Patent Publication Number: US-2012036047-A1

Title: Service providing system, information processing device, method, and program

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/526,375, filed Oct. 14, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and which is the National Stage of PCT/JP03/11534, filed Sep. 10, 2003, and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application 2002-264772, filed Sep. 10, 2002. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to service providing systems, information processing apparatuses, information processing methods, and programs. More particularly, the present invention relates a service providing system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program, which are capable of reducing leakage of the private information of a user. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A system that provides useful information to a user transmits article information and sale information of a shop by wireless to a distribution area within a predetermined distance from the information terminal of the shop and, when the user who carries a mobile terminal enters the distribution area, automatically receives the article information and the sale information to store the received information. The system has separate means for searching the information by a consumer (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-276532 (pages 5 to 7)). A system registers an article desired by a user in advance and raises an alarm when a shop has the article desired by the user (also refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-276532 (pages 5 to 7)). 
     A system presents advertisement information to be presented to an driver of a mobile body in a form of at least one of an image and a sound, depending on the situation of the mobile body, in order to allow the driver of the mobile body, who wants to use the advertisement information, to watch and listen to the advertisement information in a more secure situation. The system uses a global positioning system (GPS) to determine the position of the mobile body and presents the advertisement information of a shop when the mobile body reaches an area within a distance of, for example, 2 km from the shop (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-292182 (pages 4 to 5)). 
     In a system having elements and nodes, which constitute the system, connected thereto over a network, a cyber-entity (hereinafter referred to as a CE), which is a program executed by the nodes, acquires information input by a user; history information of the user; real world information (information concerning the user, such as the position of the user or the biological information, the concentration of nitrogen gas in the air, humidity, opening/closing of a door, the water level of a pot, turning on/off of an electric lamp, wind speed, water depth, electric conductivity, luminance, odor, a traffic situation, the freshness of food, room temperature, and/or precipitation) acquired by using a sensor; attribute information of the CE; and so on (environmental sensing), and acquires information concerning other CEs (B) by the environmental sensing. The CE generates and records relationship information of the CEs (B) based on the acquired information concerning the CEs (B), and selects a target CE to be interacted with based on the relationship information to provide a service while interacting with the target CE (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-175405 (pages 9 to 11)). 
     A system stores the characteristics of a shop where a base terminal computer is installed in the base terminal computer as base terminal device profile. In this system, when the mobile terminal computer of a user is connected to the base terminal computer, the user profile is transmitted to the terminal device computer and is updated so as to reflect the base terminal device profile of the base terminal computer in order to reflect the preference of the user in the user profile and to be accommodated to the user&#39;s interest that dynamically varies (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-117066 (pages 12 to 13)). 
     However, with known systems, there is a problem in that the private information of a user must be provided to the outside when the information suited to the preference of the user is recommended to the user. 
     For example, in the system disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-117066 (pages 12 to 13), the user profile must be transmitted from the mobile terminal computer to the base terminal computer. 
     Accordingly, the transmission can result in leakage of the private information of the user. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     In order to resolve the above problem, it is an object of the present invention is to reduce leakage of the private information of a user. 
     A service providing system of the present invention includes a first information processing apparatus that acquires user information, which is the information concerning a user, a second information processing apparatus that accumulates information and provides the accumulated information on a network, and a third information processing apparatus which the user carries along with the first information processing apparatus. The first information processing apparatus includes acquiring means for acquiring the user information; first communication means for transmitting the user information acquired by the acquiring means to the third information processing apparatus and receiving presentation information to be presented to the user from the third information processing apparatus; and presenting means for presenting the presentation information received by the first communication means. The second information processing apparatus includes second communication means for transmitting the accumulated information to the third information processing apparatus. The third information processing apparatus includes third communication means for receiving the user information from the first information processing apparatus; fourth communication means for receiving the accumulated information from the second information processing apparatus; and selecting means for selecting the presentation information from among the accumulated information based on the user information. The third communication means transmits the presentation information selected by the selecting means to the first information processing apparatus. 
     An information processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes acquiring means for acquiring user information, which is the information concerning a user; communication means for transmitting the user information acquired by the acquiring means to another information processing apparatus and receiving presentation information to be presented to the user from the other information processing apparatus; and presenting means for presenting the presentation information received by the communication means. The user carries the information processing apparatus along with the other information processing apparatus. 
     The acquiring means may include a GPS antenna. The user information may include information concerning the longitude and latitude of a location of the user. 
     The acquiring means may include a microphone. The user information may include audio information spoken by the user. 
     The presentation information may include article information of an article expected to be desired by the user. 
     The presenting means may include displaying means for displaying the presentation information. 
     The presenting means may include outputting means for outputting a sound associated with the presentation information. 
     The communication means may perform communication with the other information processing apparatus using a Bluetooth technology. 
     The information processing apparatus may further include attracting means for attracting the user&#39;s attention to the information processing apparatus when the presenting means presents the presentation information. 
     An information processing method according to the first aspect of the present invention includes the steps of acquiring user information, which is the information concerning a user; transmitting the user information acquired in the acquiring step to another information processing apparatus; receiving presentation information to be presented to the user from the other information processing apparatus; and presenting the presentation information received in the receiving step. 
     A program according to the first aspect of the present invention causes a computer to perform the steps of acquiring user information, which is the information transmitted to an information processing apparatus and which is the information concerning a user; and presenting presentation information to be presented to the user when the presentation information is received from the information processing apparatus. 
     An information processing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes communication means for receiving information concerning the location of a user from another information processing apparatus that selects presentation information to be presented to the user from among accumulated information that is held by the information processing apparatus and that includes article information of articles sold in a shop; and acquiring means for acquiring the article information of the articles sold in the shop where the user is located based on the information concerning the location of the user received by the communication means. The communication means transmits the article information acquired by the acquiring means to the other information processing apparatus. 
     The information processing apparatus may further include generating means for generating routing information for guiding the user to a specified location. The communication means may further transmit the routing information generated by the generating means to the other information processing apparatus. 
     An information processing method according to the second aspect of the present invention includes the steps of receiving information concerning a location of a user from another information processing apparatus that selects presentation information to be presented to the user from among accumulated information that is held by an information processing apparatus and that includes article information of articles sold in a shop; acquiring the article information of the articles sold in the shop where the user is located based on the information concerning the location of the user, received in the receiving step; and transmitting the article information acquired in the acquiring step to the other information processing apparatus. 
     A program according to the second aspect of the present invention causes a computer to perform an acquiring step of acquiring article information of articles sold in a shop where a user is located as information to be transmitted to another information processing apparatus that selects presentation information to be presented to the user from among accumulated information that is held in an information processing apparatus and that includes the article information of the articles sold in the shop, based on information concerning the location of the user, when the information concerning the location of the user is received from the other information processing apparatus. 
     An information processing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention includes first communication means for receiving user information, which is the information concerning a user, from another first information processing apparatus; second communication means for receiving accumulated information accumulated in another second information processing apparatus from the other second information processing apparatus; and selecting means for selecting presentation information to be presented to the user from among the accumulated information based on the user information. The first communication means transmits the presentation information selected by the selecting means to the first information processing apparatus. 
     The user information may include information concerning the longitude and latitude of a location of the user. 
     The user information may include audio information spoken by the user, acquired by the other first information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus may further include analyzing means for analyzing the audio information. 
     The selecting means may select the presentation information to be presented to the user from among the accumulated information based on the analysis result in the analyzing means. 
     The accumulated information may include article information of articles sold in a shop. The selecting means may select an article expected to be desired by the user from among the articles sold in the shop based on the article information of the articles sold in the shop. The article information of the selected article may be the presentation information. 
     The information processing apparatus may further include determining means for determining whether the user is present in the shop. The selecting means may select the article expected to be desired by the user from among the articles sold in the shop where the user is present, determined by the determining means. 
     The first communication means may perform communication with the other first information processing apparatus using a Bluetooth technology. 
     The information processing apparatus may further include storage means for storing the user information received by the first communication means and the accumulated information received by the second communication means. 
