R,  33 L,  34 R, and  34 L. The action detection unit  65  detects the action of the test driver P 1  based on the operation situation of each operation unit detected by the operation situation detection unit  64 , the situation of the test driver P 1 , who is driving or located around the vehicle  1 , and which is recognized from the images captured by the cameras  11 ,  13 , and  20 , and the voice or the like of the test driver P 1  inputted into the driver&#39;s seat microphone  21 . 
     The emotion engine  66  includes an emotion engine A which estimates the emotion of a driver of the vehicle  1  (herein the test driver P 1 ) and an emotion engine B which generates an emotion of the vehicle  1  by personifying the vehicle  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the emotion engine A quantifies the facial expression of the test driver P 1  recognized from the image captured by the driver&#39;s seat camera  20 ; the tone and intonation of voice of the test driver P 1  inputted into the driver&#39;s seat microphone  21 ; the operation situation of each operation unit operated by the test driver P 1  and detected by the operation situation detection unit  64 ; and the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit  63 , all of which are plotted on the horizontal axis (axis of calmness) and the vertical axis (axis of steady state) as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     Then, based on the quadrants (first quadrant: like, second quadrant: hate, third quadrant: tolerate, and fourth quadrant: calm) to which the plotted points belong and the position of each point in the corresponding quadrant, the degree of each emotion (emotion level) of the test driver P 1  (like: the first quadrant, hate: the second quadrant, tolerate: the third quadrant, and calm: the fourth quadrant) is estimated and outputted. 
     Note that in the present embodiment, the emotion engine  66  uses the facial expression of the test driver P 1 , the voice of the test driver P 1 , the operation situation of each operation unit of the vehicle  1 , and the vehicle information of the vehicle  1  to estimate the emotion level of the test driver P 1 , but at least the facial expression and the voice of the test driver P 1  may be used to estimate the emotion of the test driver P 1 . Note also that other factors such as the profile (preference, age, sex, and the like) of the test driver P 1  recognized from the customer data of the test driver P 1 , the biometric information (pulse rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and the like detected by biological sensors) of the test driver P 1 , the grip condition of the steering wheel gripped by the test driver P 1  may be used to estimate the emotion level of the test driver P 1 . 
     Further, the emotion engine B quantifies the operation situation of each operation unit of the vehicle  1  detected by the operation situation detection unit  64 , the vehicle information of the vehicle  1  acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit  63 , and other information, all of which are plotted on the horizontal axis (axis of calmness) and the vertical axis (axis of steady state) in the same manner as the emotion engine A as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Then, based on the quadrants to which the plotted points belong and the position of each point in the corresponding quadrant, the degree (emotion level) of each emotion (like, hate, tolerate, and calm) of the personified vehicle  1  is generated and outputted. 
     Based on the emotion level of the test driver P 1  estimated by the emotion engine A, the function-of-interest estimation unit  67  estimates a specific function assumed to interest the test driver P 1  among the functions provided in the vehicle  1 . 
     Based on the images around the vehicle  1  detected by the front camera  11  and the rear camera  13 ; the objects around the vehicle  1  detected by the front radar  12  and the rear radar  14 ; traffic information around the vehicle  1  received from the navigation device  40 ; and other information, the surrounding situation recognition unit  68  recognizes the situation of the road on which the vehicle  1  is travelling. 
     During the test drive, the vehicle emotion notification unit  71  sends a notification representing the emotion of the vehicle  1  by personifying the vehicle  1  to be detailed later. 
     3. Information Provision Processing 
     Then, with reference to the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 4 , information provision processing executed by the information provision device  60  for the test driver P 1  will be described. 
     STEP  1  is a process performed by the test drive recognition unit  61 . The test drive recognition unit  61  recognizes that the test driver P 1  is test-driving the vehicle  1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6A , when the test driver P 1 , who is a potential purchaser of a vehicle, visits a store S of a car dealer, the test driver P 1  is captured by a store camera  200  installed at an entrance of the store S, and the captured image data is transmitted to a personal computer  201  located in the store S. 
