Patent Publication Number: US-2021190528-A1

Title: Information providing device, information providing method, and storage medium

Description:
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-228627, filed Dec. 18, 2019, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an information providing device, an information providing method, and a storage medium. 
     Description of Related Art 
     In the related art, an device that automatically detects and presents destination categories desired by an occupant on the basis of conversations or monologues of the occupant has been disclosed (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2009-115594). The device determines destination category candidates on the basis of the details of attributes of words acquired by a speech recognition means, and presents the destination candidates on the basis of the determined destination category candidate. 
     SUMMARY 
     However, the aforementioned device may not be able to provide information useful for users. 
     An aspect of the present invention is to provide an information providing device, an information providing method, and a storage medium, by which it is possible to provide information useful for users. 
     An information providing device, an information providing method, and a storage medium according to the invention employ the following configurations. 
     (1): An information providing device according to an aspect of the invention includes: an acquirer configured to acquire one or more pieces of orientation information indicating orientations of one or more users; a determiner configured to determine priority item information, which is item information to be preferentially provided, based on reference information in which a specific point and item information for each item of the specific point are associated with each other, and the one or more pieces of orientation information acquired by the acquirer; and a provider configured to allow an information output device associated with at least a part of the one or more users to output the priority item information. 
     (2): In the aspect of the aforementioned (1), when the determiner determines first priority item information on the specific point based on first orientation information acquired by the acquirer and indicating an orientation of a first user and determines second priority item information on the specific point based on second orientation information acquired by the acquirer and indicating an orientation of a second user, the provider is configured to allow an information output device associated with the first user to output the first priority item information and allow an information output device associated with the second user to output the second priority item information. 
     (3): In the aspect of the aforementioned (2), the determiner is configured to determine a plurality of users, who are in a relationship in which a common destination has been determined, as the first user and the second user. 
     (4): In the aspect of any one of the aforementioned (1) to (3), the acquirer is configured to acquire an evaluation of a predetermined user for the priority item information, and the provider is configured to provide the evaluation of the predetermined user to the user different from the user who has performed the evaluation. 
     (5): In the aspect of the aforementioned (4), the user and the different user are occupants of a same vehicle, and the different user is a driver of the vehicle. 
     (6): In the aspect of the aforementioned (1) to (5), the determiner is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode based on an instruction of the user to determine the priority item information, the first mode is a mode in which the priority item information to be preferentially provided to a third user and a fourth user is determined based on orientation information acquired by the acquirer and indicating an orientation of the third user, and the second mode is a mode in which the priority item information to be preferentially provided to the third user is determined based on the orientation information acquired by the acquirer and indicating the orientation of the third user, and the priority item information to be preferentially provided to the fourth user is determined based on orientation information acquired by the acquirer and indicating an orientation of the fourth user. 
     (7): In the aspect of the aforementioned (1) to (6), the determiner is configured to determine the priority item information to be preferentially provided to the user, based on orientation information acquired by the acquirer and indicating orientations of the users and a priority set for each user included in the plurality of users. 
     (8): In the aspect of the aforementioned (1) to (7), the acquirer is configured to acquire the orientation information according to position information indicating a position of the user, and the determiner is configured to determine the priority item information to be preferentially provided to the one or more users, based on the reference information and the orientation information acquired by the acquirer. 
     (9): In the aspect of the aforementioned (1) to (8), the acquirer is configured to acquire the orientation information according to transportation means information indicating a transportation means of the user, and the determiner is configured to determine the priority item information to be preferentially provided to the one or more users, based on the reference information and the orientation information acquired by the acquirer. 
     (10): An information providing method according to an aspect of the invention causes a computer to perform the steps of: acquiring one or more pieces of orientation information indicating an orientation of one or more users; determining priority item information, which is item information to be preferentially provided, based on reference information in which a specific point and item information for each item of the specific point are associated with each other, and the one or more pieces of orientation information acquired by the acquirer; and allowing an information output device associated with at least a part of the one or more users to output the priority item information. 
     (11): A program stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to an aspect of the invention is a computer program to be executed by a computer to perform at least: a process of acquiring one or more pieces of orientation information indicating an orientation of one or more users; a process of determining priority item information, which is item information to be preferentially provided, based on reference information in which a specific point and item information for each item of the specific point are associated with each other, and the one or more pieces of orientation information acquired by the acquirer; and a process of allowing an information output device associated with at least a part of the one or more users to output the priority item information. 
     According to (1) to (11), by providing users with the item information based on the orientation information, so that it is possible to provide information useful for the users. 