     An information processing method according to the third aspect of the present invention includes a first receiving step of receiving user information, which is the information concerning a user, from another first information processing apparatus; a second receiving step of receiving accumulated information accumulated in another second information processing apparatus from the other second information processing apparatus; a selecting step of selecting presentation information to be presented to the user from among the accumulated information based on the user information; and a transmitting step of transmitting the presentation information selected in the selecting step to the first information processing apparatus. 
     A program according to the third aspect of the present invention causes a computer to perform a selecting step of selecting presentation information to be presented to a user by a first information processing apparatus from among accumulated information that is received from another second information processing apparatus and that is accumulated in the other second information processing apparatus, based on user information which is received from the other first information processing apparatus and which is the information concerning the user. 
     In the service providing system of the present invention, the first information processing apparatus acquires user information, which is the information concerning a user, and transmits the acquired user information to the third information processing apparatus. The third information processing apparatus receives presentation information to be presented to the user and presents the received presentation information. The second information processing apparatus transmits accumulated information held therein to the third information processing apparatus. The third information processing apparatus selects the presentation information from among the accumulated information received from the second information processing apparatus based on the user information received from the first information processing apparatus and transmits the selected presentation information to the first information processing apparatus. 
     In the first information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program of the present invention, the user information, which is the information concerning the user, is acquired and is transmitted to another information processing apparatus. The presentation information received from the other information processing apparatus is presented to the user. The user carries the first information processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention along with the other information processing apparatus. 
     In the second information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program of the present invention, the information concerning the location of the user is received from another information processing apparatus that selects the presentation information to be presented to the user from among the accumulated information that is held in the information processing apparatus and that includes article information of articles sold in a shop, and the article information of the articles sold in the shop where the user is located is acquired based on the received information concerning the location of the user. The acquired article information is transmitted to the other information processing apparatus. 
     In the third information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program of the present invention, the presentation information to be presented to the user by the first information processing apparatus is selected from among the accumulated information which is received from the other second information processing apparatus and which is accumulated in the other second information processing apparatus, based on the user information which is received from the other first information processing apparatus and which is the information concerning the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates the structure of a service providing system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example in which a remote unit is mounted to a base unit in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example in which the remote unit is removed from the base unit in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates examples of the shape and size of the remote unit in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates examples of the appearance and the internal structure of the remote unit in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example of the external structure of the remote unit in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical structure inside the remote unit in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates examples of the shape and size of the base unit in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical structure inside the base unit in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing the structure of a shop-information portal site server in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram showing the structure of a stock management server in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram showing the structure of a positional information service server in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating the overview of a process of providing a service in the service providing system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing user information in the remote unit and a process of acquiring the user information in the base unit. 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing the user information in the remote unit and a process of acquiring the user information in the base unit, which are different from the processes shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a flowchart illustrating a process of acquiring database information in the base unit and a process of providing the database information in the shop-information portal site server. 
         FIG. 17  a flowchart illustrating a process of acquiring database information in the base unit and a process of providing the database information in the shop-information portal site server, which are different from the processes shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a flowchart illustrating a process of transmitting GPS information in the remote unit. 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart illustrating a process of recommending an article based on positional information in the base unit. 
         FIG. 20  is a flowchart illustrating the process of recommending the article based on the positional information in the remote unit, subsequent to the flowchart in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing the positional information in the positional information service server. 
         FIG. 22  is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing article information in the shop-information portal site server. 
         FIG. 23  is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing stock information in the stock management server. 
         FIG. 24  is a flowchart illustrating a process of presenting information in the remote unit. 
         FIG. 25  is a flowchart illustrating a process of confirming recommendation in the remote unit. 
         FIG. 26  is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing routing information in the positional information service server. 
         FIG. 27  is a flowchart illustrating a route guiding process in the remote unit. 
         FIG. 28  is a flowchart illustrating a process of purchasing an article. 
         FIG. 29  is a flowchart illustrating a process of transmitting audio information in the remote unit. 
         FIG. 30  is a flowchart illustrating a process of recommending an article based on the audio information in the base unit. 
         FIG. 31  is a flowchart illustrating the process of recommending an article based on the audio information in the base unit, subsequent to the flowchart in  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 32  is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing the article information in the shop-information portal site server. 
         FIG. 33  is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing area information. 
         FIG. 34  shows an example in which the remote unit is used. 
         FIG. 35  shows an example of an image picked up by an imaging unit in the remote unit. 
         FIG. 36  shows an example of the display in a display in the remote unit. 
         FIG. 37  is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing a special picture. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an example of the structure of a service providing system of the present invention. Although a case in which article information of articles sold in a shop is provided to a user is described in the following description, this does not mean that the present invention is limited to the provision of the article information. That is, profitable information which the service providing system of the present invention provides to the user may be information other than the article information. 
     In the service providing system in  FIG. 1 , an access point  4 , a shop-information portal site server  5 , a stock management server  6 , and a positional information service server  7  are connected to a network  1  including the Internet. An information processing apparatus  2  performs wireless communication over a wireless local area network (LAN) with the access point  4  and is connected to the network  1  through the access point  4 . An information processing apparatus  3  performs communication with the information processing apparatus  2  using a Bluetooth technology. The information processing apparatus  3  may communicate with the information processing apparatus  2  over the wireless LAN. 
     The shop-information portal site server  5  provides article information of articles sold in shops (for example, the names, sizes, colors, prices, and/or characteristics of the articles) and others over the network  1 . The shop-information portal site server  5  has at least one shop registered therein and provides the article information sold in the registered shop over the network  1 . 
     The stock management server  6  manages stock information of the articles that are sold in the shops registered in the shop-information portal site server  5 . The positional information service server  7  associates objects (for example, shops, companies, parks, and rivers) located at predetermined longitudes and latitudes on a map with the corresponding longitudes and the latitudes and stores the associated objects. When the information concerning a longitude and latitude is specified, the positional information service server  7  determines an object located at the specified longitude and latitude. When the positional information service server  7  receives the longitude and latitude of the current position of the user and the longitude and latitude of a destination, the positional information service server  7  determines the route from the current position of the user to the destination, generates routing information used for guiding the user to the destination, and transmits the generated routing information to the information processing apparatus (base unit)  2 . The base unit  2  may have the information in the positional information service server  7  and may generate the routing information instead of the positional information service server  7 . 
     The user receiving a service from the service providing system of the present invention carries the information processing apparatus  2  and the information processing apparatus  3  as one set. The information processing apparatus  2  is hereinafter also referred to as the base unit  2 . The information processing apparatus  3  is hereinafter also referred to as a remote unit  3 . The remote unit  3 , which has a sensor for acquiring multiple different pieces of information, acquires the information concerning the user through the sensor and transmits the acquired information to the base unit  2 . The remote unit  3  also has a function as electronic money. When the user pays the price using the remote unit  3 , the remote unit  3  transmits, to the base unit  2 , purchase information including the name, price, and purchase date and time of an article purchased by the user. 
     The base unit  2  acquires, from the positional information service server  7 , the information concerning an object (for example, a shop, a company, a park, or a river) located at the current position of the user. When the user is located at, for example, a shop, or when the user is located near the shop, the base unit  2  acquires the article information of the articles sold in the shop from the shop-information portal site server  5  over the network. In addition, the base unit  2  acquires the information concerning the user and the purchase information from the remote unit  3 . The base unit  2  selects an article according to the user preference based on the article information supplied from the shop-information portal site server  5 , the information concerning the user, supplied from the remote unit  3 , and the purchase information, transmits the article information of the selected article to the remote unit  3 , and causes the user to recommend the selected article. 
     Furthermore, the base unit  2  notifies the positional information service server  7  of the longitude and latitude of the current position of the user and the destination, and acquires the routing information used for guiding the user to the destination from the positional information service server  7 . The base unit  2  then causes the remote unit  3  to present the acquired routing information. As described above, the base unit  2  may have the information in the positional information service server  7  and may generate the routing information instead of the positional information service server  7 . 