     The personal computer  201  analyzes the face image of the test driver P 1  and accesses a customer DB  101  held by the customer information server  100  to determine whether the test driver P 1  is a new customer (no customer data) or an existing customer (customer data being present). If the test driver P 1  is an existing customer, the customer data of the test driver P 1  acquired from the customer DB  101  (including the profile, preference, past transaction history, and the like of the test driver P 1 ) is transmitted to the business terminal  9  of the salesperson P 2  in charge of the test driver P 1  to notify that the test driver P 1  has come to the store. 
     Here, the communication between the business terminal  9  and the personal computer  201  may be performed via the communication network  110  or may be performed by wireless LAN via a wireless router  202  connected to the personal computer  201 . 
     Meanwhile, if the test driver P 1  is a new customer, the personal computer  201  selects an appropriate salesperson P 2 , and transmits, to the business terminal  9  of the selected salesperson P 2 , data notifying that the test driver P 1  has come to the store. In this case, when starting a customer service of the test driver P 1  who is a new customer, the salesperson P 2  confirms the profile and the like of the test driver P 1  to newly generate customer data for the test driver P 1 . 
     For the customer service of the test driver P 1 , the salesperson P 2  notifies that the vehicle  1  for test drive is ready and persuades the customer to have a test drive. When the test driver P 1  wants to have a test drive, the salesperson P 2  transmits, to the information provision device  60  of the vehicle  1 , test drive start notification data notifying that the test driver P 1  will start test driving and customer data of the test driver P 1 . 
     When the test drive start notification data is received, the test drive recognition unit  61  recognizes that the test driver P 1  starts the test drive. Then, the process moves to STEP  2 . Alternatively, the test drive recognition unit  61  may analyze a conversation voice between the test driver P 1  and the salesperson P 2  inputted into the driver&#39;s seat microphone  21  and from the analysis result, may recognize that test driver P 1  performs the test drive. 
     When an ON (detection state) signal is outputted from the seat sensor  33 R of the driver&#39;s seat  5 R, the test drive recognition unit  61  recognizes that the test driver P 1  has got on the vehicle  1 , and when the seat sensor  33 R indicates an ON state, the test drive recognition unit  61  recognizes that the test driver P 1  is test-driving. 
     Further, from the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit  63  and the current position of the vehicle  1  acquired by the navigation device  40 , the test drive recognition unit  61  recognizes that the vehicle  1  starts test-driving, is test-driving, or ends test-driving. 
     Based on the change in the current position of the vehicle  1  acquired by the navigation device  40 , when it is detected that the vehicle  1  has returned to the store S, and when the output from the seat sensor  33 R is switched from the ON signal (detection state) to the OFF state (non-detection state) and the output from the door sensor  30 R of the front door  2 R on the driver&#39;s seat side is switched from the ON signal (detection state) to the OFF state (non-detection state), the test drive recognition unit  61  recognizes that the test drive has ended. 
     Alternatively, the test drive recognition unit  61  may analyze the conversation voice between the test driver P 1  and the salesperson P 2  inputted into the driver&#39;s seat microphone  21 , and from the analysis result (a voice analysis of the salesperson P 2  saying, for example, “Thank you very much for your test drive”), the test drive recognition unit  61  may recognize that the test drive of the test driver P 1  has ended. 
     The following STEP  2  is a process performed by the vehicle emotion notification unit  71 . While the test drive recognition unit  61  recognizes that the test drive is being performed, the vehicle emotion notification unit  71  sends a notification representing that the vehicle  1  is happy, in STEP  2  as illustrated in  FIG. 7A . More specifically, the vehicle emotion notification unit  71  displays, on the display unit  23 , an image D 1  personifying the state in which the vehicle  1  is happy and at the same time outputs a voice V 5  saying, for example, “It&#39;s a perfect day for driving!” with a bright tone from the speaker  22 . 