     According to (4), users can acquire evaluation results of other users, so that it is possible to evaluate the good or bad of the specific point by referring to the evaluation results. 
     According to (6), the information providing device is configured to determine the priority item information by switching the modes, so that convenience for the user is improved. 
     According to (8) or (9), the priority item information is determined according to the position and state of the user, so that users can acquire more useful information. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a configuration diagram of an information processing system. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a functional configuration of an agent device and a functional configuration mounted on a vehicle M. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a configuration of an agent server and a part of the configuration of the agent device. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of the content of orientation information. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of the content of reference information. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of a pattern between information provided by an information processor and a destination. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of the content of item information preferentially provided to each user in a first pattern. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of information in which item information on which another user places importance is included information provided to a user. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing an example of an image in which item information of the atmosphere of a specific point is arranged in a high-priority way. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram showing an example of the content of item information provided to each user in a second pattern. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing a process when an evaluation result is provided to a user. 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart (part 1) showing an example of the flow of a process performed by an agent server. 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart (part 2) showing an example of the flow of a process performed by the information processor. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram (part 1) showing another example of the orientation information used by a determiner. 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram (part 2) showing another example of orientation information used by the determiner. 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram showing an example of the content of information on a specific point based on orientation information provided to a user. 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an information providing system of a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on an output device of a terminal device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of an information providing device, an information providing method, and a storage medium of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As used throughout this disclosure, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a configuration diagram of an information processing system  1 . The information processing system  1  has an agent function. The agent function is, for example, a function of providing various information based on a request (command) included in the speech of an occupant of a vehicle M or providing mediation for a network service while conversing with the occupant. 
     The agent function is performed by the integrated use of a natural language processing function (function of understanding the structure and meaning of text), a conversation management function, a network search function of searching for another device via a network or searching for a predetermined database owned by an own device, and the like, in addition to a voice recognition function of recognizing the voice of the occupant (function of converting voice into text). Some or all of these functions may be performed by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. 
     A part of the structure for performing these functions (particularly, the voice recognition function and the natural language processing function) may be provided in an in-vehicle communication device of the vehicle M or an agent server (external device) capable of communicating with a general-purpose communication device brought into the vehicle M. In the following description, it is assumed that a part of the structure is provided in an agent server and an agent device and the agent server implement an agent system in cooperation with each other. A service provider (service entity), which is made to virtually appear by the cooperation of the agent device and the agent server, is referred to as an agent. 
     The information processing system  1  includes, for example, an agent device  100  and one or more agent servers  200 . The agent device  100  communicates with the agent server  200  via a network NW. The network NW includes, for example, some or all of the Internet, a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a public line, a telephone line, a wireless base station, and the like. 
     The agent device  100  converses with the occupant of the vehicle M and transmits voice input by the occupant to the agent server  200 . The agent device  100  provides an answer provided by the agent server  200  to the occupant in accordance with the aforementioned voice. 
     Vehicle 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the agent device  100  and the functional configuration mounted on the vehicle M. The vehicle M is equipped with, for example, one or more microphones  10 , one or more operating devices  20 , a plurality of output devices  30  ( 30 - 1  to  30 - 4  in the drawing), a navigation device  40 , a vehicle device  50 , an in-vehicle communication device  60 , and the agent device  100 . A general-purpose communication device  70  such as a smartphone may be brought into a vehicle interior and used in the vehicle interior. The general-purpose communication device  70  can communicate with the agent device  100  by controller area network (CAN) communication, wireless communication, and the like. 
     The microphone  10  is a voice collection device that collects voice generated in the vehicle interior. The operating device  20  is a device that accepts an input operation. The output devices  30  output images or voice. The output devices  30  are, for example, displays, speakers, and the like. The output devices  30 - 1  to  30 - 4  are, for example, an output device for a driver, an output device for an occupant seated on a passenger seat, an output device for an occupant seated on a rear seat behind the driver&#39;s seat, and an output device for an occupant seated on a rear seat behind the passenger seat. The operating device  20  or the output device  30  may have a structure having a function of accepting an input operation such as a touch panel and a function of outputting information. 
     The navigation device  40  includes a positioning device such as a navigation human machine interface (HMI) and a global positioning system (GPS), a storage device that stores map information, and a control device (navigation controller) that performs route search and the like. Some or all of the microphone  10 , the operating device  20 , and the output devices  30  may also be used in the navigation HMI. The navigation device  40  searches for a route (navigation route) for moving from the position of the vehicle M specified by the positioning device to the destination of the occupant, and outputs guide information using the navigation HMI such that the vehicle M can travel along the route. The route search function may also be provided in a navigation server accessible via the network NW. 