     The remote unit  3  is removable from the base unit  2 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate how the remote unit  3  is removed from the base unit  2 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a state in which the remote unit  3  is mounted in the base unit  2 . The base unit  2  and the remote unit  3  each have, for example, a substantially hexagonal shape. The remote unit  3  is mounted in the base unit  2  such that one corner of the remote unit  3  is superposed on one corner of the base unit  2 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an example illustrating how the remote unit  3  is removed from the base unit  2 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the remote unit  3  is removable from the base unit  2 . The base unit  2  and the remote unit  3  each have a size allowing the user to carry the base unit  2  and the remote unit  3 . The user can carry the base unit  2 , for example, in his/her bag or the like. The user can hold the remote unit  3  in his/her hand. 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of the size of the remote unit  3 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the remote unit  3  has a distance of 86 mm between the opposing sides and a thickness of about 30 mm. This size allows the user to hold the remote unit  3  in his/her hand.  FIG. 5  shows examples of the appearance and the internal structure of the remote unit  3 . An example of the appearance of the remote unit  3  is shown in the left half of  FIG. 5  and an example of the internal structure of the remote unit  3  is shown in the right half of  FIG. 5 . As shown in the left half of  FIG. 5 , the remote unit  3  has, on its front face, a display  101  for displaying various directions and pictures picked up by an imaging unit  121  (refer to  FIG. 6 ); a microphone  102  for collecting sounds; a temperature-humidity sensor  103  for measuring the ambient temperature and humidity; an integrated circuit (IC) communication unit  104  for use in transmission and reception of information to and from an IC card reader-writer in a contact mode or a non-contact mode; and a speaker  105  used for outputting the sounds. The display  101  is, for example a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     The IC communication unit  104  makes payment by electronic money through the communication with, for example, the IC card reader-writer. Although not shown in  FIG. 5 , a light emitting diode (LED)  159  (refer to  FIG. 7 ) is also arranged on the front face of the remote unit  3 . As shown in the right half of  FIG. 5 , the face on which the display  101  of the remote unit  3  is provided is referred to as the front face while the face opposing the front face is referred to the rear face in the following description. 
       FIG. 6  shows an example of the arrangement of components on the inner side of the rear face of the remote unit  3 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the remote unit  3  has the imaging unit  121 , a wireless LAN communication unit  122 , a GPS antenna  123 , vibrators  124 - 1  and  124 - 2 , a GPS detecting unit  125 , a Bluetooth communication unit  126 , a magnetic sensor  127 , a triaxial motion sensor  128 , a battery  129 , and a heartbeat detection sensor  130 , provided on the inner side of the rear face thereof. 
     The imaging unit  121  includes an imager, such as a charged coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), and picks up an image of an object around the remote unit  3 . The imager is provided on the surface side of the rear face of the remote unit  3 . The wireless LAN communication unit  122  performs communication over the wireless LAN. The GPS antenna  123  receives a satellite signal transmitted from an artificial satellite for position measurement and supplies the received satellite signal to the GPS detecting unit  125 . The vibrators  124 - 1  and  124 - 2 , each including a small motor, are provided so as to be orthogonal to each other and vibrate vertically and horizontally. The GPS detecting unit  125  calculates the longitude and latitude or the like of the current position of the remote unit  3  based on the satellite signal supplied from the GPS antenna  123 . In the following description, the information concerning the longitude and latitude or the like, detected by the GPS detecting unit  125 , is also referred to as GPS information. 
     The Bluetooth communication unit  126  transmits and receives information to and from the base unit  2  or the like using the Bluetooth technology. The magnetic sensor  127  magnetically reads information. The triaxial motion sensor  128  detects a three-dimensional attitude angle of the remote unit  3  in real time. The battery  129  supplies power to each component of the remote unit  3 . The heartbeat detection sensor  130  is a sensor for detecting the heart rate of the user. 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical structure inside the remote unit  3 . The description of the parts that have already been described is appropriately omitted. 
     A central processing unit (CPU)  151  controls the operation of each component of the remote unit  3  and performs a variety of processing in accordance with programs stored in a read only memory (ROM)  152  or programs loaded from a storage unit  154  into a random access memory (RAM)  153 . Data required by the CPU  151  in order to perform the variety of processing is also stored in the RAM  153 . 
     The CPU  151 , the ROM  152 , and the RAM  153  are connected to each other via a bus  155 . The storage unit  154 , the wireless LAN communication unit  122 , the Bluetooth communication unit  126 , the IC communication unit  104 , an operation unit  156 , the microphone  102 , a heartbeat detecting unit  157 , the temperature-humidity sensor  103 , the GPS detecting unit  125 , the imaging unit  121 , the triaxial motion sensor  128 , the magnetic sensor  127 , the vibrators  124 - 1  and  124 - 2 , an audio output controller  158 , the display  101 , and the LED  159  are also connected to the bus  155 . 
     The operation unit  156  has types of buttons, a jog dial, and others. The user operates the operation unit  156 . The heartbeat detecting unit  157  calculates the heart rate of the user based on the signal supplied from the heartbeat detection sensor  130 . The audio output controller  158  causes the speaker  105  to output a sound corresponding to the supplied audio information (electrical signal). The LED  159  emits light in order to attract the user&#39;s attention to the remote unit  3 , for example, in the presentation of information to the user. 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of the size of the base unit  2 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the base unit  2  has a distance of 155 mm between the opposing sides and a thickness of about 30 mm. This size allows the user to store the base unit  2  in, for example, a bag and to carry the base unit  2 . 
       FIG. 9  shows an example of the electrical structure inside the base unit  2 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , a CPU  201  is, for example, a Pentium (registered trademark) processor of Intel Corporation and is connected to a front side bus (FSB)  202 . A north bridge  203  is connected to the FSB  202 . The north bridge  203  has an accelerated graphics port (AGP)  204  and is connected to a hub interface  210 . 
     The north bridge  203  is, for example, 440BX, which an AGP host bridge controller of Intel Corporation, and controls the CPU  201 , a random access memory (RAM)  209  (so-called main memory), and so on. The north bridge  203  further controls a video controller  205  via the AGP  204 . The video controller  205  controls an LCD  206  or a video graphics array (VGA) display (hereinafter referred to as a VGA  207 ). 
     The video controller  205  receives data (image data or text data) supplied from the CPU  201  to generate image data corresponding to the received data or to store the received data in its internal video memory (not shown). The video controller  205  causes the LCD  206  or the VGA  207  to display the image corresponding to the image data stored in the video memory. The LCD  206  or the VGA  207  displays an image or a character based on the data supplied from the video controller. 
     The north bridge  203  is also connected to a cache 
     memory  208 . The cache memory  208  is a memory capable of performing writing or reading at a higher rate, compared with the RAM  209 , which is, for example, a static RAM (SRAM), and caches (temporarily stores) the program or data used by the CPU  201 . 
     The CPU  201  includes a primary cache which is capable of operating at a higher rate than the cache memory  208  and which the CPU  201  controls. 
     The RAM  209  is, for example, a dynamic RAM (DRAM) and stores the program executed by the CPU  201  or the data required for the operation by the CPU  201 . Specifically, the RAM  204  stores an operating system loaded from a hard disk drive (HDD)  223  or an Internet program on completion of the activation. 
     The operation system (operating system (OS), which is typified by, for example, Windows XP (registered trademark) of Microsoft Corporation or Mac OS (registered trademark) of Apple Computer Inc., is a program for controlling basic operations of the computer. 
     The north bridge  203  is also connected to a south bridge  211  via the hub interface  210 . The south bridge  211  is, for example, PIIX4E of Intel Corporation and includes an AC link interface  211 A, a universal serial bus (USB) interface  211 B, an integrated drive electronics (IDE) interface  211 C, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) interface  211 D, a low pin count (LPC) interface  211 E, an LAN interface  211 F, and so on. 
     The south bridge  211  performs various input-output (I/O) controls. For example, the south bridge  211  controls devices connected thereto via an AC link bus  212 , a USB bus  217 , or an IDE bus  222 . 
     A modem  213  and a sound controller  214  are connected to the AC link bus  212 . When the modem  213  is connected to a public switched network, the modem  213  performs communication over the public switched network or the Internet, which is not shown. The sound controller  214  captures a sound with a microphone  215  to generate the data corresponding to the sound and supplies the data to the RAM  209 . The sound controller  214  also drives a speaker  216  to cause the speaker  216  to output a sound. 