     Alternatively, according to the emotion level “like” of the vehicle  1  outputted from the emotion engine B, the higher the emotion level, the higher the degree of happiness expressed by the image D 1  and the voice V 5  may be. 
     The following STEP  3  is a process performed by the emotion engine A. The emotion engine A performs the above described emotion estimation process at a predetermined sampling period and outputs the level of each emotion (like, hate, tolerate, and calm) of the test driver P 1  as needed. The following STEP  10  branched from STEP  4  and STEP  5  is a process performed by the image transmission unit  70 . In STEP  4 , the image transmission unit  70  determines whether or not the emotion level of “like” outputted from the emotion engine A is increased by a predetermined level or more. 
     Then, if the emotion level of “like” is increased by a predetermined level or more, the process is branched to STEP  10 , where the image transmission unit  70  captures an image of the test driver P 1  by the driver&#39;s seat camera  20  and holds data of the captured image in memory. Then, the process moves to STEP  5 . Note that the image may be a still image or a moving image. Meanwhile, if the emotion level of “like” is not increased by a predetermined level or more, the process moves to STEP  5 . 
     STEP  5  and STEP  20  to STEP  22  in  FIG. 5  branched from STEP  5  are processes performed by the function-of-interest estimation unit  67 . In STEP  5 , the function-of-interest estimation unit  67  determines whether or not the action detection unit  65  detects an action of the test driver P 1 . Then, if an action of the test driver P 1  is detected, the process is branched to STEP  20  in  FIG. 5 . If no action of the test driver P 1  is detected, the process moves to STEP  6 . 
     In STEP  20 , the function-of-interest estimation unit  67  detects the emotion level of the test driver P 1  from the output of the emotion engine A. In the following STEP  21 , the function-of-interest estimation unit  67  determines whether or not the emotion level of “like” of the test driver P 1  is increased by a predetermined level or more. Then, if the emotion level of “like” of the test driver P 1  is increased by a predetermined level or more, the process moves to STEP  22 . If the emotion level of “like” of the test driver P 1  is not increased by a predetermined level or more, the process moves to STEP  6  in  FIG. 4 . 
     In STEP  22 , the function-of-interest estimation unit  67  extracts a specific function of the vehicle  1  related to the action of the test driver P 1  detected in STEP  5 . For example, when an action that the test driver P 1  opens or closes the back door  4  of the vehicle  1  is detected (when the test driver P 1  opens or closes the back door  4 , the emotion of “like” of the test driver P 1  increases), the function-of-interest estimation unit  67  extracts “rear seat folding function” for enlarging the luggage compartment as the function related to this action. 
     For example, when an action that the test driver P 1  steps on the accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle  1  is detected (when the test driver P 1  performs an acceleration operation, the emotion of “like” of the test driver P 1  is increased), the function-of-interest estimation unit  67  selects “sports mode function” as the function related to this action. 
     The following STEP  23  to STEP  25 , and STEP  30  are processes performed by the information provision unit  69 . In STEP  23 , the information provision unit  69  determines the presence or absence of the current vehicle (which corresponds to the current moving body of the present invention) of the test driver P 1  from the customer data of the test driver P 1 . Then, if a current vehicle is found, the process moves to STEP  24 , where the information provision unit  69  acquires information on a specific function of the current vehicle and a vehicle (competing vehicle) competing with the vehicle  1  of the brand of the current vehicle (generally the manufacturer of the current vehicle). 
     For example, when the specific function is “sports mode function”, the information provision unit  69  acquires information on “sports mode function” (presence or absence of the sports mode function, elements to be changed by the sports mode function, and the like) of the current vehicle of the test driver P 1  and “sports mode function” of a competing vehicle (which corresponds to the competing moving body of the present invention). 
     Then, in the following STEP  25 , the information provision unit  69  notifies the test driver P 1  of the information on the specific function of the vehicle  1 , the current vehicle, and the competing vehicle by display on the display unit  23  and voice output from the speaker  22 . From this notification, the test driver P 1  can recognize the specific function of the vehicle  1  in terms of the difference between the current vehicle and the competing vehicle and the advantage thereof. 