     The vehicle device  50  includes, for example, a driving force output device such as an engine and a travelling motor, door locking devices, door opening/closing devices, an air conditioner, power windows, a vehicle speed sensor, and the like. The in-vehicle communication device  60  communicates with the agent servers  200  via the network NW, for example. 
     Agent Device 
     The agent device  100  includes a manager  110 , an agent function processor  150 , and a pairing application execution processor  158 . The manager  110  includes, for example, an acoustic processor  112  and a controller  114 . 
     Each component of the agent device  100  is implemented by, for example, a hardware processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) that executes a program (software). Some or all of these components may be implemented by hardware (a circuit unit: including circuitry) such as a large scale integration (LSI), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and a graphics processing unit (GPU), or may be implemented by software and hardware in cooperation. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (non-transitory storage medium) such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and a flash memory, or may be installed when a detachable storage medium (non-transitory storage medium) storing the program, such as a DVD and a CD-ROM, is mounted on a drive device. 
     The manager  110  functions when a program such as an operating system (OS) and middleware is executed. 
     The acoustic processor  112  of the manager  110  performs acoustic processing on input voice. When voice including a predetermined word is input to the microphone  10 , the agent is started. The controller  114  controls the operating device  20  and the output devices  30 . The controller  114  allows the output device  30  to display an image in accordance with an instruction from the agent function processor  150 . The controller  114  generates, for example, an anthropomorphic agent image (hereinafter, referred to as an agent image) that communicates with the occupant in the vehicle interior, and allows the output device  30  to display the generated agent image by the control of the agent function processor  150 . The agent image is, for example, an image able to be brought into a state of speaking to the occupant. 
     The controller  114  allows some or all of the speakers included in the output devices  30  to output voice in accordance with the instruction from the agent function processor  150 . The controller  114  may also perform control for localizing an agent voice sound image at a position corresponding to a display position of the agent image, for example, by using one or more speakers. The position corresponding to the display position of the agent image is, for example, a position where the occupant is expected to feel that the agent voice of the agent image should be speaking. The localization of the sound image means that, for example, the spatial position of a sound source experienced by the occupant is determined by adjusting the loudness of voice transmitted to the left and right ears of the occupant. 
     The agent function processor  150  makes the agent appear in cooperation with the agent server  200 , and provides a service including a voice response in accordance with the speech of the occupant of the vehicle M. The agent function processor  150  may communicate with the agent server  200  in cooperation with the general-purpose communication device  70  such as a smartphone via the pairing application execution processor  158 . 
     The pairing application execution processor  158  performs pairing with the general-purpose communication device  70  by, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), and connects the agent function processor  150  and the general-purpose communication device  70 . The agent function processor  150  may be connected to the general-purpose communication device  70  by wired communication using a universal serial bus (USB) and the like. 
     Agent Server 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram showing the configuration of the agent server  200  and a part of the configuration of the agent device  100 . Hereinafter, operations of the agent function processor  150  and the like together with the configuration of the agent server  200  will be described. A part of the functional configuration of the agent server  200  may also be included in the agent device  100  or another device. 
     The agent server  200  includes a communicator  210 . The communicator  210  is, for example, a network interface such as a network interface card (NIC). Moreover, the agent server  200  includes, for example, a voice recognizer  220 , a natural language processor  222 , a conversation manager  224 , a network search processor  226 , a response sentence generator  228 , and an information processor  230 . These components are implemented by, for example, a hardware processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) that executes a program (software). Some or all of these components may be implemented by hardware (a circuit unit: including circuitry) such as an LSI, an ASIC, a FPGA, and a GPU, or may be implemented by software and hardware in cooperation. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (non-transitory storage medium) such as a HDD and a flash memory, or may be installed when a detachable storage medium (non-transitory storage medium) storing the program, such as a DVD and a CD-ROM, is mounted on a drive device. 
     The agent server  200  includes a storage  250 . The storage  250  is implemented by the aforementioned various storage devices. The storage  250  stores data such as a personal profile  252 , a dictionary DB (database)  254 , a knowledge base DB  256 , a response rule DB  258 , orientation information  260  to be described below, and reference information  262  to be described below, and programs. 
     The agent function processor  150  of the agent device  100  transmits a voice stream, or a voice stream subjected to a process such as compression and encoding to the agent server  200 . When recognizing a voice command that can be subjected to local processing (processing that does not go through the agent server  200 ), the agent function processor  150  may perform a process requested by the voice command The voice command that can be subjected to local processing is a voice command that can be answered by referring to information (not showed) stored in the storage device included in the agent device  100 , or a voice command for controlling the vehicle device  50  (for example, a command and the like for turning on an air conditioner). Accordingly, the agent function processor  150  may also have a part of the functions of the agent server  200 . 
