Patent Publication Number: US-2023140551-A1

Title: Information providing method and information providing device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/452,158, filed Jun. 25, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/276,225, filed May 13, 2014, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,380,635 on Aug. 13, 2019, which claims the foreign priority benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-106151, filed May 20, 2013. The entire disclosures of the above-identified applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to an information providing method, information providing device, and information providing system for accurately extracting information that is likely to attract an interest of a user. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, attention has been given to a technique for collecting a user&#39;s action history and for providing information that is likely to attract an interest of the user based on the action history. The information to be collected as the action history of the user includes, for example, information regarding products purchased by the user, food ordered by the user, articles referred to by the user, and broadcast programs viewed by the user. The action history of the user may include evaluation values that each user sets on these pieces of information. The following steps show an exemplary method of extracting information that is likely to attract an interest of the user. The first step is to extract another user who has a hobby and preference with a tendency identical to a tendency of a targeted user based on the action history of the targeted user. The targeted user is a user who receives provided information. The next step is to provide the targeted user with information about a product or broadcast program that the extracted another user highly evaluates and that the targeted user has not used yet. 
     The following is an exemplary method of determining whether two arbitrary chosen users have an identical-tendency hobby and preference. It is determined that two users have an identical-tendency hobby and preference when the two users have similar action histories, such as ordering an identical food and evaluating the ordered food similarly. 
     The following is a method of accurately extracting information that is likely to attract an interest of the user. When extracting another user who has a hobby and preference with a tendency identical to a tendency of the targeted user, a user who has the identical tendency is accurately determined by calculating similarity between the users based on a characteristic vector of each user (for example, see Patent Literature 1). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-252177 (WO 2009/125712 A) 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The configuration of Patent Literature 1 has the following problems. Even if a targeted user is provided with information that is highly evaluated by the similar user and that has not been used yet by the targeted user, the information provided to the targeted user may not actually suit the hobby and preference of the targeted user. 
     One non-limiting and exemplary embodiment provides an information providing method in which the targeted user himself or herself can select another user who has a hobby and preference with a tendency identical to a tendency of the targeted user as a similar user. 
     Additional benefits and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent from the specification and figures. The benefits and/or advantages may be individually provided by the various embodiments and features of the specification and drawings disclosure, and need not all be provided in order to obtain one or more of the same. 
     In one general aspect, the techniques disclosed here feature: an information providing method in an information providing system for providing a terminal device of a user with object information via a network based on information from the terminal device of the user, the object information corresponding to preference of the user, the method comprising: receiving evaluation data regarding a plurality of evaluation objects, from a terminal device of each of a plurality of users via the network; associating a first user among the plurality of users with a second user, the second user having an evaluation tendency similar to evaluation data of the first user; providing a terminal device of the first user via the network with first object information regarding a first evaluation object, the first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user; receiving preference information regarding preference of the plurality of users from a predetermined terminal device via the network; providing the terminal device of the first user with the preference information via the network; receiving from the terminal device of the first user via the network, user information that indicates a third user, the third user being selected by the terminal device of the first user as a user having preference information that corresponds preference of the first user from among the preference information; associating the third user indicated by the user information with the first user and the second user; and providing the terminal device of the first user via the network with second object information regarding a second evaluation object, the second evaluation object having been used by the third user and having not been used by the first user, in addition to the first object information regarding the first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user. 
     These general and specific aspects may be implemented using a system, a method, and a computer program, and any combination of systems, methods, and computer programs. 
     The information providing method of the present disclosure not only provides the targeted user with object information about another user automatically selected by the system, but also allows the targeted user to select another user whom the targeted user is interested in as a similar user. This allows improvement in accuracy of the information to be provided to the targeted user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIGS.  1 (A) to  1 (C)  illustrate an overall configuration of an information providing system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an overall configuration of service pattern 1 of the information providing system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an overall configuration of service pattern 2 of the information providing system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates an overall configuration of service pattern 3 of the information providing system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates an overall configuration of service pattern 4 of the information providing system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a configuration of program  111  that operates in data center  110  of the information providing system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    illustrates a configuration of program  131  that operates in service provider  130  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    illustrates data structure of user information list  200  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  9    illustrates data structure of appliance list  201  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  10    illustrates data structure of preference information list  203  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  11    illustrates data structure of home appliance history  210  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  12    illustrates data structure of store information list  220  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  13    illustrates data structure of evaluation value list  230  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  14    illustrates data structure of similar user list  202  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  15    illustrates an exemplary screen display at a time of information provision in terminal  120  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS.  16 (A) and  16 (B)  each illustrate an exemplary screen display at a time of additional user selection processing in terminal  120  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  17    illustrates an exemplary screen display at a time of additional user selection processing in terminal  120  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  18    illustrates sequence of similar user association processing of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  19    illustrates recommendation information display processing sequence of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  20    illustrates dissimilar user addition processing sequence of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  21    illustrates a configuration of program  113  that operates in data center  110  of the information providing system according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  22    illustrates a configuration of program  121  that operates in terminal  120  of the information providing system according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  23    illustrates a configuration of program  121  that operates in terminal  120  of the information providing system according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  24    illustrates data update processing sequence of the information providing system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  25    illustrates data synchronization processing sequence of the information providing system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  26    illustrates a minimum configuration of the information providing system according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  27    illustrates sequence at a time of dissimilar user selection according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     (Findings Underlying the Present Disclosure) 
     Collaborative filtering is known as a technique for selecting information that suits preference of a user from a large amount of data. The collaborative filtering includes a technique for grouping a first user and a second user who has an evaluation tendency similar to evaluation data of the first user, and for providing the first user with information that the second user in the group has used but that the first user has not used yet. 
     The use of this technique however has the following problem. That is, even when the first user is provided with the information that the second user in the group has used but that the first user has not used yet, the information provided to the first user may not actually suit preference of the first user. 
     One of the possible reasons for this includes items below. Strictly speaking, the first user and the second user have performed the evaluations in accordance with different standards. Accordingly, even if the first user and the second user seem to have similar evaluation tendencies, evaluations in accordance with a strictly identical standard may have led to different evaluation results. 
     Another possible reason includes items below. After the information-providing service provider selects another user who has a similar evaluation tendency, a user who receives the information is not provided with means for modifying information about the selected user. Accordingly, the information to be provided to the user does not reflect an intention of the user who receives the information. 
     Therefore, the present applicants have examined provision of information regarding preference of each user to cloud by another means, separately from evaluation data evaluated by each user. The information regarding each user&#39;s preference provided by another means is utilized together with the above-described technique. That is, from among the information regarding another user&#39;s preference provided by another means, a third user who suits the first user&#39;s preference is selected based on the first user&#39;s intention, and the third user is added to the above-described group. 
     This method is considered to improve the accuracy of the provided information suiting the preference of the first user when the first user is provided with information that another user in the group has used but that the first user has not used yet. 
     In order to solve the problems described above, the information providing method in the present disclosure includes the following: an information providing method in an information providing system for providing a terminal device of a user with object information via a network based on information from the terminal device of the user, the object information corresponding to preference of the user, the method comprising: receiving evaluation data regarding a plurality of evaluation objects, from a terminal device of each of a plurality of users via the network; associating a first user among the plurality of users with a second user, the second user having an evaluation tendency similar to evaluation data of the first user; providing a terminal device of the first user via the network with first object information regarding a first evaluation object, the first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user; receiving preference information regarding preference of the plurality of users from a predetermined terminal device via the network; providing the terminal device of the first user with the preference information via the network; receiving from the terminal device of the first user via the network, user information that indicates a third user, the third user being selected by the terminal device of the first user as a user having preference information that corresponds preference of the first user from among the preference information; associating the third user indicated by the user information with the first user and the second user; and providing the terminal device of the first user via the network with second object information regarding a second evaluation object, the second evaluation object having been used by the third user and having not been used by the first user, in addition to the first object information regarding the first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user. 
     The applicants have found that the present configuration not only provides the targeted user with object information about another user automatically selected by the system, but also allows the targeted user to select another user whom the targeted user is interested in as a similar user. 
     The terminal device described above may be a terminal device of each of the plurality of users, and preference information regarding preference of the plurality of users may be inputted from the terminal device of each of the plurality of users. 
     The present configuration allows each user to input preference information at any time using each user&#39;s terminal. 
     A home appliance in a house of each of the plurality of users may be connected to a network. The terminal device may be the home appliance. Home appliance log information about the home appliance may be inputted via the network to generate preference information regarding preference of the plurality of users. 
     The present configuration eliminates the need for each user to input all the preference information. Each user only needs to add preference information that home appliance log information fails to generate. When the home appliance log information generates wrong preference information, each user only needs to modify the information. 
     The association of the first user with the second user may be performed by associating a first identifier that indicates a terminal device of the first user with a second identifier that indicates a terminal device of the second user. 
     The present configuration makes it possible to provide information suitable for a user who uses each terminal device. 
     The association of the first user with the second user may be performed by associating a first identifier that indicates the first user with a second identifier that indicates the second user. 
     The present configuration makes it possible to provide information suitable for each user. 
     Evaluation data regarding each evaluation object among a plurality of evaluation objects may be generated based on a number of access to each evaluation object in a terminal device of each of the plurality of users. 
     The present configuration eliminates the need of the user to input evaluation values explicitly. 
     The evaluation data regarding each evaluation object among the plurality of evaluation objects may be generated based on evaluation inputted by each of the plurality of users in a terminal device of each user. 
     The present configuration allows the user to input the evaluation values explicitly, and makes it possible to provide information that matches actual feeling of the user better. 
     Furthermore, the information providing method according to the present disclosure includes the following: an information providing method in an information providing system for providing a terminal device of a user with object information via a network based on information from the terminal device of the user, the object information corresponding to preference of the user, the method comprising: receiving evaluation data of regarding a plurality of evaluation objects, from a terminal device of each of a plurality of users via the network; associating a first user among the plurality of users with a second user having an evaluation tendency similar to evaluation data of the first user; providing a terminal device of the first user via the network with first object information regarding a first evaluation object, the first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user; receiving first preference information regarding preference of the plurality of users, from the terminal device of each of the plurality of users via the network; providing the terminal device of the first user with the first preference information via the network; receiving second preference information from the terminal device of the first user via the network, the second preference information being selected from among the first preference information by the terminal device of the first user as preference information that corresponds preference of the first user; associating a third user who provides the second preference information with the first user and the second user t; and providing the terminal device of the first user via the network with second object information regarding a second evaluation object, the second evaluation object having been used by the third user and having not been used by the first user, in addition to the first object information regarding the first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user. 
     The present configuration not only provides the targeted user with object information of another user automatically selected by the system, but also allows the targeted user to select, as a similar user, another user having preference information that attracts an interest of the targeted user based on preference information inputted by a plurality of users from their respective terminal devices. 
     Furthermore, a number of the third user may be plural. 
     The present configuration, which allows selection of a plurality of users at a time as similar users, makes it possible to simplify processing by the user. 
     Furthermore, the information providing method according to the present disclosure includes the following: an information providing method in an information providing system for displaying object information that suits corresponds of a user of a terminal device on a display of the terminal device based on information from the terminal device, the method causing a computer of the terminal device to: input evaluation data about regarding a plurality of evaluation objects evaluated by each of a plurality of users into a terminal device of a first user among the plurality of users from a cloud server via a network; associate the first user with a second user who has an evaluation tendency similar to evaluation data of the first user; input first object information from the cloud server into the terminal device and display the object information on the display of the terminal device, the first object information being regarding a first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user; input preference information regarding preference of the plurality of users from the cloud server into the terminal device via the network and display the preference information on the display of the terminal device; receive user information that indicates a third user via the terminal device and associate the third user with the first user and the second user, the third user being selected as a user having preference information that corresponds preference of the first user from among the preference information; provide the cloud server with the user information that indicates the third user via the network; and input second object information from the cloud server into the terminal device via the network and display the second object information on the display of the terminal device, the second object information being regarding a second evaluation object having been used by the third user and having not been used by the first user, in addition to the first object information regarding the first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user. 
     The present configuration makes it possible to provide an information providing method that not only provides object information about another user automatically selected by the system, but also allows a targeted user to select, as a similar user, another user whom the targeted user is interested in. 
     Furthermore, the information providing method according to the present disclosure includes the following: an information providing method in an information providing system for displaying object information that corresponds preference of a user of a terminal device on a display of the terminal device based on information from the terminal device, the method causing a computer of the terminal device to: input evaluation data regarding a plurality of evaluation objects evaluated by each of a plurality of users into a terminal device of a first user among the plurality of users from a cloud server via a network; associate the first user with a second user who has an evaluation tendency similar to evaluation data of the first user; input first object information from the cloud server into the terminal device and display the first object information on the display of the terminal device, the first object information being regarding a first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user; input first preference information from the cloud server into the terminal device via the network and display the first preference information on the display of the terminal device, the first preference information being regarding preference of the plurality of users; receive second preference information via the terminal device and provide the cloud server with the second preference information via the network, the second preference information being selected as preference information that corresponds preference of the first user from among the first preference information; receive user information that indicates a third user who selects the second preference information via the terminal device, and the third user with the first user and the second user; and input second object information from the cloud server into the terminal device via the network and display the second object information on the display of the terminal device, the second object information being regarding a second evaluation object having been used by the third user and having not been used by the first user, in addition to the first object information regarding the first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user. 