     A USB connector  218  is connected to the USB bus  217  of the south bridge  211 . Various USB devices can be connected to the USB connector  218 . A memory stick slot  219  and a Bluetooth communication unit  221  are connected to the south bridge  211  through the USB bus  217 . A memory stick (registered trademark)  220  is connected to the memory stick slot  219 . 
     The memory stick  220  is a type of a flash memory card developed by Sony Corporation, which is the applicant of the present invention. The memory stick  220  is manufactured by housing a flash memory device, which is a type of an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM), in a small and thin case made of plastic. The EEPROM is a non-volatile memory capable of being electrically rewritten or erased. A variety of data concerning images, sounds, and music can be written to or read from the memory stick  220  through a 10-pin terminal. 
     The Bluetooth communication unit  221  performs communication conforming to the Bluetooth standard. The USB interface  211 B is used to transmit data to external devices connected through the USB bus  217  and receive data from the devices. 
     The IDE interface  221 C includes two IDE controllers, that is, a primary IDE controller and a secondary IDE controller, a configuration register, and so on, which are not shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The HDD  223  is connected to the primary IDE controller through the IDE bus  222 . When a so-called IDE device, such as a CD-ROM device  224  or an HDD (not shown), is mounted to another IDE bus, the mounted IDE device is electrically connected to the secondary IDE controller. 
     A wireless LAN communication unit  225  is connected to the network in wireless LAN communication, such as IEEE802.11a or IEEE802.11b. Data is transmitted to and received from the network connected to the wireless LAN communication unit  225  through the LAN interface  211 F. 
     A basic input output system (BIOS)  252 , an input-output (I/O) interface  253 , and a controller  256  are connected to an LPC bus  251 . The BIOS  252  is a group of programs in which basic operation instructions of the base unit  2  are collected and is stored in, for example a read only memory (ROM). The BIOS  252  controls data passing (input and output) between the OS or an application program and peripheral devices. 
     The I/O interface  253 , to which a serial pin  254  and a parallel pin  255  are connected, passes data to devices connected to the serial pin  254  and the parallel pin  255 . A jog dial  259  and a battery  260  are connected to the controller  256 . A keyboard  258  and a mouse  257  may be connected to the controller  256 . 
     A PC card interface  229  and an IEEE1394 interface  227  are connected to a PCI bus  226 . The PC card interface  229  supplies data supplied from a device (card) connected to the a slot  230  to the CPU  201  or the RAM  209 , and outputs data supplied from the CPU  201  to the card connected to the PC card slot. A drive  231  may be connected to the PCI bus  226  through a slot  33  and a PC card interface  78 . 
     The drive  231  reads out data stored in a magnetic disk  241 , an optical disk  242 , a magneto-optical disk  243 , or a semiconductor memory  244 , which is inserted into the drive  231 , and supplies the readout data to the RAM  209 . The drive  231  also stores data generated in the processing in the CPU  201  in the magnetic disk  241 , the optical disk  242 , the magneto-optical disk  243 , or the semiconductor memory  244 , which is inserted into the drive  231 . 
     The IEEE1394 interface  227  transmits and receives data conforming to IEEE1394 standard (data stored in a packet) through an IEEE1394 port  228 . 
       FIG. 10  shows an example of the internal structure of the shop-information portal site server  5 . Referring to  FIG. 10 , a CPU  301  performs a variety of processing in accordance with programs stored in a ROM  302  or programs loaded from an HDD  304  into a RAM  303 . Data which the CPU  301  requires to perform the variety of processing is also stored in the RAM  303 . 
     The CPU  301 , the ROM  302 , the RAM  303 , and the HDD  304  are connected to each other through a bus  305 . An input-output interface  306  is also connected to the bus  305 . 
     A keyboard  307 ; a mouse  308 ; an audio outputting unit  309 , such as a speaker; a display  310 , such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or an LCD; a communication unit  311  including a modem, a terminal adaptor, and so on; and a printer  312  are connected to the input-output interface input-output interface  306 . The communication unit  311  performs communication processing over the network  1  including the Internet. 
     A drive  313  is also connected to the input-output interface  306 , if required. A magnetic disk  321 , an optical disk  322 , a magneto-optical disk  323 , or a semiconductor memory  324  are appropriately inserted into the drive  313 . Computer programs read from the magnetic disk  321 , the optical disk  322 , the magneto-optical disk  323 , or the semiconductor memory  324  are installed in the HDD  304 , if required. 
       FIG. 11  shows an example of the internal structure of the stock management server  6 . Components from a CPU  351  to a semiconductor memory  374  in the stock management server  6  has basically the same structure as the components from the CPU  301  to the semiconductor memory  324  in the shop-information portal site server  5 , shown in  FIG. 10 . The components having the same name have the same functions. Accordingly, a description of the components is omitted here. 
       FIG. 12  shows an example of the internal structure of the positional information service server  7 . Components from a CPU  401  to a semiconductor memory  424  in the positional information service server  7  has basically the same structure as the components from the CPU  301  to the semiconductor memory  324  in the shop-information portal site server  5 , shown in  FIG. 10 . The components having the same name have the same functions. Accordingly, a description of the components is omitted here. 
     The summary of the service providing system of the present invention will now be described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 13  shows a service providing process in the service providing system of the present invention. 
     Referring  FIG. 13 , in Step S 101 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  acquires information supplied from the sensors including the microphone  102 , the heartbeat detecting unit  157 , the temperature-humidity sensor  103 , the GPS detecting unit  125 , the imaging unit  121 , the triaxial motion sensor  128 , and the magnetic sensor  127  or purchase information of an article, when payment is performed through the IC communication unit  104 . The information supplied from the sensors and the purchase information are hereinafter also collectively referred to as user information. 
     In Step S 102 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  transmits the user information acquired in Step S 101  to the base unit  2  through the Bluetooth communication unit  126 . 
     In Step S 121 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the user information transmitted by the remote unit  3  in Step S 102  through the Bluetooth communication unit  221  and stores the received user information in the HDD  223 . 
     The shop-information portal site server  5  stores a database including the information concerning the articles sold in the shop in the HDD  304 . In Step S 131 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  transmits the information stored in the database (hereinafter also referred to as database information) to the base unit  2  through the communication unit  311 . 
     In Step S 122 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the database information transmitted by the shop-information portal site server  5  in Step S 131  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225  and stores the received database information in the HDD  223 . 
     In Step S 123 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  performs data mining based on the user information received and stored in Step S 121  and the database information received and stored in Step S 122  to select information anticipated being useful to the user. The CPU  201  then generates information to be recommended to the user (the information recommended to the user is hereinafter also referred to as recommendation information) based on the selected information. An existing method, such as a genetic algorithm or AI, is used in the data mining. 
     Learning in the operation history (or the sensing history) of the user with the remote unit  3 , the purchase of articles, and the operation history, such as Web browsing, of the user with the base unit  2  in the data mining can draw inference better suited to the preference or interesting of the user. The data mining based on the operation history of the user may be performed at a timing other than the timing when the user information is received from the remote unit  3  (Step S 123 ). For example, the operation history of the user may be accumulated in advance for a predetermined time for the learning in the data mining. 
     In Step S 124 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  requests, through the Bluetooth communication unit  221 , the remote unit  3  to recommend the recommendation information generated in Step S 123 . 
     In Step S 103 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  receives the request for the recommendation of the recommendation information from the base unit  2  through the Bluetooth communication unit  126 . In Step S 104 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  presents the information to the user in response to the request received in Step S 103 . 
     The service providing process is performed in the manner described above. 
     The user information is supplied from the remote unit  3  to the base unit  2  in Step S 101 , Step S 102 , and Step S 121  in  FIG. 13 . Specifically, the processing in these steps is performed according to, for example, a flowchart shown in  FIG. 14  or  FIG. 15 . 