     When the voice stream is acquired, the agent device  100  outputs character information converted into text by the voice recognition of the voice recognizer  220 , and the natural language processor  222  interprets the meaning of the character information while referring to the dictionary DB  254 . The dictionary DB  254  is a DB in which abstract semantic information is correlated with the character information. The dictionary DB  254  may include information on a list of synonyms. The process of the voice recognizer  220  and the process of the natural language processor  222  are processes in which stages thereof are not obviously separated, and may be performed by interacting with each other such as correction of the recognition result by the voice recognizer  220  in response to the processing result of the natural language processor  222 . 
     For example, when the meanings such as “today&#39;s weather?” and “how&#39;s the weather?” are recognized as the recognition result, the natural language processor  222  generates a command replaced with standard character information “today&#39;s weather”. In this way, even when there is a character fluctuation in the voice of a request, it is possible to facilitate a conversation according to the request. The natural language processor  222  may recognize the meaning of character information by using an artificial intelligence technology including machine learning and the like, or generate a command based on the recognition result. 
     On the basis of the processing result (command) of the natural language processor  222 , the conversation manager  224  determines the content of speech to the occupant of the vehicle M while referring to the personal profile  252 , the knowledge base DB  256 , and the response rule DB  258 . The personal profile  252  includes occupant&#39;s individual information, preferences, history of past conversations, and the like stored for each occupant. The knowledge base DB  256  is information that defines the relation between things. The response rule DB  258  is information that defines operations (content and the like of answer and device control) to be performed by the agent in response to the command. 
     The conversation manager  224  may specify the occupant by collating with the personal profile  252  by means of feature information obtained by the voice stream. In such a case, in the personal profile  252 , for example, personal information is correlated with voice feature information. The voice feature information is, for example, information on features of way of speaking such as voice pitch, intonation, and rhythm (voice pitch pattern), and feature amounts based on Mel frequency cepstrum coefficients and the like. The voice feature information is, for example, information obtained by allowing the occupant to utter a predetermined word, sentence and the like at the time of initial registration and recognizing the uttered voice. When the command requests information that can be searched via the network NW, the conversation manager  224  allows the network search processor  226  to perform a search. 
     The network search processor  226  accesses various web servers (not showed) via the network NW to acquire desired information. The “information that can be searched via the network NW” is, for example, a restaurant around the vehicle M, an evaluation result by a general user of the restaurant, or a weather forecast according to the position of the vehicle M on that day. 
     The response sentence generator  228  generates a response sentence such that the content of the speech determined by the conversation manager  224  is transmitted to the occupant of the vehicle M, and transmits the generated response sentence to the agent device  100 . The response sentence generator  228  may call the name of the occupant or generate a response sentence in a way of speaking that resembles the way the occupant speaks. 
     Upon acquiring the response sentence, the agent function processor  150  instructs the controller  114  to perform voice synthesis and output voice. The agent function processor  150  instructs the controller  114  to display the agent image in accordance with the voice output. By so doing, an agent function, in which the virtually appearing agent responds to the occupant of the vehicle M, is implemented. 
     Information Processor 
     For example, when providing information on a specific point such as a predetermined point of interest (POI) to a user, the information processor  230  determines item information (for example, priority item information of a price, an atmosphere, a position, and the like), which is to be preferentially provided to the user, on the basis of the orientation of the user. More specifically, when providing information on a predetermined specific point to a plurality of users, the information processor  230  determines item information, which is to be preferentially provided to the users, on the basis of the orientation of the users or the orientation of each user. 
     The information processor  230  includes, for example, an acquirer  232 , a determiner  234 , and a provider  236 . The acquirer  232  acquires orientation information indicating the orientation of one or more users. The users are, for example, users (occupants) who are in a vehicle or predetermined users. The predetermined users are a predetermined user (for example, a driver) among the users who are in a vehicle or a user who is not in the vehicle and will join the occupants later. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of the content of the orientation information  260 . The orientation information  260  is information indicating the orientation of a user. The information indicating the orientation is information indicating the way of thinking of the user, information indicating preferences, information indicating matters on which the user places importance, and the like, in relation to the provision of information such as POI information. The orientation information  260  is, for example, information in which predetermined item information and the degree of importance of the item information to a user are correlated with each other. A POI is, for example, predetermined facilities or places such as stores, parks, buildings, plazas, and tourist spots. The predetermined item information includes, for example, a price, an atmosphere, a distance from a predetermined position (for example, a current location), and the like. The predetermined item information may include arbitrary items such as an external appearance, an internal appearance, and public evaluations, in addition to the above. In the example of  FIG. 4 , user 001 is a user who places importance on price but does not place importance on distance. 