     The present configuration not only provides object information about a user automatically selected by the system, but also allows the targeted user to select, as a similar user, another user having preference information that attracts an interest of the targeted user based on preference information inputted by a plurality of users from their respective terminal devices. 
     Furthermore, the information providing device according to the present disclosure is an information providing device for displaying object information that corresponds preference of a user, the device comprising: a display for displaying the object information; a communicating section for receiving evaluation data regarding a plurality of evaluation objects evaluated by each of a plurality of users from a cloud server via a network; and a controller configured to: associate a first user among the plurality of users with a second user having an evaluation tendency similar to evaluation data of the first user, display, on the display, first object information regarding a first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user, receive preference information regarding preference of the plurality of users using the communicating section from the cloud server via the network, display the preference information regarding the preference of the plurality of users on the display, receive user information that indicates a third user selected as a user having preference information that corresponds preference of the first user from among the preference information, and associate the third user with the first user and the second user, and display, on the display, second object information regarding a second evaluation object having been used by the third user and having not been used by the first user, in addition to the first object information regarding the first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user. 
     The present configuration makes it possible to provide an information providing device that not only provides object information about another user automatically selected by the system, but also allows a targeted user to select, as a similar user, another user whom the targeted user is interested in. 
     Furthermore, the information providing device described above further includes a storing section, wherein the controller receives evaluation data about a plurality of evaluation objects evaluated by each of the plurality of users at a first timing from the cloud server via the network and stores the received evaluation data in the storage, receives preference information regarding preference of the plurality of users at a second timing from the cloud server via the network and stores the received preference information in the storage, selects the first object information regarding the first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user, using the storage, and displays the selected first object information on the display, and selects the second object information regarding the second evaluation object having been used by the third user and having not been used by the first user, using the storage, and displays the selected second object information on the display. 
     The present configuration makes it possible to provide an information providing device that allows a targeted user to select, as a similar user, another user whom the targeted user is interested in even when the information providing device, such as a terminal device, is temporarily disconnected to a cloud server. 
     Furthermore, the information providing device according to the present disclosure is an information providing device for displaying object information that suits preference of a user, the device comprising: a display for displaying the object information; a communicating section for receiving evaluation data regarding a plurality of evaluation objects evaluated by each of a plurality of users from a cloud server via a network; and a controller configured to: associate a first user among the plurality of users with a second user having an evaluation tendency similar to evaluation data of the first user, display, on the display, first object information regarding a first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user, receive first preference information regarding preference of the plurality of users using the communicating section from the cloud server via the network, display the first preference information regarding the preference of the plurality of users on the display, receive second preference information selected as preference information that s corresponds preference of the first user from among the first preference information, associate a third user who selects the second preference information with the first user and the second user, and display, on the display, second object information regarding a second evaluation object having been used by the third user and having not been used by the first user, in addition to the first object information regarding the first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user. 
     The present configuration makes it possible to provide, an information providing device that not only provides object information about another user automatically selected by the system, but also allows the targeted user to select, as a similar user, another user having preference information that attracts an interest of the targeted user based on preference information inputted by a plurality of users from their respective terminal devices. 
     Furthermore, the information providing device described above further includes a storing section, wherein the controller receives evaluation data about a plurality of evaluation objects evaluated by each of the plurality of users at a first timing from the cloud server via the network and stores the received evaluation data in the storing section, receives the first preference information regarding the preference of the plurality of users at a second timing from the cloud server via the network and stores the received first preference information in the storing section, selects the first object information regarding the first evaluation object having been used by the second user and having not been used by the first user, using the storage, and displays the selected first object information on the display, and selects the second object information regarding the second evaluation object having been used by the third user and having not been used by the first user, using the storage, and displays the selected second object information on the display. 
     The present configuration allows the targeted user to select, as a similar user, another user having preference information that attracts an interest of the targeted user based on preference information inputted by a plurality of users from their respective terminal devices even when the information providing device, such as a terminal device, is temporarily disconnected to the cloud server. 
     Every exemplary embodiment described below shows one specific example of the present disclosure. A numerical value, shape, component, step, step sequence, and the like described in the following exemplary embodiments are an example, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Among the components in the following exemplary embodiments, a component that is not described in an independent claim showing the most generic concept is described as an optional component. In all the exemplary embodiments, it is possible to combine content of each of the exemplary embodiments. 
     (Overview of the Service to Provide) 
       FIGS.  1 (A) to  1 (C)  illustrate an overall configuration of an information providing system according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Group  100  is, for example, a company, an organization, a family, or the like. Group  100  may be a building, a public facility, a house, or the like. Group  100  may be a vehicle (automobile, airplane, ship, train, or the like), a plant (electric power, machine, steel, or the like), or the like. Group  100  may be on any scale. Group  100  includes appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 , and home gateway  102 . Appliance group  101  may include appliances connectable to the Internet (for example, smart phone, personal computer, television set, or the like). Appliance group  101  may include appliances unconnectable to the Internet in themselves (for example, illumination, washing machine, refrigerator, or the like). Appliance group  101  may include appliances unconnectable to the Internet in themselves, the appliances becoming connectable to the Internet via an appliance connectable to the Internet or via home gateway  102 . The appliance connectable to the Internet and home gateway  102  may always be connected to the Internet, or may be connected to the Internet regularly or irregularly. The appliance unconnectable to the Internet may become connectable to the Internet by the installation of a device connectable to the Internet. Group  100  includes user  10  who uses appliance group  101 . User  10  uses appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101  as necessary. Group  100  further includes home gateway  102 . Home gateway  102  performs relay processing for connecting, to the Internet, appliances included in appliance group  101 , the appliances being unconnectable to the Internet. The relay processing includes, for example, interconversion of protocols, interconversion of communication modes, and interconversion of signals. Home gateway  102  may not relay all communications (data etc.) to the Internet, but may relay only a portion of communications. For example, from among data to be uploaded from appliance group  101  to data center  110  or the like, home gateway  102  may determine which data to upload and which data not to upload, and may select data to relay. The above description is also applied to appliance control information provided from data center  110  or the like to appliance group  101 . For example, home gateway  102  may determine which control information to notify appliance group  101  and which control information not to notify appliance group  101 . Home gateway  102  may then select control information to relay. At this time, home gateway  102  may determine whether to relay the information depending on content of the data to upload and on content of the control information to notify. Home gateway  102  may determine not to relay the information until the accumulation of data or control information of a certain period of time or of a certain quantity. Alternatively, home gateway  102  may determine to relay the information at a certain time, and not to relay the information at another time. Home gateway  102  may determine whether to relay the information depending on information from a sensor installed in group  100 . Home gateway  102  may determine whether to relay the information depending on an instruction from data center  110  or the like. Furthermore, home gateway  102  may not only determine whether to relay the information, but also store, for example, part of data uploaded from appliance group  101 . The data stored in home gateway  102  includes the following information. For example, information regarding privacy of user  10 , confidential information or secret information about group  100 , information regarding security, safety, and the like. Only home gateway  102  may store the information. The information may be processed and then uploaded to data center  110 . 
     Data center  110  includes program  111  and data  112 . Program  111  is a program that cooperates with various appliances via the Internet. Program  111  mainly manages huge data (big data) or the like that is difficult to handle with a general database management tool or the like. Program  111  also provides various services to an appliance outside of data center  110  (appliance A, appliance B, terminal  120 ), and to service provider  130 . Data  112  includes data managed by program  111 , data received from appliance A, appliance B, terminal  120 , service provider  130 , and the like, or data calculated by program  111 . Data  112  stored in a storage device (not illustrated) is included in data center  110 . 
     Data center  110  is not limited to a company that performs only management of data, and management and operation of a computer that executes program  111 . For example, when an appliance manufacturer that develops and manufactures one appliance out of appliance group  101  performs management such as data management and computer management, the appliance manufacturer corresponds to data center  110  ( FIG.  1 (B) ). Data center  110  is not necessarily one company. For example, when a plurality of appliance manufacturers exercise in collaboration or on a job-sharing basis, or one or more appliance manufacturers and other management companies exercise in collaboration or on a job-sharing basis management of data, and management and operation of a computer, all or part of the management and operation corresponds to data center  110  ( FIG.  1 (C) ). 
     Service provider  130  includes program  131  and data  132 . Program  131  is a program that cooperates with various appliances via the Internet. Program  131  uses data  112  stored in data center  110  and data  132  to provide terminal  120  with various services. Program  131  provides data center  110  with data obtained from terminal  120 , data calculated by program  131 , and data  132 . Program  131  provides appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101  with information, or controls appliance A and appliance B via program  111  in data center  110 . Data  132  is included in service provider  130  in a state of being stored in a storage device (not illustrated). Service provider  130  may not include data  132 . In this case, service provider  130  acquires various data from data center  110  as necessary. 
     In the above-described information providing system, home gateway  102  is not essential. For example, when data center  110  performs all the data management, home gateway  102  is unnecessary. Home gateway  102  is also unnecessary when an appliance unconnectable to the Internet in itself does not exist, such as when all the appliances at home are connected to the Internet. Home gateway  102  is also unnecessary when all the appliances unconnectable to the Internet are connected to the Internet via an appliance connectable to the Internet. Home gateway  102  is also unnecessary as an appliance when functions of home gateway  102  are mounted in an appliance connectable to the Internet. 
     Terminal  120  is an appliance used by user  20 . Terminal  120  receives a service provided by program  131  and displays on a screen of terminal  120  as necessary. Terminal  120  receives an instruction from user  20 , or operates according to an event generated in terminal  120 , and then notifies data to program  131 . Terminal  120  may receive a service provided by program  111 , and may display on the screen of terminal  120  as necessary. Terminal  120  may receive an instruction from user  20 , or may operate according to an event generated in terminal  120  and notify data to program  111 . 
     User  10  and user  20  may be different persons, may be an identical person, and may be one person or a plurality of persons. Appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 , and terminal  120  may be used by either of user  10  or user  20 . Alternatively, without being used by anybody, each of appliance A, appliance B, and terminal  120  may include a sensor and operate autonomously according to data from each sensor, or to data received from program  111  or program  131 . 
     Next, the following describes information flow in the above-described information providing system. 
     First, appliance A or appliance B included in appliance group  101  in group  100  transmits each pieces of log information to program  111  in data center  110 . Program  111  accumulates the log information about appliance A or appliance B as data  112  (step (a) in  FIG.  1 (A) ). The log information refers to information such as history information about operation of appliance A or appliance B performed by user  10 , and sensor information from various sensors. Examples of the log information include: for example, a viewing history of a television; recording reservation information of a recorder; operation date and time, amount of laundry, and operation mode of a washing machine; open/close date and time, number of times of open/close, and amount of used power of a refrigerator; and usage date and time, usage course, cooking time, and usage recipe of a microwave oven or a bread machine. The log information however refers not only to the above-described information but also to all information that can be acquired from every appliance. The log information is directly provided to program  111  from appliance group  101  themselves via the Internet in some cases. The log information may be accumulated from appliance group  101  into home gateway  102  temporarily, and may then be provided from home gateway  102  to program  111 . 
     Next, program  111  in data center  110  organizes the log information accumulated as data  112  into information that suits a service to be provided to service provider  130 , and provides the information to program  131  in service provider  130  in a fixed unit. The fixed unit may be a unit in which the information accumulated by data center  110  can be organized and provided to service provider  130 . The fixed unit may also be a unit required by service provider  130 . The unit in which the log information is provided to service provider  130  has been described as a fixed unit, but the unit does not need to be fixed. That is, an amount of information to be provided may vary according to a situation. The above-described log information is stored as data  132  in service provider  130  as necessary (step (e) in  FIG.  1 (A) ). 
     Then, program  131  in service provider  130  provides terminal  120  that user  20  possesses with the information provided from data center  110 . The information to be provided to terminal  120  may be information obtained by organizing the information provided from data center  110  into information that suits the service to be provided to user  20 . The information to be provided to terminal  120  may be information generated by program  131  (step (b) in  FIG.  1 (A) ). 
     Terminal  120  organizes the information provided from program  131  so that the information can be displayed on a screen. Terminal  120  notifies user  20  of the information provided from program  131  by displaying the information on the screen. Terminal  120  further displays a command that user  20  can use on the same screen or on another screen. When user  20  inputs something regarding the display, terminal  120  notifies program  131  of content inputted by user  20  and an instruction using a command (step (c) in  FIG.  1 (A) ). The above-described command includes an instruction for start-up and closing, and settings of an operation mode for appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 . The above-described command is, for example, an instruction for power on/off and channel designation of a television set, and an instruction for recording reservation and instruction for reproduction start/stop of a recorder. The above-described command is setting of an operation mode and instruction for washing start for a washing machine. The above-described command is an instruction for power on/off, operation mode setting, temperature setting, wind amount setting, wind direction setting, etc. for an air-conditioner. The above-described command however includes all commands that can be set not only to these appliances but to every appliance. 