     An example of the process of supplying the user information from the remote unit  3  to the base unit  2  will now be described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 14 . In Step S 161 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  requests the user information from the remote unit  3  through the Bluetooth communication unit  221 . The user information requested in Step S 161  may be any of, for example, the audio information acquired by the microphone  102 , the heart rate of the user calculated by the heartbeat detecting unit  157 , the temperature and humidity detected by the temperature-humidity sensor  103 , the longitude and latitude measured by the GPS detecting unit  125 , the object an image of which is picked up by the imaging unit  121 , the three-dimensional attitude angle detected by the triaxial motion sensor  128 , and the information detected by the magnetic sensor  127  or may be any combination of the above information. Or, all of the above information may be detected here. 
     In Step S 151 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  receives the request for the user information from the base unit  2  through the Bluetooth communication unit  126 . In Step S 152 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  acquires the user information supplied from the sensors including the microphone  102 , the heartbeat detecting unit  157 , the temperature-humidity sensor  103 , the GPS detecting unit  125 , the imaging unit  121 , the triaxial motion sensor  128 , and the magnetic sensor  127 . The information acquired by the CPU  151  in Step S 152  is the information requested by the base unit  2  in Step S 161 . In other words, the CPU  151  does not necessarily acquire the information from all of the microphone  102 , the heartbeat detecting unit  157 , the temperature-humidity sensor  103 , the GPS detecting unit  125 , the imaging unit  121 , the triaxial motion sensor  128 , and the magnetic sensor  127  but acquires only the information requested by the base unit  2 . For example, when the information concerning the temperature is requested by the base unit  2 , the CPU  151  acquires only the information concerning the temperature from the temperature-humidity sensor  103 . 
     In Step S 153 , the CPU  151  transmits the user information acquired in Step S 152  to the base unit  2  through the Bluetooth communication unit  126 . 
     In Step S 162 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the user information transmitted by the remote unit  3  in Step S 153  through the Bluetooth communication unit  221 . In Step S 163 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  stores the user information received in Step S 162  in the HDD  223 . 
     The user information is supplied from the remote unit  3  to the base unit  2  in the manner described above. As described above, the remote unit  3  can acquire the user information requested by the base unit  2  and supply the acquired user information to the base unit  2 . 
     An example, different from the one shown in  FIG. 14 , of the process of supplying the user information from the remote unit  3  to the base unit  2  will now be described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 15 . 
     In the example in  FIG. 15 , the timing of acquisition of the user information is set in advance in the remote unit  3 . In Step S 181 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  determines whether it is time to acquire the user information. The CPU  151  repeats the processing in Step S 181  and is on standby until the CPU  151  determines that it is time to acquire the user information. 
     For example, the remote unit  3  can be set in advance so as to transmit the temperature information to the base unit  2  every minute. With this setting, the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  determines whether it is time to acquire the user information (temperature information) every minute in Step S 181 . 
     If the CPU  151  determines that it is time to acquire the user information in Step S 181 , the process proceeds to Step S 182 . In Step S 182 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  acquires the user information determined to be acquired in Step S 181 . 
     Since the processing in Step S 183  is the same as that in Step S 153  in  FIG. 14 , a description is omitted here. In addition, since the processing in the base unit  2  in Step S 191  and Step S 192  is the same as that in Step S 162  and Step S 163  in  FIG. 14 , respectively, a description is omitted here. 
     As described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 15 , the remote unit  3  may automatically acquire the user information at a predetermined timing that is set in advance and supply the user information to the base unit  2 . 
     The database information is supplied from the shop-information portal site server  5  to the base unit  2  in Step S 131  and Step S 122  in  FIG. 13 . Specifically, the processing in these steps is performed according to, for example, a flowchart shown in  FIG. 16  or  FIG. 17 . 
     An example of the process of supplying the database information from the shop-information portal site server  5  to the base unit  2  will now be described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 16 . In Step S 201 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  requests the database information from the shop-information portal site server  5  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225 . The database information requested in Step S 201  is, for example, information concerning the price, size, or color of an article sold in the shop. 
     In Step S 211 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  receives the request for the database information from the base unit  2  through the communication unit  311 . In Step S 212 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  reads out the database information from the HDD  304  and transmits the readout database information to the base unit  2  through the communication unit  311 . 
     In Step S 202 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the user information transmitted by the shop-information portal site server  5  in Step S 212  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225 . In Step S 203 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  stores the database information received in Step S 202  in the HDD  223 . 
     The database information is supplied from the shop-information portal site server  5  to the base unit  2  in the manner described above. As described above, the shop-information portal site server  5  can supply the database information requested by the base unit  2  to the base unit  2 . 
     An example, different from the one shown in  FIG. 16 , of the process of supplying the database information from the shop-information portal site server  5  to the base unit  2  will now be described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 17 . 
     In the example in  FIG. 17 , the timing of supply of the database information to the base unit  2  is set in advance in the shop-information portal site server  5 . In Step S 241 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  determines whether it is time to transmit the database information. The CPU  301  repeats the processing in Step S 241  and is on standby until the CPU  301  determines that it is time to transmit the database information. 
     For example, the shop-information portal site server  5  can be set in advance so as to transmit the information concerning daily bargains to the base unit  2  every day. With this setting, the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  determines whether it is time to acquire the database information every day in Step S 241 . 
     If the CPU  301  determines that it is time to acquire the database information in Step S 241 , the process proceeds to Step S 242 . In Step S 242 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  reads out the database information from the HDD  304  and transmits the readout database information to the base unit  2  through the communication unit  311 . 
     Since the processing in the base unit  2  in Step S 231  and Step S 232  is the same as that in Step S 202  and Step S 203  in  FIG. 16 , respectively, a description is omitted here. 
     As described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 17 , the shop-information portal site server  5  may automatically transmit the database information to the base unit  2  at a predetermined timing that is set in advance. 
     In Step S 123 , the base unit  2  selects information anticipated being useful to the user based on the user information and the database information acquired in the manner described above. In Step S 124 , the base unit  2  requests the remote unit  3  to recommend the information selected in Step S 123 . 
     Conventionally, the processing performed by the base unit  2  in Step S 123  has been performed by a server provided on the network  1 . In such a case, it is necessary to transmit the private information of the user to the server over the network  1 . In contrast, storing and managing the user information in the base unit  2  owned by the user, as in the service providing system of the present invention, prevents the user information from being transmitted to the server on the network  1 , thus reducing the possibility of leakage of the private information of the user. 
     Examples in which the service providing system of the present invention is applied to specific situations will be described below. 
     First, a process of recommending an article to the user based on positional information will now be described with reference to the flowcharts in  FIGS. 18 to 27 .  FIG. 18  shows a process of transmitting GPS information in the remote unit  3 .  FIGS. 19 and 20  show a process of recommending an article based on the positional information in the base unit  2 .  FIG. 21  shows a process of providing the positional information in the positional information service server  7 .  FIG. 22  shows a process of providing article information in the shop-information portal site server  5 .  FIG. 23  shows a process of providing stock information in the stock management server  6 .  FIG. 24  shows a process of presenting information in the remote unit  3 .  FIG. 25  shows a process of confirming recommendation in the remote unit  3 .  FIG. 26  shows a process of providing routing information in the positional information service server  7 .  FIG. 27  shows a route guiding process in the remote unit  3 . 
     For example, the remote unit  3  is set in advance so as to acquire the GPS information for every ten minutes. When it is time to acquire the GPS information, the remote unit  3  performs the process of transmitting the GPS information shown in  FIG. 18 . Referring to  FIG. 18 , in Step  301 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  acquires the GPS information through the GPS detecting unit  125 . In Step S 302 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  transmits the GPS information to the base unit  2  through the Bluetooth communication unit  126 . 
     The base unit  2  starts the process of recommending an article based on the positional information, shown in  FIG. 19 . Referring to  FIG. 19 , in Step S 321 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the GPS information transmitted by the remote unit  3  in Step S 302  through the Bluetooth communication unit  221  and stores the received GPS information in the HDD  223 . In Step S 322 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  transmits the GPS information to the positional information service server  7  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225  and requests information concerning a building, a shop, a facility, or the like, located at the location corresponding to the GPS information (the longitude and latitude) (the information concerning a building, a shop, a facility, or the like, located at the location corresponding to the GPS information, is hereinafter also referred to as the positional information). 