     The determiner  234  determines item information (priority item information), which is to be preferentially provided, on the basis of the reference information  262  in which a specific point and item information for each item of the specific point are associated with each other, and one or more pieces of orientation information  260  acquired by the acquirer  232 . 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of the content of the reference information  262 . The reference information  262  is information in which a specific point and the item information for each item of the specific point are correlated (associated) with each other. The item information is information on the price of services and goods provided by the specific point, the atmosphere of the specific point, the location of the specific point, and the like. The item information may include arbitrary information such as external appearance, internal appearance, public evaluations, and the state of a parking lot, in addition to the above. The determiner  234  determines that, for example, the price information included in the reference information  262  is to be provided to a user who places importance on the price in the orientation information  260 . 
     The provider  236  allows an output device associated with at least a part of one or more users to output the item information (priority item information) determined by the determiner  234 . 
     In the user information (not showed), the predetermined users and the output devices are associated with each other. For example, the output device  30 - 1  is associated with a user who is seated on the driver&#39;s seat and the output device  30 - 2  is associated with a user who is seated on the passenger seat. In the user information, display areas of the output devices may be associated with the users. In the user information, for example, the left half of the display area may be associated with a user who is seated on the passenger seat and the right half of the display area may be associated with a user who is seated on the driver&#39;s seat. In such a case, for each display area, item information for the user associated with the display area is displayed. 
     The user who is seated on the driver&#39;s seat and the user who is seated on the passenger seat may be identified as follows. For example, as described above, the conversation manager  224  may identify the occupant by verification with respect to the personal profile  252  by using the feature information obtained from the voice stream. The agent device  100  and the agent server  200  may identify the position of the user&#39;s speech and identify that the identified occupant is present at the identified position. The seating position of the user may be identified based on operating the operating device  20  by the user. The occupant may be identified on the basis of an image captured by a camera (not showed) in the vehicle interior. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of a pattern between information provided by the information processor  230  and a destination. The information processor  230  provides information according to a first pattern or a second pattern. The first pattern includes pattern A or pattern B. The second pattern includes pattern C or pattern D. 
     In the pattern A and the pattern B, a user associated with orientation information used for determining item information is the same as a user associated with a destination. 
     Pattern A: The information processor  230  determines first item information on the basis of orientation information of a first user, and provides the determined first item information to an output device associated with the first user. Hereinafter, “providing the item information to the output device associated with the user” may be simply referred to as “providing the item information to the user”. 
     Pattern B: The information processor  230  determines the first item information on the basis of the orientation information of the first user, provides the determined first item information to the first user, determines second item information on the basis of orientation information of a second user, and provides the determined second item information to the second user. That is, when the determiner  234  determines first priority item information on a specific point on the basis of first orientation information indicating the orientation of the first user and determines second priority item information on the same specific point on the basis of second orientation information indicating the orientation of the second user, the provider  236  allows an information output device associated with the first user to output the first priority item information and allows an information output device associated with the second user to output the second priority item information. 
     In the pattern C and the pattern D, the user associated with orientation information used for determining the item information is different from the user associated with a destination. 
     Pattern C: The information processor  230  determines the first item information on the basis of the orientation information of the first user, and provides the determined first item information to the second user. The provider  236  allows the information output device associated with the second user different from the first user to output the first priority item information. 
     Pattern D: The information processor  230  determines the first item information on the basis of the orientation information of the first user, and provides the determined first item information to the first user and the second user. The provider  236  also allows the information output device associated with the first user to output the first priority item information. 
     For example, the process of the aforementioned pattern B or pattern D is performed when the agent server  200  provides a user included in a group with information on a predetermined specific point (for example, when providing information to users at the same time). The group includes a plurality of occupants who are in the same vehicle or users designated by the user. When the provider  236  provides the item information to a specific user, the item information is provided to a terminal device associated with the specific user. 