     Program  131  in service provider  130  organizes the notification and log information received from terminal  120  into information that suits the service to be provided to user  10 , data center  110 , and appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 . Program  131  provides program  111  in data center  110  with the organized information (step (f) in  FIG.  1 (A) ). When program  131  has information to provide to appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 , program  131  provides the information to appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101  via data center  110  (steps (d), ( 0  in  FIG.  1 (A) ). When program  131  in service provider  130  has information to provide to appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 , program  131  may directly provide the information to appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 , not via data center  110 . 
     The information may be provided to all of appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101  in group  100 , data center  110 , and terminal  120 . The information may be provided only to part of the above-described appliances. The notification and log information received from terminal  120  may be provided to terminal  120  again. 
     Program  111  in data center  110  organizes the information provided from appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 , service provider  130 , terminal  120 , and the like. Program  111  in data center  110  then provides the organized information to appliance A and appliance B (step (d) in  FIG.  1 (A) ). 
     Patterns of the information providing system in the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to these examples. 
     The above-described information providing system has a function of accumulating each piece of log information received from appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101  in group  100 . The above-described information providing system further has a function of organizing the accumulated log information into information that suits the service to be provided to a user. The above-described information providing system further has a function of providing a terminal that user  20  possesses with the accumulated log information and the organized information. The information providing system can be classified into, for example, the following patterns according to where these functions are included. Patterns that allow achievement of the techniques described in the present disclosure, however, are not limited to these patterns. 
     (Service Pattern 1: In-House Service Type) 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an overall configuration of service pattern 1 (in-house service type). In the present pattern, data center  110  acquires information from group  100  (home) and provides service directly to terminal  120 . In the present pattern, data center  110  has a function of service provider  130 . That is, data center  110  manages information from group  100  (home). Based on the information from group  100 , data center  110  provides a service to terminal  120  (user  20 ). Therefore, service provider  130  does not exist. 
     In the present pattern, data center  110  manages program  113  and data  114 . Data center  110  uses program  113  to accumulate log information of appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101  as data  114  (step (a) in  FIG.  2   ). Data center  110  uses program  113  to provide service to terminal  120  (step (b) in  FIG.  2   ). Data center  110  further organizes the information provided from terminal  120  (step (c) in  FIG.  2   ). Data center  110  further provides service to appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101  (step (d) in  FIG.  2   ). 
     The above description, in which program  113  in data center  110  performs the above-described processing, is not restrictive. There may be a plurality of programs  113 . For example, an individual program may be used for each of the above-described processing. A program that communicates with appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 , and a program that communicates with terminal  120  may exist separately. 
     (Service Pattern 2: Storage Service Type) 
       FIG.  3    illustrates an overall configuration of service pattern 2 (storage service type). In the present pattern, a function of service provider  130  in  FIG.  1 (A)  operates in data center  110 . In the present pattern, data center  110  includes application provider  140  that has a function of service provider  130 . Application provider  140  is run by a company other than a company that runs data center  110 . This makes it possible to allow different companies to perform data management and service provision, respectively, while providing application provider  140  with high-speed data access. Application provider  140  present in data center  110  makes it possible to exchange data between data center  110  and application provider  140  at a higher speed. Since the data exchange does not go through an external network, it is also possible to reduce costs necessary for the external network. 
     Data center  110  manages information to be exchanged with group  100 . Data center  110  also provides an environment that allows program  141  in application provider  140  to access data  114 . Application provider  140  uses program  141  to provide terminal  120  (user  20 ) with service based on data  114  managed by data center  110 . Therefore, service provider  130  does not exist. Data center  110  also manages data generated by program  141  as data  114 . 
     Program  141  in application provider  140  may operate in a computer installed in data center  110 , the computer being managed by application provider  140 . A company that runs data center  110  may prepare a computer, and application provider  140  may install program  141  including an operating system (OS) and middleware into the computer. The computer prepared by the company that runs data center  110  may be a real computer or a virtual computer. 
     Data center  110  provides application provider  140  with an environment for access to data  114 . The access to data  114  may be made via a network. Data  114  may be shared as a virtual disk in a virtual computer, and the access may be made as disk access. Program  141  in application provider  140  accesses data  114 , performs various processing, and provides service. 
     (Service Pattern 3: Web Application Type) 
       FIG.  4    illustrates an overall configuration of service pattern 3 (Web application type). The present pattern is a variation of service pattern 2 (storage service type) in  FIG.  3   . In the present pattern, data center  110  provides application provider  140  with not only space for installing a real computer and the computer, but also an operating system (OS) and middleware. This eliminates the need of application provider  140  to prepare the OS and middleware. This also allows application provider  140  to use data  114  managed by data center  110  more easily. This allows data center  110  to provide data processed using the OS and middleware, and to restrict access to data more flexibly. 
     Data center  110  includes program  111 , data  114 , OS/middleware  115 , and program  142  provided by application provider  140 . OS/middleware  115  provides program  111  and program  142  with an environment that allows execution of program  111  and program  142 . The environment that allows execution of program  111  and program  142  includes a library for accessing data  114 . During the access to data  114 , program  111  and program  142  use the library provided by OS/middleware  115  to access data  114 . 
     (Service Pattern 4: Terminal Type) 
       FIG.  5    illustrates an overall configuration of service pattern 4 (terminal type). In the present pattern, a function of service provider  130  in  FIG.  1 (A)  operates in terminal  120 . In the present pattern, terminal  120  includes program  121  that has a function of service provider  130 . That is, program  121  in terminal  120  communicates directly with data center  110 , and provides service directly to user  20  in accordance with data obtained from data center  110 . Therefore, service provider  130  does not exist. In the present pattern, data center  110  includes program  116  and data  117 . Terminal  120  includes program  121  and data  122 . Program  116  manages data received from appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 . Program  116  organizes the data received from appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 . Program  116  also provides the received data and the organized data to program  121  in terminal  120 . Data  117  includes the data received from appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 . Data  117  further includes data such as the data organized by program  116  and the data received from terminal  120 . Program  121  uses data  117  stored in data center  110  and data  122  to provide user  20  with service. Data  122  stores the data received from data center  110 , the data organized by program  121 , and the data inputted from user  20 . Data  122  further stores other programs in terminal  120 , data from a sensor installed in terminal  120 , and other information. 
     Program  121  may be provided by service provider  130 , and may be provided by a terminal manufacturer who develops and manufactures terminal  120 . Program  121  may be provided by data center  110 , and may be provided by an appliance manufacturer who develops and manufactures one appliance among appliance group  101 . Alternatively, program  121  may be provided by another company. Program  121  may be provided by user  10  who uses appliance group  101 , and may be provided by user  20  who uses terminal  120 . Program  121  may be provided by other users or developers. 
     Data  122  may store all or part of the data stored in data  117 . For example, all of the data stored in data  117  may be recorded in a storage device of terminal  120  before shipment of terminal  120 . Data  122  may record part of the data stored in data  117 . Data  122  may record only log information during a certain period of time. The data may be downloaded via a network and recorded at a time of initial start-up of program  121 . While user  20  is using terminal  120 , the data may be downloaded and recorded in the background. The data may be downloaded and recorded while terminal  120  is operating but user  20  is not using terminal  120 . When program  121  is installed in terminal  120 , the data may be installed together. The data may be stored in terminal  120  via a recording media, or data recorded in the recording media may be used as it is. 
     Data  122  may store data generated by each managing section in terminal  120  together with data copied from data  117 . When a change is made in data  122 , terminal  120  may notify the change to data center  110  and may cause data  117  in data center  110  to reflect the change in data  122 . In this way, when data  122  stores all or part of data  117 , program  121  can provide user  20  with a service even in a case where terminal  120  cannot access data center  110 . 
     When a change, addition, or deletion is made in data  117 , program  121  may receive the notification from program  116  and reflect the change etc. made in data  117  on data  122 . 
     Program  121  may switch between using the data of data  122  and using the data of data  117  in data center  110  depending on a state of access to data center  110 . For example, when access to data center  110  can be made at a high speed, program  121  uses the data of data  117  in data center  110 . On the other hand, when access to data center  110  is not available or when access cannot be made at a high speed, a method of switching is available such as using data  122 . Besides this method, program  121  may determine which of data  117  and data  122  to use depending on an amount of data exchanged with data center  110 , and on date and time when data to be used is updated. Alternatively, another method may be used. 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
     The information providing system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is a system for selecting information that suits preference of a user from among a large amount of information, the system providing the user with information that the user has not used yet from among the information selected by the system. Specifically, first, the system extracts a plurality of similar users who have preference similar to preference of the user based on user evaluation values for a restaurant or grocery store registered in a database. The system then selects a restaurant or grocery store on which the similar users set high values. Next, the system provides the user with information about a store that the user has not used yet from among the restaurant or grocery store selected by the system. In addition, the system also provides the user with information regarding dissimilar users who are not extracted as similar users. The user selects another user (additional user) who may be added to the similar users from among the information-provided dissimilar users. The present system adds the additional user selected by the user to the similar users, extracts a store that suits preference of the user again, and provides the user with information about the store. In this system, the user inputs an evaluation value when the user visits or uses the store. This makes it possible to provide the user who receives information about the store selected by the system with means for modifying the selection. This method can improve the accuracy with which the information provided to the user suits the preference of the user. 
     The information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure further uses log information obtained from an appliance used by the user to determine the preference of the user. This makes it possible to select a store that better suits the preference of the user by determining whether a feature of each store suits the preference of the user. This also saves the user&#39;s time and effort to input his or her own preference information into the system. Furthermore, this is considered to make it possible to extract preference information that the user himself or herself is not aware of from the log information. 
     &lt;System Configuration&gt; 
     The information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is an information providing system illustrated in  FIG.  1   . The information providing system includes group  100  (house), data center  110 , terminal  120 , and service provider  130 . Each component and each functional outline have been described previously. Details of each component will be described below. 
       FIG.  6    is a configuration diagram of program  111  that operates in data center  110  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. For convenience of description,  FIG.  6    also illustrates data  112  together. 
     In  FIG.  6   , program  111  in data center  110  includes controlling section  300 . Controlling section  300  includes store information managing section  301 , evaluation data managing section  302 , user information managing section  303 , user preference information managing section  304 , and appliance history information managing section  305 . 
     Store information managing section  301  is a managing section that manages data regarding store information included in data  112  in data center  110 . The data managed by store information managing section  301  includes a store ID for identifying the store, a name of the store, an address of the store, an icon for a user to easily identify the store, a category of the store for showing what kind of store the store is. An individual value of the store ID is set for each store. The category of the store refers to, for example, in a case of a restaurant, a type of food served at the store, such as “Japanese food”, “Western food”, “Chinese food”, “French food”, and “Italian food”. The category of the store refers to a major food material served at the store, such as “bread”, “vegetable”, “beef”, “fish”, “pasta”, “fruit”, and “cake”. The category of the store refers to a cooking method of a main menu of the store, such as “roast”, “deep-fry”, “boil”, “raw”, and “stir-fry”. The category of the store further refers to a preference tendency of the food served at the store, such as “sweet”, “bitter”, “hot”, “sour”, and “fatty”. The category of the store refers to information regarding an allergy-causing substance to which the store pays attention, such as “for those with egg allergies”, “for those with wheat allergies”, “for those with shrimp allergies”, “for those with crab allergies”, “for those with peanut allergies”, or “egg-free”, “wheat-free”. The category of the store may be a combination of the above pieces of category information. 
     User  10  and user  20  input the store information about each store using an interface provided by store information managing section  301 . User  10  and user  20  check whether the store visited or used has been registered in data  112 . When the check result shows that the store has not been registered, user  10  and user  20  register the information about the store using the interface provided by store information managing section  301 . When the store has been registered, user  10  and user  20  refer to the information about the store. When the information referred to is old and needs to be modified, user  10  and user  20  modify the information about the store using the interface provided by store information managing section  301 . When the visited store is already closed, user  10  and user  20  delete the store information about the closed store using the interface provided by store information managing section  301 . 
     In response to a request from user  10 , user  20 , controlling section  300 , another managing section, or another appliance, store information managing section  301  searches data managed by store information managing section  301  and outputs the search results based on a name, address, and category of the specified store. Store information managing section  301  also has a function of outputting the store information corresponding to the specified store ID. 