     The positional information service server  7  performs the process of providing the positional information, shown in  FIG. 21 . Referring to  FIG. 21 , in Step S 361 , the CPU  401  in the positional information service server  7  receives the request for transmission of the GPS information and the positional information, transmitted by the base unit  2  in Step S 322 . In Step S 362 , the CPU  401  in the positional information service server  7  reads out the positional information corresponding to the GPS information received in Step S 361  from the HDD  404  and transmits the read out positional information to the base unit  2  through the communication unit  411 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 19 , in Step S 323 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the positional information transmitted by the positional information service server  7  in Step S 362  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225 . In Step S 324 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  determines whether the user is located in the shop based on the positional information. If the user is not located in the shop, the process goes back to Step S 321  and repeats the steps subsequent to Step S 321 . 
     If the CPU  201  determines in Step S 324  that the user is located in the shop, the process proceeds to Step S 325 . Although the base unit  2  determines only whether the user is located at the shop at the present moment in Step S 324  in the above description, the base unit  2  may determine that the user is located in the shop, for example, when the user is located in the same shop for a time period longer than a predetermined time period that is set in advance and, then, the process may proceed to Step S 325 . 
     In other words, the base unit  2  periodically may acquire the GPS information from the remote unit  3  and may determine whether the user is located in the same shop for a predetermined time period based on the GPS information. If the user is located in the same shop for a time period longer than the predetermined time period that is set in advance, the base unit  2  determines that the user is located in the shop and the process proceeds to Step S 325 . 
     Although the case in which the user is located in the shop is described above, the base unit  2  may determine whether the user is located near the shop. 
     The HDD  223  in the base unit  2  stores the history of articles which the user has purchased (the history of the articles which the user has purchased is hereinafter referred to as shopping history). In Step S 325 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  determines a preference of the user based on the shopping history. The determination is performed based on an existing data mining method. For example, a manufacturer or brand of cosmetics which the user frequently purchases or a color according to user preference is determined in Step S 325 . 
     In Step S 326 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  requests information concerning the articles sold in the shop where the user is currently located (the information concerning the articles sold in a shop is hereinafter referred to as article information) from the shop-information portal site server  5  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225 . 
     The shop-information portal site server  5  starts the process of providing the information concerning the article shown in  FIG. 22 . Referring to  FIG. 22 , in Step S 381 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  receives the request for the article information transmitted by the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  in Step S 326  through the communication unit  311 . In Step S 382 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  requests information on whether the article currently sold in the shop where the user is located is in stock (the information on whether the article currently sold is in stock is hereinafter referred to as stock information) from the stock management server  6  through the communication unit  311 . 
     The stock management server  6  performs the process of providing the stock information shown in  FIG. 23 . Referring to  FIG. 23 , in Step S 401 , the CPU  351  in the stock management server  6  receives the request for the stock information transmitted by the shop-information portal site server  5  in Step S 382  through the communication unit  361 . At this time, the stock management server  6  stores the stock information of the article currently sold in the shop where the user is located in the HDD  354 . In Step S 402 , the CPU  351  in the stock management server  6  reads out the stock information from the HDD  354  and transmits the readout stock information to the shop-information portal site server  5  through the communication unit  361 . 
     Referring to back to  FIG. 22 , in Step S 383 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  receives the stock information transmitted by the stock management server  6  in Step S 402  through the communication unit  311 . In Step S 384 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  generates article information to be supplied to the base unit  2  based on the stock information received in Step S 383 . In Step S 385 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  transmits the article information generated in Step S 384  to the base unit  2  through the communication unit  311 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 19 , in Step S 327 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the article information transmitted by the shop-information portal site server  5  in Step S 385  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225  and stores the received article information in the HDD  223 . In Step S 328 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  selects an article to be recommended to the user based on the user preference determined in Step S 325  and the article information received in Step S 327 . In other words, the CPU  201  selects an article suited to the user preference from the list of articles that are included in the article information and that are sold in the shop where the user is located. The CPU  201  selects an article suited to the user preference based on, for example, whether a predetermined keyword (such as a user&#39;s favorite brand name) is associated with the article. 
     There is possibly no article suited to the user preference in Step S 328 . Accordingly, in Step S 329 , the CPU  201  determines whether the article to be recommended to the user is present in the processing in Step S 328 . If the article to be recommended to the user is present, the process proceeds to Step S 330 . 
     In Step S 330 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  transmits the information concerning the article (for example, the information concerning the price or characteristics of the article) selected in Step S 328  to the remote unit  3  through the Bluetooth communication unit  221  and requests the remote unit  3  to recommend the article. 
     The remote unit  3  performs the process of presenting the information shown in  FIG. 24 . In Step S 421 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  receives, through the Bluetooth communication unit  126 , the information concerning the article and the request to recommend the article, transmitted by the base unit  2  in Step S 330 , and stores the received information and request in the RAM  153 . In Step S 422 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  presents the information concerning the article, received in Step S 421 . Specifically, for example, the CPU  151  vibrates the vibrators  124 - 1  and  124 - 2  and turns on the LED  159  or causes the LED  159  to blink. The CPU  151  then displays the information concerning the article (for example, an image, characteristics, and the price of the article) in the display  101 . The CPU  151  also causes the speaker  105  through the audio output controller  158  to output a sound for guiding the article. 
     The user carrying the remote unit  3  in his/her hand takes notice of the remote unit  3  owing to the vibration of the vibrators  124 - 1  and  124 - 2 . The user can browse the guide to the article suited to the user preference. The guide to the article includes a message displayed in the display  101  and an audio guide output from the speaker  105 . The article recommended here is the article currently sold in the shop where the user is located. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 19 , if the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  determines in Step S 329  that the article to be recommended to the user is not present in the processing in Step S 328 , the process proceeds to Step S 331  in  FIG. 20 . In Step S 331 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  requests the remote unit  3 , through the Bluetooth communication unit  221 , to determine whether another article is to be recommended. 
     The remote unit  3  performs the process of confirming the recommendation shown in  FIG. 25 . In Step S 441 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  receives the request to determine whether another article is to be recommended, transmitted by the base unit  2  in Step S 331 . In Step S 442 , the CPU  151  in remote unit  3  urges the user to determine whether another article is to be recommended. Specifically, the CPU  151  vibrates the vibrators  124 - 1  and  124 - 2  and turns on the LED  159  or causes the LED  159  to blink in order to call the user&#39;s attention to the remote unit  3 . The CPU  151  then displays in the display  101  a message, such as “the shop has recommended clothes but it is out of stock. Would you like to look for clothes suiting you well?”. 
     A keyword used when another article is to be recommended (“look for” in the description below) and a keyword used when another article is not to be recommended (“stop” in the description below) are registered in the remote unit  3  in advance. When the user wants the recommendation of another article, the user speaks to the remote unit  3  the keyword “look for” used when another article is to be recommended. When the user does not want the recommendation of another article, the user speaks to the remote unit  3  the keyword “stop” used when another article is not to be recommended. The word the user speaks is collected by the microphone  102 . The CPU  151  activates an audio recognition program to recognize the sound collected by the microphone  102 . In Step S 443 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  determines whether the word the user speaks coincides with the keyword “look for” as a result of the audio recognition. If the word the user speaks coincides with the keyword “look for”, the process proceeds to Step S 444 . 
     In Step S 444 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  notifies the base unit  2  through the Bluetooth communication unit  126  that another article is to be recommended. 
     If the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  determines in Step S 443  that the word the user speaks does not coincide with the keyword “look for”, that is, if the CPU  151  determines that the word the user speaks is the keyword “stop” used when another article is not to be recommended or that the word the user speaks does not coincide with the keyword “look for” nor “stop”, the processing in Step S 444  is skipped and the process of confirming the recommendation is finished. In this case, no information is transmitted to the base unit  2 . The base unit  2  sets a timer for a predetermined time (for example, one minute) immediately after the base unit  2  requests the remote unit  3  to determine whether another article is to be recommended in Step S 331 . If no reply is transmitted from the remote unit  3  before the predetermined time the timer is set for elapsed, the base unit  2  determines that the remote unit  3  does not recommend another article and the process is finished. 