     The determiner  234  sets a plurality of users (for example, the first user and the second user), who are in a relationship in which a common destination has been determined, as targets for a process of determining the item information (priority item information) to be preferentially provided. The “plurality of users who are in a relationship in which a common destination has been determined” are, for example, a plurality of users who are in a relationship in which they have board the same vehicle, a plurality of users who are in a relationship in which they are accompanying each other, a plurality of users who are at different points but are in a relationship in which they have promised to meet in the future, and the like. The plurality of users who are in a relationship in which they are accompanying each other may be a plurality of users who are walking or a plurality of users who are staying at a predetermined place. In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the plurality of users are in the same vehicle. The users, who are in the same vehicle, are users included in the aforementioned user information, for example. A process for the plurality of users who are in a relationship in which they are accompanying each other or the plurality of users who are at different points but are in a relationship in which they have promised to meet in the future will be described in a second embodiment. 
     SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF FIRST PATTERN 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of the content of item information preferentially provided to each user in the first pattern.  FIG. 7  shows a situation in which item information on restaurant A is provided to each user. The orientation information  260  includes information indicating that user 001 places importance on an atmosphere of the specific point, user 002 places importance on a price of the specific point, and user 003 places importance on a distance to the specific point. 
     In the above case, for example, the information processor  230  provides item information indicating the atmosphere (for example, external appearance) of the specific point to the user 001, provides item information indicating the price (for example, the price of a menu item) of the specific point to the user 002, and provides item information indicating the position (for example, the distance from the current location) of the specific point to the user 003. 
     In this way, the information processor  230  can provide item information that matches the orientation of the user. As a consequence, the user can acquire useful information. 
     In the example showed in  FIG. 7 , it has been described that only item information on which a user places importance is provided to the user; however, item information on which another user places importance or other item information may be included in information provided to the user.  FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of information in which item information on which another user places importance is included information provided to a user. In the example showed in  FIG. 8 , the item information of the price and the position of the specific point is included in the item information provided to the user 001. The information of the atmosphere of the specific point is provided to the user in a state in which it has a higher priority than the item information of the price and the position of the specific point, which is other item information (in a state in which it is more visible than the other item information). 
     The high-priority state may be indicated by an area occupied by the information being large as showed in  FIG. 8 , or indicated by the position of the area occupied by the information being placed at a position (upper position) that is move visible than the position of an area occupied by low-priority information as showed in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a diagram showing an example of an image in which the item information of the atmosphere of the specific point is arranged in the high-priority way. The high-priority way may indicate that the timing at which the item information is displayed is before the timing at which other item information is displayed. 
     The information processor  230  may also provide each user with information having a degree of importance equal to or more than a predetermined degree in the orientation information  260  of each user. For example, in the orientation information  260 , the information processor  230  may also provide each user with item information in which the degree of importance of each user is “medium” and “high”. 
     SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF SECOND PATTERN 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram showing an example of the content of item information provided to each user in the second pattern.  FIG. 10  shows a situation in which the item information on restaurant A is provided to each user, as in  FIG. 7  and the like. The orientation information  260  includes the information indicating that the user 001 places importance on the atmosphere of the specific point, the user 002 places importance on the price of the specific point, and the user 003 places importance on the distance to the specific point. 
     In the above case, for example, the information processor  230  provides the item information indicating the atmosphere of the specific point to the user 001 to the user 003 in a high-priority way as showed in  FIG. 10 . In the second pattern, the information processor  230  may provide the user 001 to the user 003 with the item information in a way that an area occupied by the item information of the atmosphere in the image has a high priority. 
     In this way, the information processor  230  can provide item information that matches the orientation of a predetermined user (for example, “high-priority user”). As a consequence, the user can acquire useful information. For example, the predetermined user can provide other users with item information that matches his/her orientation, thereby whether the specific point is good or bad being able to be conveyed to the other users. Furthermore, users included in other group can efficiently determine whether to go to the specific point. 
     Priority 
     The “high-priority user” is a user (driver) who is seated on the driver&#39;s seat of the vehicle, a user set in advance in the group (or occupants), and the like. As showed in  FIG. 10 , on the basis of the orientation information  260  indicating the orientation of a plurality of users and a priority set for each user included in the plurality of users, the determiner  234  determines item information to be preferentially provided to the users. The priority set for the user may vary for each vehicle or user position. For example, in area A, the priority of the user 001 may be set to be the highest, and in area B, the priority of the user 002 may be set to be the highest. This may be because, for example, the user 001 has knowledge about a specific point in the area A and the user 002 has knowledge about a specific point in the area B. 
     In this way, the item information based on the orientation of the high-priority user is preferentially provided to other users, so that the other users can obtain highly reliable information or the group can be efficiently made aware of whether the specific point is good or bad. 