     Store information managing section  301  may perform each processing of registration, modification, and deletion of store information just as requested, the processing being requested by user  10  and/or user  20 . Store information managing section  301  may perform the processing, only after store information managing section  301  inquires of an administrator who manages store information whether the processing may be performed and after the administrator determines that the processing may be performed. Store information managing section  301  may perform the processing, only after appointment of a plurality of administrators, and after consultation by the plurality of administrators or agreement by the administrators of equal to or greater than a certain number. Part or all of the administrators may be users. Alternatively, the processing may be performed in response to a request for similar processing from a plurality of users. A record may be made about who has performed what kind of processing when. The record may be configured so that user  10  and user  20  can see the history. The record may be configured so that a user other than the user who has performed the processing can evaluate a history corresponding to each processing. Depending on the evaluation, registration processing, modification processing, and deletion processing of the store information may be prohibited. Conversely, depending on the evaluation, the check by the administrator may be made unnecessary. When deletion of the store information is requested, store information managing section  301  may record only information that the store has been closed, and may not delete the store information itself. Alternatively, store information managing section  301  may prohibit registration, modification, and deletion of the store information by users such as user  10  and user  20 , and may allow only reference of the store information. In this case, only the administrator who manages the store information can perform each processing of registration, modification, and deletion. 
     Evaluation data managing section  302  manages evaluation data (evaluation value) set by user  10  and user  20  for each store managed by store information managing section  301 . The evaluation data is included in data  112 . Evaluation data managing section  302  associates a store ID for identifying the store and a user ID for identifying the user with the evaluation value for management. That is, evaluation data managing section  302  manages how the user indicated by the user ID evaluates the store indicated by the store ID. When the user has not evaluated the store yet, evaluation data managing section  302  manages to that effect. When the store has not been evaluated yet, an absence of the evaluation data may represent that the store has not been evaluated yet. 
     Evaluation data managing section  302  has an interface for adding and modifying the evaluation data. User  10  and user  20  request processing of addition and modification of the evaluation data from appliances such as appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 , or terminal  120 , using the interface of evaluation data managing section  302 . Evaluation data managing section  302  performs processing of addition and modification of the evaluation data in response to the request from the user. 
     Evaluation data managing section  302  outputs the evaluation data managed by evaluation data managing section  302  in response to a request from user  10 , user  20 , controlling section  300 , another managing section, or another appliance. At this time, for example, when a store ID and a user ID are specified, evaluation data managing section  302  outputs an evaluation value of a store indicated by the store ID, the evaluation value being set by a user indicated by the user ID. When only a store ID is specified, evaluation data managing section  302  outputs an evaluation value of a store indicated by the store ID, the evaluation value being set by all users. Similarly, when only a user ID is specified, evaluation data managing section  302  outputs an evaluation value of all stores, the evaluation value being set by a user indicated by the user ID. When a plurality of store IDs and a plurality of user IDs are specified, evaluation data managing section  302  outputs an evaluation value set for each of all combination of the store IDs and the user IDs. 
     Evaluation data managing section  302  may have an interface for deleting evaluation data. When specified store information managed by store information managing section  301  is deleted, or when closing of a specified store is registered, evaluation data managing section  302  may delete evaluation data regarding a store ID of the store. When a store is closed and store information of the closed store is not deleted, evaluation data managing section  302  may not delete evaluation data of the closed store. Evaluation data managing section  302  may prohibit change of the evaluation data of the closed store. The evaluation value may be set by a user, and may be generated from log information obtained from an appliance. Methods of generating evaluation data from log information include a method of using the following information that may be included in the log information. The information includes, for example, a number of times the user accesses information about the store, a number of times the user visits the store, and a number of times the user orders food served at the store. The information includes a number of times the user reserves and visits the store, a food material and recipe of the store, and a number of times the user uses a cooking method. The evaluation data may be generated by using only one piece of the aforementioned information. The evaluation data may be generated by using a plurality of pieces of the aforementioned information. At this time, the evaluation value may be set according to a number of times. The evaluation value may be set from a difference of a number of times from another user. 
     User information managing section  303  is a managing section that manages data regarding user information included in data  112 . The data managed by user information managing section  303  includes a user ID for identifying a user, a name of the user, an address of the user, an age of the user, a gender of the user, and an appliance ID list for managing appliances that the user possesses. An individual value of the user ID is set for each user. The appliance ID list associates an appliance ID for identifying an appliance with a user ID of a user who possesses the appliance. The user ID may be a numerical value string or character string determined by the user. The user ID may be an identifier, such as a manufacturer&#39;s serial number, telephone number, and device-dependent number of a terminal device that the user uses. The user ID may be an ID randomly generated by the information providing system. Basically, one appliance is associated with one user. When a plurality of users use or manage an appliance, however, one appliance may be associated with a plurality of users. 
     User  10  and user  20  input their respective user information using an interface provided by user information managing section  303 . User  10  and user  20  input the user information at a time of registration in the present system. When a change occurs in the user information registered by user  10  and user  20 , each user requests modification of the user information from user information managing section  303 . At a time of withdrawal from the present system, each user requests deletion of the user information from user information managing section  303 . 
     In response to a request such as registration, modification, and deletion regarding user information via the interface, user information managing section  303  performs the request. 
     User preference information managing section  304  is a managing section that manages user preference information included in data  112 , the user preference information being associated with the user. The data managed by user preference information managing section  304  includes a user ID for identifying the user and the preference information associated with the user. The user ID is a user ID managed by user information managing section  303 , and is used for associating preference information with the user. The preference information is information similar to a store category managed by store information managing section  301 . The preference information is information that shows what the user likes. The preference information includes, for example, a type of favorite food, such as “Japanese food”, “Western food”, “Chinese food”, “French food”, and “Italian food”. The preference information includes a favorite food material, such as “bread”, “vegetable”, “beef”, “fish”, “pasta”, “fruit”, and “cake”. The preference information includes a favorite cooking method, such as “roast”, “deep-fry”, “boil”, “raw”, and “stir-fry”. The preference information includes a favorite food preference tendency, such as “sweet”, “bitter”, “hot”, “sour”, and “fatty”. The preference information includes a type of favorite staple food, such as “boiled rice”, “bread”, and “noodle”. The preference information includes information regarding an allergy-causing substance to which the store pays attention, such as “for those with egg allergies”, “for those with wheat allergies”, “for those with shrimp allergies”, “for those with crab allergies”, “for those with peanut allergies”, or “egg-free”, “wheat-free”. From among these pieces of information, only one may be used as the preference information. Alternatively, a combination of a plurality of pieces of information selected from these pieces of information may be used as the preference information. 
     The preference information for each user is generated from history information managed by appliance history information managing section  305 . For example, the preference information is determined from a use history of a cooking recipe used with a microwave oven, an IH cooking heater, a bread machine, etc. The preference information may be determined from an evaluation value for the recipe, etc. It is assumed that information regarding preference has been added in advance to the cooking recipe and a function of each appliance. This makes it possible to determine what kind of preference the user has from information about which recipe or function the user has used. Specifically, when the user often uses a recipe for a hot food, or when the user sets a high value on the recipe for a hot food, the “hot” preference information is set as the user&#39;s preference information. At this time, the “hot” preference information has been added to the recipe of the hot food in advance. Another method is to determine whether a favorite staple food is “boiled rice” or “bread”, and to set the determined staple food as preference information by calculating a difference in frequency of use between a rice cooker and a bread machine from history information about the rice cooker and history information about the bread machine. At this time, “boiled rice” preference information has been added to a rice cooking function of the rice cooker in advance. “Bread” preference information has been added to a bread baking function of the bread machine in advance. Another method is to determine a favorite cooking method and to set the determined cooking method as preference information from history information about a function used with a microwave oven and an IH cooking heater, the favorite cooking method including “roast”, “deep-fry”, “boil”, and “stir-fry”. The following information shows that the user purchases egg-free, allergy-free products and that the user does not purchase eggs at all, the information including a contents list of a refrigerator, a mail order use history, a credit card use history, a point card use history, and content of a receipt. In such a case, since the information shows that the user is allergenic to eggs, there is another method of setting preference information such as “egg-free”. A shopping list of purchased products shows a production region of purchased rice, vegetable, and meat. Accordingly, this information may be set as preference information. For example, when the user purchases a lot of hard food, such as unpolished rice, root vegetables, and kelp, preference information of frequent hard menus can also be set. The shopping list and the contents list of a refrigerator show what the user purchases and what the user uses. Accordingly, it is also possible to guess a food menu cooked from the aforementioned food materials, and to set preference information corresponding to the guessed menu. The shopping list and the recipe show whether the user often eats beef, whether the user often eats pork, whether the user often eats chicken, and whether the user often eats fish. Accordingly, this information can also be set as preference information. 
     Preference information may be inputted from outside using an interface provided by user preference information managing section  304 . For example, the user himself or herself may input his or her own preference information from appliances such as appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 , or terminal  120 . Preference information may be inputted into the present system from another system. A combination of these input methods may be used. Alternatively, after automatic input to some extent by the system, the user himself or herself may modify the preference information inputted by the system via appliances such as appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 , or terminal  120 . 
     Appliance history information managing section  305  is a managing section that manages data regarding an appliance history included in data  112 . The data managed by appliance history information managing section  305  includes an appliance ID for identifying an appliance, an appliance type that shows a type of the appliance, and history information obtained from the appliance. The appliance type is a product type such as, for example, “television”, “washing machine”, “refrigerator”, “microwave oven”, and “bread machine”. The history information is log information provided from each of appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101 . 
     When user  10  purchases a new appliance, user  10  registers an appliance ID and appliance type of the new appliance into an appliance ID list of user information. At this time, appliance history information managing section  305  registers the appliance ID and appliance type of the new appliance. From this time, when history information is obtained from the appliance, appliance history information managing section  305  associates the history information with the appliance ID and the appliance type for management. At this time, appliance history information managing section  305  may generate the appliance ID, or an ID may be given to the appliance in advance to use the ID as the appliance ID. 
     Appliance history information managing section  305  has an interface for adding a new appliance and for registering an appliance history. Appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101  add history information using the interface of appliance history information managing section  305 . 
     The appliance type refers to a product type, such as “television”, for example, but the appliance type is not limited to this example. The appliance type may be determined according to arbitrary standards. For example, a television may be classified into appliance types such as “flat-screen television”, “large television”, “portable television”, and “waterproof television” based on user&#39;s optional reference. At this time, the appliance type may be classified into a plurality of layers. Small product-types of “flat-screen television”, “large television”, “portable television”, and “waterproof television” may be disposed under a large product-type “television”. The appliance type may be a product number of the appliance instead of a product type. The history information may further include not only the log information that is an operation history of the appliance but also the following information. For example, the history information may include an inspection history, such as an inspection date and inspection item when the appliance is inspected, and an inspection result. The history information may further include a repair history such as a repair date when the appliance is repaired, an appliance situation, and a repair item. The history information may further include another history information regarding the appliance such as an owner of the appliance and the user&#39;s history. 
       FIG.  7    is a configuration diagram of program  131  that operates in service provider  130  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. For convenience of description,  FIG.  7    also illustrates data  132  together. 
     In  FIG.  7   , program  131  in service provider  130  includes controlling section  310 , terminal communicating section  313 , and data center communicating section  314 . Controlling section  310  includes similar user managing section  311  and recommendation calculating section  312 . Data  132  in service provider  130  includes similar user storing section  315 . 
     Similar user managing section  311  determines whether two arbitrary users have a hobby and preference with an identical tendency among a plurality of users registered in data center  110 . When the two users are determined to have a hobby and preference with an identical tendency, similar user managing section  311  manages the two users as similar users. Determination of whether two arbitrary users have a hobby and preference with an identical tendency is performed by the following method. The determination is made depending on whether two arbitrary users set similar evaluation values of evaluation data on an identical evaluation object, the evaluation data being stored in data center  110 . At this time, when similar values are set, similar user managing section  311  determines that the two users have a hobby and preference with an identical tendency. Collaborative filtering technique is a well known method. In the collaborative filtering technique, a list of a certain user&#39;s evaluation value is compared with a list of another user&#39;s evaluation value. Then it is determined whether the two users have a hobby and preference with an identical tendency by similarity of the lists. 
     Similar user managing section  311  acquires, from data center  110 , information (such as user information and user preference information) associated with users (dissimilar users) who do not have a hobby and preference with a tendency identical to a tendency of a targeted user  20  to whom a store is recommended (recommendation user, targeted user). Among dissimilar user information acquired from data center  110 , similar user managing section  311  transmits part or all of the information to terminal  120 . When part of the dissimilar user information is transmitted, similar user managing section  311  may determine whether to send the information depending on similarity of the evaluation value list regarding each dissimilar user. Similar user managing section  311  may determine depending on similarity of the user preference information. Similar user managing section  311  may determine depending on similarity of the user information (difference in age is big/small, address is near/far). Similar user managing section  311  may determine which dissimilar user information to transmit by a method other than the above methods. 
     Furthermore, from among the dissimilar users transmitted to terminal  120 , similar user managing section  311  manages another user (additional user) selected by the recommendation user who considers that the another user may be added to the similar users as an additional user to be added to the similar users of the recommendation user. After a similar user is determined by a method based on an evaluation value or the like, similar user managing section  311  checks whether the additional user selected by the recommendation user is included in the similar users. When the additional user is not included in the similar users, similar user managing section  311  adds the additional user to the similar users. 