     With the timer set in this manner, even when the user does not aware of the urgency in Step S 442 , the base unit  2  need not continue to wait for the reply from the remote unit  3 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 20 , in Step S 332 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the notification that another article is to be recommended, transmitted by the remote unit  3  in Step S 444 , through the Bluetooth communication unit  221 . In Step S 333 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  determines a preference of the user based on the past shopping history stored in the HDD  223 . 
     In Step S 334 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  requests the article information of the articles sold in another shop near the location of the user from the shop-information portal site server  5  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225 . 
     The shop-information portal site server  5  performs the process of providing the article information shown in  FIG. 22 . Since the process of providing the article information in  FIG. 22  is performed in the manner described above, the process is briefly described here. In Step S 381 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  receives the request for the article information, transmitted by the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  in Step S 334 , through the communication unit  311 . In Step S 382 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  requests the stock information of the articles currently sold in the shop near the location of the user from the stock management server  6  through the communication unit  311 . 
     The stock management server  6  performs the process of providing the stock information shown in  FIG. 23 . The process of providing the stock information in  FIG. 23  is performed as described above. That is, in Step S 401 , the CPU  351  in the stock management server  6  receives the request for the stock information, transmitted by the shop-information portal site server  5  in Step S 382 , through the communication unit  361 . In Step S 402 , the CPU  351  in the stock management server  6  reads out the stock information from the HDD  354  and transmits the readout stock information to the shop-information portal site server  5  through the communication unit  361 . The stock information transmitted here is the stock information of the shop near the location of the user. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 22 , in Step S 383 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  receives the stock information transmitted by the stock management server  6  in Step S 402  through the communication unit  311 . In Step S 384 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  generates article information to be supplied to the base unit  2  based on the stock information. In Step S 385 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  transmits the article information generated in Step S 384  to the base unit  2  through the communication unit  311 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 20 , in Step S 335 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the article information, transmitted by the shop-information portal site server  5  in Step S 385 , through the wireless LAN communication unit  225  and stores the received article information in the HDD  223 . In Step S 336 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  selects an article to be recommended to the user based on the list, set in advance by the user, of the articles which the user wants to purchase, the user preference determined in Step S 333 , and the article information received in Step S 335 . In this selection (data mining), the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  selects, for example, the article that was recommended in a past similar situation or the article purchased by a person having a taste similar to that of the user, based on the past information detected by the sensors, data concerning the tendency in purchased articles, determined from the information concerning online shopping (online payment), and the information detected by the sensors when the service providing system is used for other purposes. 
     In Step S 337 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  requests the positional information of the shop where the article selected in Step S 336  is sold and routing information representing the route to the shop from the positional information service server  7  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225 . 
     The positional information service server  7  performs the process of providing the routing information shown in  FIG. 26 . In Step S 461 , the CPU  401  in the positional information service server  7  receives the request for the positional information of the shop where the article is sold and the routing information representing the route to the shop, transmitted by the base unit  2  in Step S 337 , through the communication unit  411 . 
     The HDD  404  in the positional information service server  7  stores multiple shops that are located in a predetermined area and the positional information associated with the multiple shops. In Step S 462 , the CPU  401  in the positional information service server  7  reads out the positional information of the shop where the article is sold from the HDD  404  in response to the request received in Step S 461 . In Step S 463 , the CPU  401  in the positional information service server  7  generates routing information for guiding the user to the shop based on the current position of the user and the positional information of the shop determined in Step S 462 . 
     In Step S 464 , the CPU  401  in the positional information service server  7  transmits the positional information determined in Step S 462  and the routing information generated in Step S 463  to the base unit  2  through the communication unit  411 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 20 , in Step S 338 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the positional information and the routing information, transmitted by the positional information service server  7  in Step S 464 , through the wireless LAN communication unit  225  and stores the received positional information and routing information in the HDD  223 . In Step S 339 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  transmits the positional information and the routing information, received in Step S 338 , to the remote unit  3  through the Bluetooth communication unit  221 . 
     The remote unit  3  performs the route guiding process shown in  FIG. 27 . In Step S 481 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  receives the positional information and the routing information, transmitted by the base unit  2  in Step S 339 , through the Bluetooth communication unit  126 . In Step S 482 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  stores the received positional information and routing information in the storage unit  154 . The routing information includes the position (longitude and latitude) of a corner, which serves as a landmark for guiding the user to the shop. When the user reaches a corner, the CPU  151  uses the vibrators  124 - 1  and  124 - 2  or the like to present the destination based on the GPS information from the GPS detecting unit  125 . 
     In Step S 483 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  determines whether the user is located at a point where a guide is to be presented based on the routing information and the GPS information from the GPS detecting unit  125 . The CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  repeats the processing in Step S 483  until the CPU  151  determines that the user is located at a point where the guide is to be presented and is on standby. Since it is necessary to present the destination (direction of travel) to the user immediately after the CPU  151  stores the routing information in Step S 482 , the CPU  151  determines, in Step S 483 , whether the user is located at a point where the guide is to be presented immediately after the processing in Step S 482 , and the process proceeds to Step S 484 . 
     In Step S 484 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  reads out a guide to be presented corresponding to the longitude and latitude in the GPS information from the routing information and presents the readout guide to the user. In other words, the routing information is information in which the longitude and latitude of a corner is associated with the direction of travel (right-hand turn or left-hand turn) of the user. When the user reaches a corner, the CPU  151  vibrates the vibrators  124 - 1  and  124 - 2  and turns on the LED  159  or causes the LED  159  to blink to attract the user&#39;s attention to the remote unit  3 . The CPU  151  then displays a message (for example, a message “turn right”) in the display  101  or causes the speaker  105  through the audio output controller  158  to output an audio guide “turn right” to present the destination to the user. 
     In Step S 485 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  determines whether the user reaches the target shop (the shop where the recommended article is sold) based on the GPS information and the positional information. If the user does not reach the target shop, the process goes back to Step S 483  to repeat the steps subsequent to Step S 483 . 
     Repeating the steps from Step S 483  to Step S 485  ensures that the guide is presented to the user at the point where the user should turn. If the user reaches the target shop, the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  determines in Step S 485  that the user reaches the target shop, and the route guiding process is finished. 
     The article suited to the user preference can be presented to the user in the manner described above. Since the information concerning the shopping history or preference of the user is held and managed by the base unit  2 , it is possible to reduce leakage of the private information of the user. Accordingly, compared with a case in which the private information including the shopping history or preference of the user is managed by a server on the network, the safety on the network can be improved. 
     Although the location of the user is determined based on the GPS information acquired by the GPS antenna  123  and the GPS detecting unit  125  of the remote unit  3  in the above description, the location of the user may be determined by other means, instead of the GPS information. For example, the location of the user may be determined by picking up an image of the logo or look of the shop by the imaging unit  121  in the remote unit  3  and analyzing the image. A detailed location of the user may be determined by using the rough location of the user determined based on the GPS information and the image picked up by the imaging unit  121 . 
     Alternatively, the remote unit  3  may receive the ID identifying a shop to recognize the shop. In this case, the ID is transmitted by a low-speed communication module, such as an RF communication module, provided in the shop. In the case of a shop having an access point of a wireless LAN installed therein and providing a connection service (a so-called hotspot service) to the Internet, the ID identifying the shop may be transmitted from the access point of the wireless LAN to the remote unit  3 . Or, a shop may be determined by picking up an image of a barcode tag, such as a CyberCode (trademark), provided in the shop by the imaging unit  121 , analyzing the image, and recognizing the ID. 
     Furthermore, the location (station) of the user may be determined in conjunction with a super urban intelligent card (Suica), which is a non-contact type IC card. 
     When an article to be recommended to the user is clothes, images of clothes possessed by the user may be picked up by the imaging unit  121  and the preference of the user may be analyzed based on the images to select the article to be recommended to the user. 
     Although the vibration or turning on (blinking) of the remote unit  3  is used to guide the user to the shop (the route guiding process in  FIG. 27 ) in the above description, a map may be displayed in the display  101 , as in a car navigation system, to guide the user to the shop. 