     Provision of Evaluation 
     The acquirer  232  may acquire the evaluation of the predetermined user for the item information, and the provider  236  may provide the evaluation of the predetermined user to a user different from the user who has performed the evaluation.  FIG. 11  is a diagram showing a process when an evaluation result is provided to a user. For example, when the user 001 refers to an image IM 1  including information indicating the atmosphere of a specific point, and operates the operating device  20 , for example, to evaluate the specific point, the provider  236  provides other users with an image IM 2  including information indicating an evaluation result regarding the item information input to the user 001. The aforementioned evaluation result may be an evaluation result of each item information or a comprehensive evaluation result for the specific point. 
     In this way, the user can easily refer to evaluation results of other users. That is, the user can acquire useful information. 
     In each of the aforementioned examples, it has been described that an image including the item information is provided; however, instead of this (or in addition to this), voice including the item information may be output. In such a case, the item information is provided to users in the high-priority way. For example, item information with a high priority may be output earlier than item information with a low priority. 
     Flowchart (Part 1) 
       FIG. 12  is a flowchart (part 1) showing an example of the flow of the process performed by the agent server  200 . First, the agent server  200  acquires the speech of the occupant from the agent device  100  (step S 100 ) and recognizes the content of the acquired speech (step S 102 ). Next, on the basis of the recognized content of the speech, the agent server  200  determines a specific point to be recommended (step S 104 ). For example, when the occupant has said “Let&#39;s eat lunch somewhere”, the agent server  200  specifies the specific point “restaurant A” on the basis of a predetermined algorithm, model, and the like. In this way, the process of the present flowchart ends. In this way, the specific point is determined. 
     The aforementioned method of determining the specific point is an example, and the occupant may specify the specific point or a specific point around a position where the user passes by may be determined as the specific point to be recommended. 
     Flowchart (Part 2) 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart (part 2) showing an example of the flow of the process performed by the information processor  230 . For example, whether the aforementioned first pattern is applied or the aforementioned second pattern is applied may be set by a user. For example, a process based on the set pattern is performed as follows. 
     First, the information processor  230  determines whether the first pattern has been set (step S 200 ). When the first pattern has been set, the acquirer  232  acquires orientation information for each user (step S 202 ). Next, the determiner  234  determines item information on the basis of each piece of the acquired orientation information (step S 204 ). Next, the provider  236  provides the determined item information to each user (step S 206 ). In this way, the item information is provided to the users as showed in  FIG. 7  described above. 
     When the first pattern has not been set (when the second pattern has been set), the acquirer  232  acquires orientation information of a user (for example, a high-priority user) (step S 208 ). Next, the determiner  234  determines item information on the basis of the acquired orientation information (step S 210 ). Next, the provider  236  provides the determined item information to each user (step S 212 ). In this way, the item information is provided to the users as showed in  FIG. 10  described above. 
     For example, when the specific point is determined by the speech or intention of the user 001, the high-priority user may be set as the user 001. In such a case, for example, in step S 210 , the determiner  234  may determine that a part or all of the item information on which the user 001 places importance is to be provided to other users. 
     As described above, the information processor  230  determines item information, which is to be preferentially provided to the users, in accordance with the set pattern. As a consequence, convenience for the users is improved. 
     ANOTHER EXAMPLE 1 OF ORIENTATION INFORMATION 
     The determiner  234  may determine item information, which is provided to users, on the basis of the reference information  262  and orientation information according to position information acquired by the acquirer  232 . The acquirer  232  acquires position information indicating the position of a user from a vehicle which the user has boarded or a terminal device held by the user. 
     The determiner  234  may determine item information, which is provided to users, on the basis of the reference information  262  and orientation information according to transportation means information acquired by the acquirer  232 . The acquirer  232  acquires the transportation means information indicating the transportation means of a user from a vehicle which the user has boarded or a terminal device held by the user. For example, the user operates the operating device  20  of the vehicle or the terminal device held by the user and provides the transportation means to the agent server  200 . The agent server  200  may also identify the transportation means on the basis of a displacement of the position information of the user. For example, when the position displacement per unit time is less than a predetermined degree, the agent server  200  may estimate that the user is moving on foot, and when the position displacement per unit time is equal to or more than the predetermined degree, the agent server  200  may estimate that the user is moving using a movable body (vehicle or bicycle). 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram (part 1) showing another example of the orientation information used by the determiner  234 . Orientation information  260 A is provided, for example, for each area or each transportation means. For example, in the orientation information  260 A, the user 001 may be associated with the price in the area A and the atmosphere in the area B on which importance has been placed. The area A is, for example, a usual activity area of the user 001, and the area B is, for example, an activity area different from the usual activity area of the user 001 and is, for example, a tourist spot. For example, in the orientation information  260 A, the user 001 may be associated with the price on which importance has been placed when using a movable body. For example, in the orientation information  260 A, the user 001 may be associated with the distance to the specific point on which importance has been placed when moving on foot. 