     Meanwhile, if no current vehicle of the test driver P 1  is found, the process is branched from STEP  23  to STEP  30 , where the information provision unit  69  sends only the information on the specific function of the vehicle  1 . 
     As used herein, the information on the specific function of the vehicle  1  includes information encouraging the use of the specific function. For example,  FIG. 6A  illustrates a notification sent when “rear seat folding function” is estimated as the specific function that interests the test driver P 1 , and the information provision unit  69  uses the speaker  22  to output a voice message V 1  saying “The rear seats can be easily folded. Please give it a try”. Further, the information provision unit  69  outputs, to the display unit  23 , a video explaining the rear seat folding procedure. 
     Further  FIG. 6B  illustrates a notification sent when “sports mode function” is estimated as the specific function that interests the test driver P 1 . More specifically, when the test driver P 1  performs an acceleration operation and says that “This acceleration is so nice!”, which voice V 2  is inputted into the driver&#39;s seat microphone  21 . In response to the voice V 2 , the information provision unit  69  uses the speaker  22  to output a voice V 3  saying “Thank you very much! This outstanding acceleration has been achieved by a combination of a high output motor and a low fuel consumption engine.” to appeal the driving performance of the vehicle  1 . 
     Then, on condition that the surrounding situation recognition unit  68  recognizes that the road on which the vehicle  1  is traveling is empty, the information provision unit  69  uses the speaker  22  to output a voice V 4  saying that “The road seems to be empty, so why don&#39;t you switch to sports mode? Then, you can enjoy driving a lot more. Please try operating the sports mode switch”. Further, the information provision unit  69  outputs, to the display unit  23 , a video displaying the position (such as near a shift lever) in which the sports mode switch  28  is placed. 
     The following STEP  26  and STEP  40  branched from STEP  26  are processes performed by the image transmission unit  70 . In STEP  26 , the image transmission unit  70  uses the operation situation detection unit  64  to determine whether or not the test driver P 1  performed the operation of the specific function. 
     Then, if the test driver P 1  performed the operation of the specific function, the process is branched to STEP  40 , and if the test driver P 1  did not perform the operation of the specific function, the process moves to STEP  6  in  FIG. 4 . In STEP  40 , the image transmission unit  70  uses the driver&#39;s seat camera  20  to image the test driver P 1  and hold the imaged data in memory, and then the process moves to STEP  6  in  FIG. 4 . 
     STEP  6  and STEP  7  in  FIG. 4  are processes performed by the vehicle emotion notification unit  71 . In STEP  6 , the vehicle emotion notification unit  71  determines whether or not the test drive recognition unit  61  recognizes that the test driver P 1  ends the test drive of the vehicle  1 . Then, if the end of the test drive is recognized, the process moves to STEP  7 , and if the end of the test drive is not recognized, the process returns to STEP  2 , where the process following STEP  2  is executed again. 
     In STEP  7 , the vehicle emotion notification unit  71  notifies that the vehicle  1  feels sad as illustrated in  FIG. 7B . More specifically, the vehicle emotion notification unit  71  displays, on the display unit  23 , an image D 2  personifying the state in which the vehicle  1  feels sad, and at the same time outputs a voice V 6  saying that “I&#39;m very sorry to see you go. Hope to see you again.” from the speaker  22  with a heavy tone. 
     The following STEP  8  is a process performed by the image transmission unit  70 . The image transmission unit  70  extracts the address of the test driver P 1  from the customer data of the test driver P 1 . With reference to  FIG. 8 , the image transmission unit  70  calculates the distance from the store S (test drive ending location) to a home H of the test driver P 1  to predict the time (expected time to return home) for the test driver P 1  to return to the home H. 
     Then, when the time reaches the expected time to return home, the image transmission unit  70  transmits an email  400  expressing appreciation for the test drive to a communication terminal  300  (a smartphone, a tablet, a mobile phone, and the like) of the test driver P 1  via a mail server  120 . 