     Recommendation calculating section  312  determines a store for recommending to targeted user  20  (recommendation user) based on an evaluation value etc. Specifically, first, recommendation calculating section  312  acquires from data center  110  each store evaluation data set by a similar user whom similar user managing section  311  manages as similar to the recommendation user. Next, recommendation calculating section  312  extracts a store on which many similar users set high evaluation values based on the acquired evaluation data. Recommendation calculating section  312  acquires store information about the extracted store from data center  110 , and transmits the store information to terminal  120  (user  20 ) as a store for recommendation. 
     Terminal communicating section  313  performs communication between service provider  130  and terminal  120 . When similar user managing section  311  or recommendation calculating section  312  requests data transmission to terminal  120 , or when data is received from terminal  120 , terminal communicating section  313  performs transmission and reception processing of the data. 
     Data center communicating section  314  performs communication between controlling section  310  and controlling section  300  in data center  110 . When similar user managing section  311  or recommendation calculating section  312  requests data transmission to data center  110 , or when data is received from data center  110 , data center communicating section  314  performs transmission and reception processing of the data. 
     Similar user storing section  315  stores data managed by similar user managing section  311  as a similar user list. Similar user storing section  315  associates a user ID with a list of a user ID of a user managed as a similar user similar to a user indicated by the user ID for retention. Similar user storing section  315  associates an additional user whom the user has selected as appropriate for addition with the user&#39;s user ID and stores information regarding the additional user. 
     &lt;Data Structure&gt; 
     The information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes data  112  and data  132  illustrated in  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  6   , and  FIG.  7   . Data  112  and data  132  include various kinds of data used by the information providing system. 
       FIG.  8    to  FIG.  13    each illustrate structure of data included in data  112  in data center  110  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       FIG.  8    illustrates data structure of user information list  200  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. User information list  200  is user information managed by user information managing section  303 . User information list  200  includes a user ID for identifying a user and user information associated with the user ID. The user information includes at least part of information such as a name of the user, an address of the user, an age of the user, and a gender of the user. 
       FIG.  9    illustrates data structure of appliance list  201  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Appliance list  201  is user information managed by user information managing section  303 . Appliance list  201  includes a user ID and an appliance ID list associated with the user ID. The appliance ID list is a list of appliance IDs that shows appliances that the user possesses. 
       FIG.  10    illustrates data structure of preference information list  203  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Preference information list  203  is user preference data managed by user preference information managing section  304 . Preference information list  203  includes a user ID and preference information associated with the user ID. The preference information is information that shows what the user likes. The preference information includes, for example, a type of favorite food, such as “Japanese food”, “Western food”, “Chinese food”, “French food”, and “Italian food”. The preference information includes a favorite food material, such as “bread”, “vegetable”, “beef”, “fish”, “pasta”, “fruit”, and “cake”. The preference information includes a favorite cooking method, such as “roast”, “deep-fry”, “boil”, “raw”, and “stir-fry”. The preference information includes a favorite food preference tendency, such as “sweet”, “bitter”, “hot”, “sour”, “fatty”, and “light-seasoned”. The preference information includes information regarding an allergy-causing substance to which the user pays attention, such as “for those with egg allergies”, “for those with wheat allergies”, “for those with shrimp allergies”, “for those with crab allergies”, “for those with peanut allergies”, or “egg-free”, “wheat-free”. The preference information includes information regarding an amount of food to serve, such as “large serving” and “small serving”. The preference information includes information regarding an atmosphere, such as “calm” and “active” in addition to preference information regarding eating and drinking. The preference information includes information regarding space, such as “large”, “small”, “dark”, “bright”, “cold”, and “warm”. The preference information only needs to include at least part of the above pieces of information. A combination of these pieces of information may also be defined as preference information. 
       FIG.  11    illustrates data structure of home appliance history  210  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Home appliance history  210  is data managed by appliance history information managing section  305 . Home appliance history  210  includes an appliance ID for identifying an appliance, an appliance type that shows a type of the appliance, and history information obtained from the appliance. The appliance type and history information are associated with the appliance ID for management. The appliance type is a product type such as, for example, “television”, “washing machine”, “refrigerator”, “microwave oven”, and “bread machine”. The history information is log information provided from each of the appliances. 
       FIG.  12    illustrates data structure of store information list  220  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Store information list  220  is data managed by store information managing section  301 . Store information list  220  includes a store ID for identifying a store and store information associated with the store ID. The store information includes a name of the store, an address of the store, an icon for a user to easily identify the store, a category of the store for showing what kind of store the store is. The category of the store refers to, for example, in a case of a restaurant, a type of food served at the store, such as “Japanese food”, “Western food”, “Chinese food”, “French food”, and “Italian food”. The category of the store refers to a food material on which the store focuses, such as “bread”, “vegetable”, “beef”, “fish”, “pasta”, “fruit”, and “cake”. The category of the store refers to a cooking method on which the store focuses, such as “roast”, “deep-fry”, “boil”, “raw”, and “stir-fry”. The category of the store further refers to a preference tendency of food served at the store, such as “sweet”, “bitter”, “hot”, “sour”, “fatty”, and “light-seasoned”. The category of the store refers to information regarding an allergy-causing substance to which the store pays attention, such as “for those with egg allergies”, “for those with wheat allergies”, “for those with shrimp allergies”, “for those with crab allergies”, “for those with peanut allergies”, or “egg-free”, “wheat-free”. The category of the store refers to information regarding an amount of food to serve, such as “large serving” and “small serving”. The category of the store refers to category information regarding an atmosphere, such as “calm” and “active” in addition to preference information regarding eating and drinking. The category of the store refers to category information regarding space of the store, such as “large”, “small”, “dark”, “bright”, “cold”, and “warm”. The category information only needs to include at least part of the above pieces of information. A combination of these pieces of information may be defined as category information. 
       FIG.  13    illustrates data structure of evaluation value list  230  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Evaluation value list  230  is data managed by evaluation data managing section  302 . Evaluation value list  230  includes a user ID and an evaluation value associated with the user ID. The evaluation value is a value for every store identified by the store ID. One evaluation value exists for one set of one user ID and one store ID. 
       FIG.  14    illustrates data structure of similar user list  202  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Similar user list  202  is data stored in similar user storing section  315 , the data being managed by similar user managing section  311 . Similar user list  202  includes a user ID and a similar user ID list associated with the user ID. The similar user ID list is a list of a user ID of a similar user similar to a user of the user ID. 
     &lt;Display in Terminal  120 &gt; 
     The information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a user with information that suits preference of the user among a large amount of information via terminal  120 .  FIG.  15    to  FIG.  17    each illustrate an exemplary screen display in terminal  120  when a user is provided with information. 
       FIG.  15    illustrates an exemplary screen display at a time of information provision (recommendation) in terminal  120  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     In  FIG.  15   , terminal  120  includes store information display area  124  for providing information that suits preference of the user, and user information display area  125  for providing information about a dissimilar user who does not have preference with a tendency identical to a tendency of the user. Terminal  120  further includes additional intention input button  126  for the user to convey to the system an intention of adding a user who is used as a base when the system selects a store whose information is to be provided to the user. 
     Store information display area  124  displays an icon for allowing the user to easily identify the store, a name of the store, a category of the store, and a location of the store. 
     User information display area  125  displays one or more pieces of user information. Examples of the user information include information such as a name for identifying the user and preference information of the user. A privacy problem may occur if the user name is used as it is as information for identifying the user. Methods of avoiding such a problem include a method of using another name that is not the user&#39;s name, a method of using a number or a symbol instead of the name, and a method of using an image instead of a character. 
     Additional intention input button  126  conveys an intention of the user to the system. For example, the touch by the user on a character displaying “HERE” conveys an intention of the user to the system. In addition, providing a dedicated switch and pushing the switch may convey an intention of the user to the system. Alternatively, displaying a button that represents an image of a switch and the user touching the image of the button may convey an intention of the user. 
       FIGS.  16 (A) and  16 (B)  each illustrate an exemplary screen display at a time of additional user selection processing in terminal  120  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     In  FIG.  16 (A) , terminal  120  includes check information display area  127  that displays information about a dissimilar user who does not have preference with a tendency identical to a tendency of the user, and a check box showing whether to add the dissimilar user. Terminal  120  further includes addition button  128  for conveying to the system an intention of adding a user with a check box in check information display area  127  being checked. 
     Check information display area  127  displays information about the dissimilar user. At this time, as information about the dissimilar user, check information display area  127  may display information identical to the user information displayed in user information display area  125 . Check information display area  127  may additionally display another piece of information together. Check information display area  127  displays a check box that shows whether to add the dissimilar user shown in the displayed user information to similar users. This allows the user himself or herself who uses terminal  120  to select a dissimilar user to be added as his or her own similar user. At this time, it is unnecessary to display information such as a name for identifying the user in check information display area  127  as user information. Check information display area  127  may display only preference information (for example,  FIG.  11 (B) ). 
     Addition button  128  is a button for allowing the user who uses terminal  120  to give to the present system an instruction for adding a dissimilar user to the similar users, the dissimilar user with a check box in check information display area  127  being checked. When a touch on addition button  128  is detected, terminal  120  notifies service provider  130  of a user to be added to the similar users from among the dissimilar users. 
       FIG.  17    illustrates an exemplary screen display at a time of re-providing information (re-recommendation) in terminal  120  of the information providing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     In  FIG.  17   , terminal  120  includes store information re-display area  129  for providing information that suits preference of the user after part of the dissimilar users are added to the similar users. 
     After a touch on addition button  128  in  FIG.  16 (A) , store information to be provided to the user is sent again to terminal  120  in response to a notification to service provider  130  of the user to be added to the similar users. 
     Store information re-display area  129  displays the store information to be provided to the user, the store information being sent again to terminal  120 . 
     In  FIG.  17   , terminal  120  may include a user information display area that provides information about a dissimilar user who does not have preference with a tendency identical to a tendency of the user, in the same way as  FIG.  15   . Terminal  120  may further include an additional intention input button for the user to convey to the system an intention of adding a user who is used as a base when the system selects a store whose information is to be provided to the user. This makes it possible, after addition of part of the dissimilar users to the similar users, to add part of the dissimilar users to the similar users again. This allows further improvement in the accuracy of the information to be provided to the user. 
     &lt;Similar User Association Processing&gt; 
     Service provider  130  manages which user has a hobby and preference similar to a hobby and preference of which user. Determination about whether a user has similar hobby and preference is made based on evaluation data. Accordingly, service provider  130  needs to review association of the similar users about which user has a hobby and preference similar to a hobby and preference of which user when the evaluation data in data center  110  is updated. 
     The following describes processing of service provider  130  to make an association as a similar user in response to a notification from data center  110  with reference to a flow chart of  FIG.  18   . 
     First, a user requests data center  110  to input evaluation data using appliance A or appliance B included in appliance group  101  (S 1000 ). Evaluation data managing section  302  in data center  110  updates the evaluation data included in data  112  to a value requested by the user (S 1001 ). Evaluation data managing section  302  in data center  110  notifies an appliance of the completion of updating the evaluation data, the appliance having requested updating in S 1000  among appliance A and appliances B included in appliance group  101  (S 1002 ). 
     Subsequently, evaluation data managing section  302  in data center  110  notifies service provider  130  that the evaluation data has been updated (S 1003 ). Similar user managing section  311  in service provider  130  acquires the evaluation data from data center  110 , and determines whether it is necessary to change the association of the similar users (S 1004 ). When determination is made in step S 1004  that it is necessary to change the association, similar user managing section  311  in service provider  130  requests data center  110  to acquire the updated evaluation data (S 1005 ). 
     In response to the request from service provider  130  for acquisition of the evaluation data, evaluation data managing section  302  in data center  110  acquires the evaluation data from data  112 , and provides a list of the evaluation data to service provider  130  (S 1006 ). The list of the evaluation data to be provided from data center  110  to service provider  130  may be a difference of the evaluation data updated after the last time when service provider  130  has requested acquisition of the evaluation data. 
     Similar user managing section  311  in service provider  130  associates each user again with the similar users from the list of the evaluation data received from the data center  110  (S 1007 ). Subsequently, similar user managing section  311  associates an additional user as a similar user (S 1008 ) when there is an additional user who has not been associated with a user among dissimilar users each specified as an additional user for each user. Finally, similar user managing section  311  updates the data stored in similar user storing section  315  to the data regarding the new similar users (S 1009 ). At this time, the evaluation data obtained from data center  110  is also stored in similar user storing section  315  together with the association information. After the processing in step S 1009 , or in a case of determination in step S 1004  that the association does not need to be changed, similar user managing section  311  notifies data center  110  of the completion of the update process (S 1010 ). 
     This makes it possible to update securely the data regarding the similar users in service provider  130  when the user updates the evaluation data (such as addition, change, and deletion). This makes it possible to always retain the data regarding the similar users in the latest condition. This also makes it possible, when the evaluation data is updated, to determine whether to acquire the updated information. For example, when data center  110  notifies a difference from the last update, it is possible to determine whether to update the evaluation data depending on the difference. It is possible to put restrictions, such as performing the update processing only when service provider  130  has a light load to process, and only when data communication traffic between data center  110  and service provider  130  is light. 