     In this way, the information processor  230  can provide the user with useful item information according to the state of the user and the position of the user. As a consequence, the user can acquire more useful information. 
     ANOTHER EXAMPLE 2 OF ORIENTATION INFORMATION 
       FIG. 15  is a diagram (part 2) showing another example of the orientation information used by the determiner  234 . Orientation information  260 B is provided, for example, for each area or each transportation means. For example, in the orientation information  260 B, the content of item information differs for each area or each transportation means. For example, in the area A, the price, the atmosphere, and the distance are defined as item information, and in the area B, attractions, goods and the like are defined as item information, in addition to the price, the atmosphere, and the distance. The area A is, for example, an area different from the usual activity area of the user 001 or a tourist spot, and the area B is, for example, an activity area or a tourist spot different from the usual activity range of the user 001. For example, the attractions and goods are defined as the item information in the area B, and the degree of importance thereof is associated with the item information. Also, in the orientation information  260 B showed in  FIG. 15 , the degree of importance associated with the item information may differ for each area or each transportation means. 
       FIG. 16  is a diagram showing an example of the content of information on a specific point based on the orientation information  260 B provided to a user. For example, when information on an AAA shrine is provided to the user on the basis of the orientation information  260 B of  FIG. 15 , for example, information on attractions of the AAA shrine and goods unique to the AAA shrine (for example, special products and souvenirs) is preferentially provided to the user. 
     In this way, the information processor  230  can provide the user with useful item information according to the state of the user and the position of the user. As a consequence, the user can acquire more useful information. 
     According to the first embodiment described above, the information processor  230  can determine item information, which is to be preferentially provided to one or more users, on the basis of the reference information  262  and the orientation information, and allow an information output device associated with the one or more users to output the determined item information, thereby providing information useful for the users. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, the above description has been given on the assumption that the agent server  200  provides information to the output device  30  of the vehicle M. However, in the second embodiment, the agent server provides information to the output devices of terminal devices. Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described. 
       FIG. 17  is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an information providing system  1 A of the second embodiment. The information providing system  1 A includes, for example, the agent server  200  and one or more terminal devices  300  (terminal devices  300 - 1  to  300 - 3  in the drawing). 
     The determiner  234  sets, as processing targets, a plurality of users who are in a relationship in which they are accompanying each other or a plurality of users who are at different points but are in a relationship in which they have promised to meet in the future. For example, on the basis of information provided in advance by the terminal devices  300  of users, the determiner  234  determines a plurality of users who are in a relationship in which they a common destination has been determined. The information provided by the terminal devices  300  is identification information of the terminal devices  300  of the plurality of users who are in a relationship in which they a common destination has been determined, which is provided by a predetermined terminal device  300 , and information indicating a relationship in which they a common destination has been determined with other terminal devices  300 , which is provided by each terminal device  300  (for example, information indicating a group that performs chatting). In the second embodiment, the terminal devices  300  may be present in a vehicle interior, and may be separately present at positions different from the vehicle interior. 
     The terminal device  300  is, for example, a terminal device, such as a smart phone, which can be carried by a user. The terminal device  300  has, for example, a functional configuration equivalent to the function implemented by the agent device  100 . The functional configuration is implemented, for example, by a hardware processor, such as a CPU mounted on the terminal device  300 , which executes an application program (software) stored in the storage device. The terminal device  300  includes a display device and an output device  30 A such as a speaker. The terminal device  300  has a function of chatting with another terminal device  300 . In this chat, on the basis of the content of a user&#39;s chat (conversation), the agent server  200  recommends a specific point or provides a user with information on the specific point. 
       FIG. 18  is a diagram showing an example of an image IM 3  displayed on the output device  30  of the terminal device  300 . The image IM 3  is an image output to the output device  30  when the terminal device  300  (user 001) is chatting with another terminal device  300  (user 002). The image IM 3  includes, for example, information indicating the atmosphere of the restaurant A, as the information on the specific point. The atmosphere is item information on which the user 001 places importance. 
     According to the second embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained. For example, when determining a dinning place while a plurality of users are heading to a meeting place, the information processor  230  can provide each user with item information on the basis of the orientation of each user or a predetermined user, so that user&#39;s convenience is improved. 
     Although a mode for carrying out the present invention has been described using the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and various modifications and replacements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.