     The email  400  contains an image  401  of the test driver P 1  captured in STEP  10  of  FIG. 4  or in STEP  40  of  FIG. 5 ; a thank-you document  402 ; and an image  403  of the vehicle  1  or a vehicle of the same type and the same color as the vehicle  1 . 
     Since the image  401  of the test driver P 1  is an image captured when the emotion level of “like” of the test driver P 1  is increased by a predetermined level or more, the image  401  is basically a smile image. If a plurality of images are captured, smile detection is performed on each image, and an image with the highest smile level may be selected from among the detected smile images and may be used as the image  401  of the test driver P 1  to be attached to the email  400 . 
     Further, the addresser of the email  400  is a vehicle type name (illustrated by “HT-SPORT” in  FIG. 8 ) of the vehicle  1 , which can enhance the impression of the test driver P 1  to this type of vehicle by including the image  403  of the vehicle  1  or a vehicle of the same type and the same color as the vehicle  1 . 
     4. Other Embodiments 
     The above embodiment has been described using an example where the test driver P 1  performs test drive of the vehicle  1 . When the user uses his or her own vehicle, the user can be made to recognize the usefulness of the current vehicle by providing information on the specific function assumed to interest the user in the same manner as described above. 
     In the above embodiment, a still image (image  401 ) of the test driver P 1  is attached to the email  400 , but a moving image of the user P 1  may be attached thereto. Further, when the image of the test driver P 1  is captured, data of the voice emitted by the test driver P 1  may be recorded and attached to the email together with the image. Furthermore, when the test rider P 1  has contracted the purchase of the vehicle, the contract date, the expected delivery date, and the like may be included in the email and the image information. 
     In the above embodiment, in STEP  8  of  FIG. 4 , the image transmission unit  70  sends an email to the test driver P 1  by assuming the time for the test driver P 1  to return home, but the email may be sent to the test driver P 1  when it is estimated or detected that the user P 1  has left the predetermined area including the vehicle  1 . In this case, the image transmission unit  70  may recognize that the user P 1  has left the predetermined area including the vehicle  1 , for example, (1) when a predetermined time has elapsed from when it was recognized from the images and the like captured by the cameras  11 ,  13 , and  20  that the user P 1  left the vehicle  1 , or (2) when a predetermined time has elapsed from when the user P 1  ended the test drive of the vehicle  1  or the user performed the operation such as folding the seat. 
     The above embodiment comprises the action detection unit  65  and the emotion engine  66  and the function-of-interest estimation unit  67  estimates the specific function that interests the user based on the action of the user detected by the action detection unit  65  and the emotion of the user estimated by the emotion engine A when the action is detected. Alternatively, another embodiment may comprise only the action detection unit  65  and the function-of-interest estimation unit  67  may estimate the specific function based on the action of the user detected by the action detection unit  65 . Alternatively, another embodiment may comprise only the emotion engine  66  and the function-of-interest estimation unit  67  may estimate the specific function that interests the user based on the emotion of the user P 1  detected by the emotion engine  66 . 
     The above embodiment has described the four-wheeled vehicle  1  as the moving body of the present invention, but the present invention may be applied to various types of moving bodies including other types of vehicles such as two-wheeled vehicles, ships, airplanes, and the like. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1  vehicle (moving body) 
           50  control unit 
           51  communication device 
           60  information provision device 
           61  test drive recognition unit 
           62  current vehicle information acquisition unit 
           63  vehicle information acquisition unit 
           64  operation situation detection unit 
           65  action detection unit 
           66  emotion engine (emotion estimation unit) 
           67  function-of-interest estimation unit 
           68  surrounding situation recognition unit 
           69  information provision unit 
           70  image transmission unit 
           71  vehicle emotion notification unit 
           100  customer information server 
           101  customer database 
           400  email 
         P 1  test driver 
         P 2  salesperson