     &lt;Recommendation Information Display Processing&gt; 
     Terminal  120  requests service provider  130  to acquire information about a store to recommend to a user in response to a request from the user. Together with store information of a recommended store obtained from service provider  130 , terminal  120  obtains, from service provider  130 , information about a dissimilar user who does not have a hobby and preference similar to a hobby and preference of the user who has requested recommendation. Terminal  120  then shows the store information and the dissimilar user information to the user. 
     With reference to a flow chart of  FIG.  19   , the following describes the processing in which, in response to a request from a user, terminal  120  requests service provider  130  to recommend a store and displays information obtained from service provider  130  on a screen of terminal  120 , thereby showing recommendation information to the user. 
     First, in response to the request from the user, terminal  120  requests service provider  130  to acquire information about a store to recommend to the user (S 1100 ). Similar user managing section  311  in service provider  130  acquires, from similar user storing section  315 , a list of a user who has a hobby and preference similar to a hobby and preference of the user who has requested via terminal  120  (S 1101 ). Similar user managing section  311  in service provider  130  then notifies recommendation calculating section  312  of the list. The data to be notified to recommendation calculating section  312  is an ID and evaluation data of the similar user. Recommendation calculating section  312  in service provider  130  extracts a store to recommend to the user based on the similar user list notified from similar user managing section  311  (S 1102 ). Recommendation calculating section  312  in service provider  130  requests data center  110  to acquire information about the extracted store to recommend to the user (S 1103 ). 
     Store information managing section  301  in data center  110  acquires information about the requested store from data  112 , and transmits the information to service provider  130  as store information of a recommended store (S 1104 ). 
     Recommendation calculating section  312  in service provider  130  transmits the store information acquired from data center  110  to terminal  120  as information about a store to be recommended to the user (S 1105 ). Similar user managing section  311  in service provider  130  selects a dissimilar user who does not have a hobby and preference similar to a hobby and preference of the user, the dissimilar user being displayed together with the store information of a recommended store (S 1106 ). Similar user managing section  311  requests data center  110  to acquire user information about the selected dissimilar user (S 1107 ). 
     User information managing section  303  in data center  110  acquires from data  112  user information about the user specified by service provider  130 . User information managing section  303  in data center  110  then transmits the user information to service provider  130  as a list of dissimilar user information (S 1108 ). 
     Similar user managing section  311  in service provider  130  transmits to terminal  120  the user information list acquired from data center  110  as the dissimilar user information (S 1109 ). 
     Terminal  120  displays on a screen the store information received from service provider  130  in step S 1105  and the dissimilar user information received from service provider  130  in step S 1109 , thereby providing the user with the information (S 1110 ). As illustrated in  FIG.  15   , terminal  120  displays the store information received in step S 1105  in store information display area  124 . Terminal  120  displays the dissimilar user information received in step S 1109  in user information display area  125 . 
     &lt;Dissimilar User Addition Processing&gt; 
     The user sometimes dislikes the store displayed on terminal  120  in the above-described recommendation information display processing. In such a case, the user performs the following in order to improve the accuracy of recommendation. The user selects a user who is considered to be similar to himself or herself from among users classified into dissimilar users. Alternatively, the user selects a user for whom a category to be recommended has been set. The user then requests service provider  130  to manage the selected user as a similar user. Subsequently, the user causes service provider  130  to show a store to recommend again, thereby obtaining more accurate recommendation information. 
     With reference to a flow chart of  FIG.  20   , the following describes the processing in which, in response to a request from terminal  120 , service provider  130  adds the requested dissimilar user to similar users and selects a store to recommend again based on the similar users. 
     First, when the user requests recommendation of a store different from a store displayed on store information display area  124  of terminal  120 , the user touches additional intention input button  126 . In response to the touch, terminal  120  displays check information display area  127 , as described in  FIG.  16 (A) . The user determines a user to be added to similar users from among user information displayed in check information display area  127 , and checks a check box associated with the user to be added to the similar users. Subsequently, the user touches addition button  128  and notifies terminal  120  of addition of the dissimilar user to similar users. Terminal  120  generates a list of a user ID of a user (selected user) with the check box being checked (S 1200 ). Terminal  120  transmits the list of the user ID of the selected user to service provider  130  and requests service provider  130  to add the selected user (S 1201 ). 
     Similar user managing section  311  in service provider  130  adds the user ID of the selected user received from terminal  120  to similar users of the user who uses terminal  120 , and updates data stored in similar user storing section  315  (S 1202 ). Similar user managing section  311  in service provider  130  extracts a similar user list again from similar user storing section  315  (S 1203 ), and notifies the list to recommendation calculating section  312 . Recommendation calculating section  312  in service provider  130  extracts a store to be recommended to the user based on the similar user list notified from similar user managing section  311  (S 1204 ). Recommendation calculating section  312  in service provider  130  requests data center  110  to acquire information about the extracted store to recommend to the user (S 1205 ). 
     Store information managing section  301  in data center  110  acquires the requested store information from data  112 , and transmits the information to service provider  130  as store information of a recommended store (S 1206 ). 
     Recommendation calculating section  312  in service provider  130  transmits the store information acquired from data center  110  to terminal  120  as information about the store to be recommended to the user (S 1207 ). 
     Terminal  120  displays the received store information on a screen and provides the user with the information (S 1208 ). Terminal  120  displays the received store information in store information redisplay area  129 , as illustrated in  FIG.  17   . As dissimilar user addition processing, service provider  130  may perform only similar user data update processing of step S 1202  after step S 1201 , may end the processing, and may return processing to terminal  120 . At this time, terminal  120  may perform recommendation information display processing after dissimilar user addition processing. Service provider  130  performs step S 1106  to step S 1109  of the recommendation information display processing after step S 1207 . Terminal  120  may display, in step S 1208 , not only store information but also information regarding dissimilar users together in the same manner as step S 1110 . Terminal  120  includes store information display area  124  and user information display area  125  instead of store information redisplay area  129 , as illustrated in  FIG.  15   . Terminal  120  may display the store information received in step S 1207  in store information display area  124 . Terminal  120  may display the dissimilar user information received in step S 1109  in user information display area  125 . 
     Second Exemplary Embodiment 
     In the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, data center  110  manages information about a store and a user, an appliance history, and the like, and service provider  130  provides the user with information via terminal  120 . The following describes a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment in which data center  110  includes a function of service provider  130 , as described in service pattern 1. 
     The following describes the system configuration in service pattern 1 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure illustrated in  FIG.  2   . 
     &lt;System Configuration in Service Pattern 1&gt; 
       FIG.  21    is a configuration diagram of program  113  that operates in data center  110  of an information providing system according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. For convenience of description,  FIG.  21    also illustrates data  114  together. In  FIG.  21   , components identical to components in  FIGS.  1 (A) to  1 (C)  and  FIG.  2    have identical reference symbols and the description thereof will be omitted. 
     In  FIG.  21   , program  113  in data center  110  includes controlling section  320  and terminal communicating section  313 . Controlling section  320  includes store information managing section  301 , evaluation data managing section  302 , user information managing section  303 , user preference information managing section  304 , appliance history information managing section  305 , similar user managing section  321 , and recommendation calculating section  322 . 
     Similar user managing section  321  determines whether two arbitrary users have a hobby and preference with an identical tendency among users registered in user information managing section  303 . When the two users are determined to have a hobby and preference with an identical tendency, similar user managing section  321  registers the two users in user information as similar users. The following is a method of determining whether two arbitrary users have a hobby and preference with an identical tendency. The determination is made based on, for example, whether two arbitrary persons set similar evaluation values on an identical evaluation object in evaluation data managed by evaluation data managing section  302 . When another user is registered in the user information as a similar user, the registration is performed via user information managing section  303 . At this time, the similar user may be managed by adding the similar user ID list in similar user list  202  ( FIG.  14   ) to the user information in user information list  200  ( FIG.  8   ). 
     Similar user managing section  321  acquires information (such as user information and user preference information) associated with a dissimilar user from user information managing section  303  and user preference information managing section  304 . The dissimilar user refers to a user who does not have a hobby and preference with a tendency identical to a tendency of a recommendation targeted user (recommendation user) to whom a store is recommended. 
     As described above, similar user managing section  321  basically has a function identical to a function of similar user managing section  311  described in the first exemplary embodiment except for processing of similar user managing section  311  making an inquiry of data center  110 . Processing of similar user storing section  315  making an inquiry of data center  110  will be processing of making an inquiry of each data managing section in controlling section  320 . 
     Recommendation calculating section  322  acquires evaluation data from evaluation data managing section  302 , the evaluation data being set on each store by a similar user managed by similar user managing section  321 . Next, recommendation calculating section  322  extracts a store that many similar users set a high evaluation value from among the evaluation data acquired from evaluation data managing section  302 . Recommendation calculating section  322  acquires store information about the store extracted by recommendation calculating section  322  from store information managing section  301 , and transmits the store information to terminal  120  as a recommendation store. Terminal communicating section  313  is used for communication with terminal  120 . 
     Store information managing section  301 , evaluation data managing section  302 , user information managing section  303 , user preference information managing section  304 , and appliance history information managing section  305  acquire and set necessary data from data  114  in response to a request from similar user managing section  321  or recommendation calculating section  322 . 
     &lt;Similar User Association Processing, Recommendation Information Display Processing, Dissimilar User Addition Processing&gt; 
     Among similar user association processing, recommendation information display processing, and dissimilar user addition processing, processing performed by service provider  130  in the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is performed by data center  110  in the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     For example, evaluation data managing section  302  notifies an evaluation data update notification (S 1003 ) of  FIG.  18    directly to similar user managing section  321 . An evaluation data acquisition request (S 1005 ) and a response processing (S 1006 ) to the evaluation data acquisition request are performed by communication between similar user managing section  321  and evaluation data managing section  302 . In addition, processing of acquiring store information of a recommended store (S 1103  and S 1104  of  FIGS.  19   , S 1205  and S 1206  of  FIG.  20   ) are performed by communication between recommendation calculating section  322  and store information managing section  301 . Processing of acquiring dissimilar user information (S 1107  and S 1108  of  FIG.  19   ) is performed by communication between similar user managing section  321  and user information managing section  303 . 
     A request from terminal  120  (S 1100 , S 1201 ) and a notification to terminal  120  (S 1105 , S 1109 , S 1207 ) are performed by communication between terminal  120  and data center  110 . 
     Third Exemplary Embodiment 
     In the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, data center  110  manages information about a store and a user, an appliance history, and the like, and service provider  130  provides the user with information via terminal  120 . The following describes a configuration of a third exemplary embodiment in which data center  110  includes program  111  and program  141 , as illustrated in service pattern 2 ( FIG.  3   ). Program  111  has a function similar to a function of data center  110  in the first exemplary embodiment. Program  141  has a function similar to a function of service provider  130  in the first exemplary embodiment. 
     The following describes a system configuration in service pattern 2 according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     &lt;System Configuration in Service Pattern 2&gt; 
     Data center  110  of an information providing system according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes program  111 , program  141 , and data  114 . 
     Program  111  has a configuration identical to a configuration of program  111  in the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure ( FIG.  6   ). While program  111  accesses data  112  in the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, however, program  111  accesses data  114  in the third exemplary embodiment. 
     Program  141  has a configuration identical to a configuration of program  131  in the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure ( FIG.  7   ). While program  131  accesses data  132  in the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, however, program  141  accesses data  114  as program  111  does in the third exemplary embodiment. 
     Data  114  includes data of both data  112  and data  132  in the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     &lt;Similar User Association Processing, Recommendation Information Display Processing, Dissimilar User Addition Processing&gt; 
     Among similar user association processing, recommendation information display processing, and dissimilar user addition processing, processing performed by data center  110  in the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is performed by program  111  in the third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Processing performed by service provider  130  in the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is performed by program  141  in the third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. That is, communication between data center  110  and service provider  130  in the first exemplary embodiment is replaced by communication between program  111  and program  141  in the third exemplary embodiment. Communication between service provider  130  and terminal  120  in the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is replaced by communication between program  141  in data center  110  and terminal  120  in the third exemplary embodiment. 
     Program  141  requests program  111  to acquire information such as store information, user information, evaluation data, user preference information, and appliance history information. Program  141  however may also acquire information in another way. For example, program  141  may access data  114  directly and acquire information such as store information, user information, evaluation data, user preference information, and appliance history information. Program  141  may manage information regarding similar users as part of the user information in the same manner as the second exemplary embodiment instead of managing the user information and the information regarding the similar users separately. 
     &lt;Service Pattern 3&gt; 
     Service pattern 3 is a variation of service pattern 2. Many of functions of service pattern 3 are similar to functions of service pattern 2. For example, at a time of access to data  114 , while program  111  directly accesses data  114  in service pattern 2, program  111  accesses data  114  via OS/middleware  115  in service pattern 3. Functionally, program  142  has a function identical to a function of program  141 , and differs from program  141  in accessing data  114  via OS/middleware  115 . 
     Fourth Exemplary Embodiment 
     In the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, data center  110  manages information about a store and a user, an appliance history, and the like, and service provider  130  provides the user with information via terminal  120 . The following describes a configuration of a fourth exemplary embodiment in which terminal  120  includes a function of service provider  130 , as described in service pattern 4 ( FIG.  5   ). 
     The following describes the system configuration in service pattern 4 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     &lt;System Configuration in Service Pattern 4&gt; 
       FIG.  22    is a configuration diagram of program  121  that operates in terminal  120  of the information providing system according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. For convenience of description,  FIG.  22    also illustrates data  122  together. In  FIG.  22   , components identical to components in  FIG.  6    and  FIG.  7    have identical reference symbols and the description thereof will be omitted. 
     In  FIG.  22   , program  121  in terminal  120  includes controlling section  310 , data center communicating section  314 , displaying section  330 , and inputting section  331 . Controlling section  310  includes similar user managing section  311  and recommendation calculating section  312 . 
     Displaying section  330  displays information in order to provide the user with various pieces of information. 
     Inputting section  331  inputs an instruction and information from the user. 
     Functionally, similar user managing section  311  and recommendation calculating section  312  have functions similar to functions of similar user managing section  311  and recommendation calculating section  312  in the first exemplary embodiment, respectively. In the first exemplary embodiment, however, similar user managing section  311  and recommendation calculating section  312  access terminal  120  via terminal communicating section  313  to exchange information with the user. In the fourth exemplary embodiment, on the other hand, since terminal  120  itself includes similar user managing section  311  and recommendation calculating section  312 , similar user managing section  311  and recommendation calculating section  312  access displaying section  330  to provide the user with information. Similar user managing section  311  and recommendation calculating section  312  use inputting section  331  in order to obtain information from the user. 
     &lt;Similar User Association Processing, Recommendation Information Display Processing, Dissimilar User Addition Processing&gt; 
     Among similar user association processing, recommendation information display processing, and dissimilar user addition processing, processing performed by service provider  130  in the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is performed by controlling section  310  in terminal  120  in the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. That is, communication processing between data center  110  and service provider  130  in the first exemplary embodiment is replaced by communication processing between data center  110  and terminal  120  in the fourth exemplary embodiment. Communication between service provider  130  and terminal  120  in the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure corresponds to processing closed within terminal  120  in the fourth exemplary embodiment. When terminal  120  receives a request for recommending a store from the user, terminal  120  does not request another section as step S 1100  of  FIG.  19   . Terminal  120  causes controlling section  310  within terminal  120  to perform the processing from step S 1101  to step S 1108  of  FIG.  19   , and finally displays recommendation information (S 1110  of  FIG.  19   ). Also when a dissimilar user to be added to similar users is selected, terminal  120  does not generate a list and not request another section as in step S 1200  or S 1201  of  FIG.  20   . Controlling section  310  in terminal  120  performs the processing from step S 1202  to step S 1206  of  FIG.  20   . 
     Fifth Exemplary Embodiment 
     In the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a configuration has been described in which terminal  120  includes a function of service provider  130 , as described in service pattern 4 ( FIG.  5   ). A fifth exemplary embodiment is a variation of the fourth exemplary embodiment. The following describes a configuration of the fifth exemplary embodiment in which terminal  120  includes a function of data center  110  and service provider  130 . In the fifth exemplary embodiment, however, data center  110  is independently present apart from terminal  120 . Data stored in data center  110  is synchronized with data in terminal  120 . This makes it possible to provide a user with information even when terminal  120  cannot communicate with data center  110 . The fifth exemplary embodiment describes such a configuration. 
     The following describes a system configuration of the variation of service pattern 4 according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     &lt;System Configuration in Variation of Service Pattern 4&gt; 
       FIG.  23    is a configuration diagram of program  121  that operates in terminal  120  of the information providing system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In  FIG.  23   , components identical to components in  FIG.  6   ,  FIG.  7   , and  FIG.  21    have identical reference symbols and the description thereof will be omitted. 
     In  FIG.  23   , program  121  in terminal  120  includes controlling section  340 , data center communicating section  314 , displaying section  330 , inputting section  331 , and data  122 . Controlling section  340  includes store information managing section  301 , evaluation data managing section  302 , user information managing section  303 , user preference information managing section  304 , appliance history information managing section  305 , similar user managing section  321 , recommendation calculating section  322 , and update information managing section  341 . Data  122  includes data storing section  342 . 
     Functionally, store information managing section  301 , evaluation data managing section  302 , user information managing section  303 , user preference information managing section  304 , and appliance history information managing section  305  have functions similar to functions of respective managing sections in the second exemplary embodiment. However, access to data  114  in the second exemplary embodiment corresponds to access to data  122  in the fifth exemplary embodiment. 
     Functionally, similar user managing section  321  and recommendation calculating section  322  have functions similar to functions of similar user managing section  321  and recommendation calculating section  322  in the second exemplary embodiment, respectively. In the second exemplary embodiment, however, similar user managing section  321  and recommendation calculating section  322  access terminal  120  via terminal communicating section  313  to exchange information with the user. In the fifth exemplary embodiment, on the other hand, since terminal  120  itself includes similar user managing section  321  and recommendation calculating section  322 , similar user managing section  321  and recommendation calculating section  322  access displaying section  330  to provide the user with information. Similar user managing section  321  and recommendation calculating section  322  use inputting section  331  in order to obtain information from the user. 
     Update information managing section  341  synchronizes data  117  in data center  110  and data  122  in terminal  120 . When data  117  is changed, program  116  in data center  110  notifies the change to terminal  120 . Program  121  in terminal  120  that receives the notification from program  116  updates data  122  using update information managing section  341 . 
     &lt;Data Update Processing&gt; 
     Data center  110  changes data  117  when data is inputted from appliance A or appliance B included in appliance group  101 , or when data is changed. Data center  110  further notifies terminal  120  that data  117  is changed. Data center  110  and terminal  120  reflect the change in data  117  on data  122 . 
     With reference to a flow chart of  FIG.  24   , the following describes processing in which terminal  120  updates data  122  in response to the notification from data center  110 . 
     First, appliance A and appliance B included in appliance group  101  request data center  110  to input or change data when user  10  inputs or changes information, or when appliance A or appliance B transmits log information to data center  110  (S 1300 ). 
     Data center  110  updates data  117  using the data received from appliance A or appliance B (S 1301 ). Data center  110  notifies an appliance which has sent the data that update of data  117  is completed (S 1302 ). Subsequently, data center  110  determines whether it is necessary to notify terminal  120  that data  117  is updated (S 1303 ). One of methods of determining whether it is necessary to notify is to determine that it is necessary to notify when an amount of change from last notification of an update of data  117  exceeds a certain amount. Data center  110  may determine that it is necessary to notify when specified data is changed. The specified data may be, for example, evaluation data, store information, or user information. The specified data may be a combination thereof. Another method of determining whether it is necessary to notify is as follows. For example, data center  110  may determine that it is necessary to notify when terminal  120  enters a specific state (such as a state of waiting for an input from a user, a state of charging, and a state of performing data communication). Data center  110  may determine that it is necessary to notify when high-speed access is available between terminal  120  and data center  110 . Data center  110  may determine that it is necessary to notify when a number of terminals accessing data center  110  becomes equal to or smaller than a certain number. Data center  110  may determine that it is necessary to notify when a load on data center  110  itself or program  116  becomes equal to or smaller than a certain value. 
     When data center  110  determines in step S 1303  that it is necessary to notify terminal  120  that data  117  is updated, data center  110  notifies terminal  120  that the data is updated (S 1304 ). 
     Data center  110  and terminal  120  perform data synchronization processing (S 1305 ). Details of the data synchronization processing will be described later. 
     When the data synchronization processing is completed, terminal  120  notifies data center  110  that the synchronization processing is completed (S 1306 ). 
     When data center  110  determines in step S 1303  that it is unnecessary to notify terminal  120  that data  117  is updated, or when data center  110  receives the notification that the synchronization of step S 1306  is completed, data center  110  ends the data update processing. 
     &lt;Data Synchronization Processing&gt; 
     When data center  110  notifies that data  117  is updated, terminal  120  updates data  122 . When evaluation data is updated, terminal  120  performs similar user association processing. 
     The following describes processing of terminal  120  synchronizing data  117  in data center  110  with data  122  in terminal  120  with reference to a flow chart of  FIG.  25   . 
     First, update information managing section  341  in terminal  120  determines whether data synchronization processing is necessary (S 1400 ). When it is determined necessary to synchronize data in step S 1400 , update information managing section  341  in terminal  120  requests data center  110  to acquire updated data (S 1401 ). 
     Data center  110  notifies terminal  120  of a list of data updated after the last notification (S 1402 ). Data center  110  may notify terminal  120  of all the updated data simultaneously. Data center  110  may divide the updated data into a certain size and notify the updated data in several steps, or notify the updated data in several steps in arbitrary size. 
     Update information managing section  341  in terminal  120  updates data  122  using the data received from data center  110  (S 1403 ). Similar user managing section  311  in terminal  120  determines whether it is necessary to change association of similar users (S 1404 ). When it is determined necessary to change the association in step S 1404 , similar user managing section  311  acquires evaluation data from evaluation data managing section  302 , and associates a similar user with each user from a list of the evaluation data acquired from evaluation data managing section  302  (S 1405 ). Subsequently, when a dissimilar user is not associated with any user among dissimilar users specified as an additional user for each user, similar user managing section  311  associates the additional user as a similar user (S 1406 ). Finally, similar user managing section  311  updates data regarding the similar user in data  122  to data regarding the new similar user (S 1407 ). 
     When it is determined in step S 1400  that it is unnecessary to synchronize data, update information managing section  341  in terminal  120  ends the data synchronization processing. When it is determined in step S 1404  that it is unnecessary to change the association, similar user managing section  311  in terminal  120  ends the data synchronization processing. 
     &lt;Recommendation Information Display Processing, Dissimilar User Addition Processing&gt; 
     Among recommendation information display processing and dissimilar user addition processing, processing performed by data center  110  in the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is performed by controlling section  340  in terminal  120  in the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. That is, communication between data center  110  and terminal  120  in the second exemplary embodiment corresponds to processing closed within terminal  120  in the fifth exemplary embodiment. That is, the request (S 1100  of  FIG.  19   , S 1201  of  FIG.  20   ) from terminal  120  to data center  110  and the notification (S 1105  and S 1109  of  FIG.  19   , S 1207  of  FIG.  20   ) from data center  110  to terminal  120  correspond to communication between modules within terminal  120 . 
     When compared with each sequence ( FIG.  19   ,  FIG.  20   ) of the first exemplary embodiment, in response to a request for recommendation of a store from a user, terminal  120  performs the following processing rather than requesting another section as in step S 1100 . That is, controlling section  340  in terminal  120  performs the processing from step S 1101  to step S 1108 , and terminal  120  finally displays recommendation information (S 1110 ). Also when a dissimilar user to be added to similar users is selected, controlling section  340  in terminal  120  performs processing from step S 1202  to step S 1206  rather than generating a list and requesting another section as in step S 1200  and S 1201 . In this case, processing of a request for acquisition of store information or user information from service provider  130  to data center  110  corresponds to a request for data acquisition from similar user managing section  311  or recommendation calculating section  312  to store information managing section  301  or user information managing section  303 . 
     The present disclosure is of course not limited to the first to fifth exemplary embodiments described above. The present disclosure also includes the following cases of (1) to (10). 
     (1) While check information display area  127  in the above-described embodiments displays user information and a check box for showing whether to add a user to similar users so as to add a dissimilar user with the check box being checked to similar users, check information display area  127  is not limited to this method. For example, check information display area  127  only needs to be a display that shows which dissimilar user is to be added as a similar user, and does not need to be a check box. For example, check information display area  127  may display only user information at first. When a user who receives information touches user information of a user to be added to similar users, check information display area  127  may change the display method so as to show that the user to be added to similar users is selected. Specifically, check information display area  127  may display a mark such as a check mark automatically at a head of the user information, may change the color of a character displayed, or may change the background color of the character. 
     Check information display area  127  may also include an additional user storage area for storing a user to be added to similar users as well as may display user information. In this case, when a user who receives information selects a user to be added to similar users by touching the user information, terminal  120  may shift the touched user to an additional user storage area automatically. Check information display area  127  may display the user information so as to clearly show that the user is selected, and may also display the user information in the additional user storage area simultaneously. Check information display area  127  may be configured so that a user who receives information can drag user information of a user to be added to similar users to the additional user storage area while preserving the touch thereon, and can drop the user information into the additional user storage area. At this time, a push on addition button  128  causes the user stored in the additional user storage area to be notified to the system as a user to be added to similar users. 
     (2) In the dissimilar user addition processing in the above-described embodiments, a user who receives information selects a user to be added to similar users and adds the selected user as a similar user. However, the dissimilar user addition processing is not limited to this method. The dissimilar user addition processing only needs to be processing that reflects an intention of the user who receives information. For example, a user who receives information may specify a user who has specific preference information as a similar user. In this case, in the dissimilar user addition processing, a user who receives information may select only preference information. The information providing system may then extract a dissimilar user who has the selected preference by using user preference information managing section  304  etc., and may add the extracted dissimilar user to similar users. The dissimilar user addition processing may be configured to extract preference information common to a user to be added to similar users, the user being selected by a user who receives information. The dissimilar user addition processing may be configured to extract a dissimilar user who has the common preference information from among entire dissimilar users, and to add the dissimilar user to similar users. At this time, check information display area  127  does not need to display information such as a name for identifying the user as user information, and may display only preference information (for example,  FIG.  16    (B)). The preference information to display may include all preference information that the dissimilar user has, and may include only preference information that many dissimilar users have. The dissimilar user addition processing may determine which preference information to display based on preference information set for the user who receives information. Specifically, when a favorite food type and a field of a favorite cooking method are set for the user who receives information as preference information, the dissimilar user addition processing may determine to display another preference information of the field, and conversely may determine to display preference information of a field that is not set. The dissimilar user addition processing may determine to display preference information of a user for whom identical information in an identical field is set, the preference information being regarding another field. 
     (3) While similar user managing section  311  in the above-described embodiments is configured to determine whether two arbitrary users have an identical-tendency hobby and preference based on an evaluation value of evaluation data, the determination method is not limited to this method. For example, similar user managing section  311  may determine whether two arbitrary users have an identical-tendency hobby and preference based on whether the two users have similar preference information. Alternatively, similar user managing section  311  may combine the method of determination based on an evaluation value with the method of determination based on preference information. 
     (4) While recommendation calculating section  312  in the above-described embodiments determines a store to be recommended to a user who receives information based on an evaluation value etc., the determination method is not limited to this method. Recommendation calculating section  312  may determine a store to be recommended based on a store category and preference information of the user. Recommendation calculating section  312  may compare a store category and user&#39;s preference information in an identical field, and may determine a store with many coincident items as a store to be recommended, based on, for example, whether a type of food served at a store is identical to a type of food the user likes, whether a major food material served at a store is identical to a food material the user likes, and whether a cooking method of a main menu served at a store is identical to a cooking method the user likes. 
     In addition, preference that a user does not like may be registered as preference information of the user. A category of a store is then compared with the preference that the user does not like, and any store with a coincident item may be removed from stores to be recommended. Another method is to register in advance into the system a combination in which a store category does not coincide with preference information of a user. Any store with an item that coincides with the combination may be removed from stores to be recommended. Examples of combinations in which a category and preference information do not coincide include the following. The combinations may include, for example, a case where “sweet” is registered as a store category and “hot” is registered as preference information of a user. The combinations may include a case where “egg” is registered as a store category and “egg-free” and “for those with egg allergies” are registered as preference information of a user. The combinations may include a case where “fatty” is registered as a store category and “light-seasoned” is registered as preference information of a user. In addition to the examples described above, the combinations may include a combination of words and phrases that have opposite meanings in an identical field, such as “hot” and “sweet”, and “fatty” and “light-seasoned”. The combinations may include a combination of a category and preference information that are not selected together because the category and preference information are in different fields, such as “egg” and “for those with egg allergies”. While these combinations are registered in the system in advance, the combinations may include the following cases. For example, from among preference information of a user and a category of a store that the user evaluates, a combination of preference information and a category is extracted. Then it may be determined whether to remove the store from stores to be recommended when a number of the combinations is small. 
     As described above, when preference that a user does not like is registered as preference information, or when a combination is registered in the system in advance in which a category of a store does not coincide with preference information of the user, determination may be made as follows. When the category of the store does not coincide with the preference of the user, an evaluation value set by the user may not be used for recommendation calculation. The case where the category of the store does not coincide with the preference of the user refers to a case where comparison between the category of the store and the preference that the user does not like shows a coincident item, and to a case of a combination in which the category of the store does not coincide with preference information of the user. 
     (5) The information providing system in the above-described embodiments extracts a similar user who has preference similar to preference of a user based on an evaluation value for a restaurant or a grocery store, determines information to be recommended based on information about the similar user, and provides the user with information. However, the information providing system is not limited to this example. For example, from a model number of a home appliance included in a home appliance purchase history, the information providing system may extract a user who purchases a similar home appliance as a similar user. The information providing system may then determine information to be recommended to the user from among a home appliance that the similar user purchases, and may recommend the home appliance to the user. The information providing system may associate information such as a design tendency, color, and characteristic function with each home appliance in advance, and may extract a user who purchases a home appliance with a similar design as a similar user. The information providing system may extract a user who purchases a home appliance with a similar color as a similar user. By extracting a user who purchases a home appliance with a similar function as a similar user, the information providing system may recommend furniture that the similar user purchases, such as a curtain, a carpet, and a shelf. The information providing system may recommend a curtain, a carpet, and furniture from a purchase history of clothing, such as clothes, instead of a home appliance, and may recommend a home appliance. This makes it possible to provide information about various products that suit the user based on information about a user who possesses similar goods. 
     The information providing system may further extract the following information from a viewing history of television programs, and recommend a recipe, product, store, place, and the like to the user based on the extracted information. The extracted information is information extracted from information regarding program content added to each television program. Specifically, the extracted information includes information about what kind of other programs a user watching a similar program watches, what kind of recipe of food a user makes immediately after the user watches a program with similar content, what kind of product a user purchases immediately after the user watches a program with similar content. This makes it possible to, for example, recommend a recipe regarding food that appears in the television program. This also makes it possible to recommend a recipe of food good for health after watching a program about health. This also makes it possible to recommend a store and region introduced in a television program. 
     When a schedule of the user shows that the user takes a lesson such as a lesson at a cooking school, the information providing system may further extract a user who takes a similar lesson as a similar user. The information providing system may recommend a food material, cookware, a tool used in the lesson, and the like from information such as a purchase history of a mail order and a purchase history of a credit card of the similar user. The information providing system may recommend a recipe similar to a recipe of food learned at the cooking school or the like. 
     (6) The above description has been given for an example where group  100  in the above-described embodiments is a house, but group  100  is not limited to this example. For example, when group  100  is assumed to be a car, the information providing system may extract a similar user from the following information. The information includes, for example, a path and destination of the car, speed and acceleration of the car, and a method of using an accelerator and a brake (amount of pushing down, speed of pushing down, frequency). The information also includes a number of revolutions of an engine or a tire, speed in operating a steering wheel, and relationship between a shape of a road and a method of using the steering wheel, accelerator, and brake. The information also includes information from various sensors inside the car and history information thereof, relationship therebetween, and evaluation of operation by a passenger in the car. The information providing system may extract a similar user who drives a car similarly from among at least part of these pieces of information, may recommend a driving method, and may give notice based on ecology orientation, safety orientation, and risk of car accident of a person who drives similarly. The information providing system may recommend a destination for the car, a place suitable for dropping in, a course or destination in consideration of remaining battery power, and the like in cooperation with a home appliances history. 
     (7) While the information providing system in the above-described embodiments is configured to have various components and to perform various kinds of processing, the information providing system is not limited to these examples. That is, as illustrated in  FIG.  26   , the information providing system may include controlling section  350 , outputting section  353 , inputting section  354 , and data  355 . Controlling section  350  may include similar user managing section  351  and recommendation calculating section  352 . Similar user managing section  351  operates in the same way as similar user managing section  311  of  FIG.  7   . Similar user managing section  351  however accesses data  355  directly. Transmission to terminal  120  is performed using outputting section  353 , and reception from terminal  120  is performed using inputting section  354 . Recommendation calculating section  352  operates in the same way as recommendation calculating section  312  of  FIG.  7   . Recommendation calculating section  352  however accesses data  355  directly. Transmission to terminal  120  is performed using outputting section  353 , and reception from terminal  120  is performed using inputting section  354 . 
     (8) The information providing system in the above-described embodiments performs recommendation calculation based on a similar user who has preference similar to preference of a user, and shows a dissimilar user who does not have preference similar to preference of a targeted user. The information providing system however is not limited to this example. For example, as illustrated in  FIG.  27   , the information providing system may determine whether preference is similar to the preference of the targeted user by performing determination twice or more rather than performing determination at a time. For determination of whether preference is similar to the preference of the targeted user, only a user determined to be similar at least once may be shown to the targeted user as a dissimilar user. This makes it possible to show a dissimilar user with a higher possibility of selection by the user because a user determined to be similar at least once is shown as a dissimilar user. 
     (9) Specifically, each device of the present disclosure is a computer system that includes a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, a display unit, a keyboard, and a mouse. The above-described RAM or hard disk unit stores a computer program. Operation of the microprocessor according to the computer program allows each device to achieve its function. The computer program includes a combination of a plurality of instruction codes each representing a command for the computer in order to achieve a predetermined function. 
     (10) Part or all of the components constituting each device of the present disclosure may include one system LSI (Large Scale Integration). The system LSI is a super-multifunctional LSI manufactured by integrating a plurality of components on one chip. Specifically, the system LSI is a computer system including a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, etc. The RAM stores the computer program. Operation of the microprocessor according to the computer program allows the system LSI to achieve its function. 
     Each of the components that constitute each device of the present disclosure may be individually integrated into one chip, or may be integrated into one chip so that the chip contains part or all of the components. 
     While the chip described above is herein referred to as a system LSI, the chip may be referred to as an IC, LSI, super LSI, or ultra LSI depending on a difference in degree of integration. A technique for circuit integration is not limited to an LSI. Circuit integration may be achieved by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or a reconfigurable processor may be used, the FPGA being programmable after manufacturing of the LSI, the reconfigurable processor allowing reconfiguration of connection and setting of a circuit cell inside the LSI. 
     Furthermore, after development of a circuit-integration technology that replaces an LSI with more advanced semiconductor technology or another derivative technology, of course the technology may be used to integrate a functional block. Possible application of biotechnology etc. can be considered. 
     (11) Part or all of the components that constitute each of the devices described above may include an IC card detachable from each device or a discrete module. The IC card or the module is a computer system that includes a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, etc. The IC card or the module may include the super-multifunctional LSI described above. Operation of the microprocessor according to the computer program allows the IC card or the module to achieve its function. The IC card or the module may be tamper-proof. 
     (12) The present disclosure may be the methods described above. The present disclosure may be a computer program that causes a computer to achieve these methods, and may be a digital signal made of the computer program. 
     The present disclosure may be the computer program or the digital signal recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, such as, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a DVD, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc (BD), or a semiconductor memory. The present disclosure may be the digital signal recorded in these recording media. 
     The present disclosure may be configured to transmit the computer program or the digital signal via a network typified by an electric telecommunication line, wireless or wired communication line, and the Internet, data broadcasting, etc. 
     The present disclosure may be a computer system that includes a microprocessor and a memory, the memory storing the computer program, the microprocessor operating according to the computer program. 
     The present disclosure may cause another independent computer system to execute the program or the digital signal by recording into the recording medium and transferring the program or the digital signal, or by transferring the program or the digital signal via the network or the like. 
     (13) The present disclosure may be configured by combining each of the above-described embodiments and the above-described variations. 
     The information providing system, information providing device, and information providing method according to the present disclosure include an inputting section for a user of the system to add another user to be added to a similar user managing section as similar users. When information provided by the information providing system does not suit preference of the user of the system, the information providing system allows the user to select a similar user. Therefore, the present system is useful as an information providing system that can improve accuracy of information to be provided to the user of the system. 
     REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS 
     
         
           10 ,  20 : User 
           100 : Group 
           101 : Appliance group 
           102 : Home gate way 
           110 : Data center 
           111 ,  113 ,  116 ,  121 ,  131 ,  141 ,  142 : Program 
           112 ,  114 ,  117 ,  122 ,  132 ,  355 : Data 
           115 : OS/middleware 
           120 : Terminal 
           124 : Store information display area 
           125 : User information display area 
           126 : Additional intention input button 
           127 ,  127 ′: Check information display area 
           128 : Addition button 
           129 : Store information re-display area 
           130 : Service provider 
           140 : Application provider 
           200 : User information list 
           201 : Appliance list 
           202 : Similar user list 
           203 : Preference information list 
           210 : Home appliance history 
           220 : Store information list 
           230 : Evaluation value lists 
           300 ,  310 ,  320 ,  340 ,  350 : Controlling section 
           301 : Store information managing section 
           302 : Evaluation data managing section 
           303 : User information managing section 
           304 : User preference information managing section 
           305 : Appliance history information managing section 
           311 ,  321 : Similar user managing section 
           312 ,  322 : Recommendation calculating section 
           313 : Terminal communicating section 
           314 : Data center communicating section 
           315 : Similar user storing section 
           330 : Displaying section 
           331 : Inputting section 
           341 : Update information managing section 
           342 : Data storing section 
           351 : Similar user managing section 
           352 : Recommendation calculating section 
           353 : Outputting section 
           354 : Inputting section