     Next, a process of purchasing an article by the user will now be described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 28 . Since the remote unit  3  is provided with the IC communication unit  104 , the remote unit  3  has a function as electronic money. When the user pays for an article in the shop through the IC communication unit  104 , in Step S 501 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  stores the article information, including the name and price of the purchased article, and the purchase information, including the purchase date and time, in the storage unit  154 . In step S 502 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  transmits the purchase information stored in the storage unit  154  in Step S 501  to the base unit  2  through the Bluetooth communication unit  126 . 
     In Step S 511 , the CPU  151  in the base unit  2  receives the purchase information transmitted by the remote unit  3  in Step S 502  through the Bluetooth communication unit  221 . In Step S 512 , the CPU  151  in the base unit  2  stores the purchase information received in Step S 511  in the HDD  223 . 
     The purchase information of the article purchased by the user is stored in the HDD  223  in the base unit  2  in the manner described above. The purchase information accumulated in the HDD  223  in this manner is used as shopping history information (the processing in Step S 325  in  FIG. 19  and the processing in Step S 333  in  FIG. 20 ). 
     Although the purchase information of the user can be acquired in the above description when the article is purchased through the IC communication unit  104 , the purchase information cannot be acquired when the article is not purchased through the IC communication unit  104 . Accordingly, in order to identify the article purchased by the user, the history of the articles purchased by the user may be acquired from, for example, a card company with which the user is affiliated in advance. Or, the article purchased by the user may be identified by reading the barcode or the like on the article. When the user inputs the information concerning a housekeeping book in the base unit  2 , the information concerning the housekeeping book, input in the base unit  2 , may be used to identify the article purchased by the user. 
     Although an article is recommended based on the position (GPS information) where the user is located in the above description, an article may be recommended to the user based on information other than the positional information according to the present invention. 
     Next, a case in which an article is recommended to the user based on audio information will now be described with reference to the flowcharts in  FIGS. 29 to 32 . 
     When the user speaks to the remote unit  3  about an article the user wants to buy, for example, when the user speaks a message “I want to buy a jacket matched with the pants I previously bought”, in Step S 591  in  FIG. 29 , the microphone  102  in the remote unit  3  collects the sound. In step S 592 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  transmits the audio information collected in Step S 591  to the base unit  2  through the Bluetooth communication unit  126 . 
     The base unit  2  starts a process of recommending an article based on the audio information, shown in  FIGS. 30 and 31 . In Step S 601 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the audio information transmitted by the remote unit  3  in Step S 592  and stores the received audio information in the RAM  209 . In Step S 602 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  activates an audio recognition program to analyze the audio information stored in the RAM  209  in Step S 601 . In Step S 603 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  stores the analysis result in Step S 602  as an article the user wants to buy. 
     In Step S 604 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  requests the article information of the article the user wants to buy from the shop-information portal site server  5  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225 . For example, when the user wants to buy a jacket, as described above, the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  requests the article information of jackets sold in the shop from the shop-information portal site server  5 . 
     The shop-information portal site server  5  performs a process of providing the article information shown in  FIG. 32 . In Step S 651 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  receives the request for the article information, transmitted by the base unit  2  in Step S 604 , through the communication unit  311 . In Step S 652 , the CPU  301  in the shop-information portal site server  5  reads out only the article information of the article the user wants to buy (for example, the article information of the jackets) from among the article information stored in the HDD  304  and transmits the readout article information to the base unit  2  through the communication unit  311 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 30 , in Step S 605 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the article information transmitted by the shop-information portal site server  5  in Step S 652  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225 . In Step S 606 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  selects an article to be recommended to the user based on the result of the audio analysis in Step S 602  and the article information received in Step S 605 . For example, when the user wants to buy a jacket matched with the pants the user previously bought, as described above, the CPU  201  identifies the color of the pants the user previously bought based on the shopping history and selects a jacket having a color matched with the color of the pants based on the article information. In order to realize such selection, a table for coordinating colors is stored in advance in the HDD  223 . 
     There is possibly no article the user can select in Step S 606 . Accordingly, in Step S 607 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  determines whether the article recommended in Step S 606  is selected. If the recommended article is selected, the process proceeds to Step S 608 . 
     In Step S 608 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  transmits the information (for example, the information including the price and the characteristics of the article) concerning the article selected in Step S 606  to the remote unit  3  through the Bluetooth communication unit  221  and requests the remote unit  3  to recommend the article. 
     The remote unit  3  performs the process of presenting the information shown in  FIG. 24 . Since the process in  FIG. 24  is described above, the process is briefly described. In Step S 421 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  receives the information concerning the article and the request to recommend the article, transmitted by the base unit  2  in Step S 608 , through the Bluetooth communication unit  126  and stores the received information and request in the RAM  153 . In Step S 422 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  presents the information concerning the article, received in Step S 421 . A specific method of presenting the information is described above. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 30 , if the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  determines in Step S 607  that the article to be recommended to the user is not present in Step S 606 , the process proceeds to Step S 609 . Since the steps from Step  609  to Step  617  are the same as the steps from Step  331  to S 339  in  FIG. 20 , the description is omitted here. 
     An article can be recommended to the user based on the audio information in the manner described above. Although the article is recommended to the user based on the audio information in the above description, this does not mean that the present invention is limited to the recommendation of the article based on the audio information. 
     For example, as in a usual personal computer, the user may operate a keyboard or the like to input the request. The user may select a desired item from a list of menus (for example, “search”, “direction”, and “I want to read mails”), which are set in advance and which are displayed in the base unit  2  or the remote unit  3 . The preference of the user may be analyzed based on the number of times the user browses Web pages. Alternatively, the history of the GPS information may be stored in the HDD  223  in the base unit  2  and the preference of the user may be analyzed based on the place (town or shop) the user frequently visits. 
     The service providing system of the present invention can present the information concerning an area where the user is located to the user. Specifically, for example, when the user gets on a train and gets off the train at a certain station, the service providing system of the present invention can present the information concerning events or bargain sales of articles around the station (in the town) to the user. 
     Next, a process of presenting the information concerning an area where the user is located to the user, that is, the area-information providing process will now be described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 33 . In Step S 701 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  acquires the GPS information through the GPS detecting unit  125  and transmits the acquired information to the base unit  2  through the Bluetooth communication unit  126 . 
     When the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the GPS information transmitted by the remote unit  3  in Step S 701  through the Bluetooth communication unit  221 , in Step S 711 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  transmits the GPS information to the positional information service server  7  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225  and requests the information concerning the area corresponding to the GPS information (longitude and latitude) (the information concerning an area is hereinafter referred to as area information). 
     In Step S 721 , the positional information service server  7  receives the GPS information and the request for the area information corresponding to the GPS information, transmitted by the base unit  2  in Step S 711 , through the communication unit  411 . The positional information service server  7  associates the longitude and latitude with the area information and stores the associated information in the HDD  404 . In Step S 722 , the CPU  401  in the positional information service server  7  reads out the area information corresponding to the GPS information, received in Step S 721 , from the HDD  404  and transmits the readout area information to the base unit  2  through the communication unit  411 . 
     In Step S 712 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the area information transmitted by the positional information service server  7  in Step S 722  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225 . In Step S 713 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  transmits the received area information to the remote unit  3  through the Bluetooth communication unit  221 . 
     In Step S 702 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  receives the area information transmitted by the base unit  2  in Step S 713  through the Bluetooth communication unit  126 . In Step S 703 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  presents the area information to the user. Specifically, for example, the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  vibrates the vibrators  124 - 1  and  124 - 2  and turns on the LED  159  or causes the LED  159  to blink to attract the user&#39;s attention to the remote unit  3 . The CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  then displays the area information in the display  101  or causes the speaker  105  through the audio output controller  158  to output a guide to the area information. 
     The user can acquire the useful information concerning an area where the user visits for the first time owing to the guide to the area information. 
     The service providing system of the present invention can display different pictures corresponding to different positions in the display  101 . The display of different pictures will be specifically described with reference to  FIGS. 34 to 36 . As shown in  FIG. 34 , a user  501  looks at the display  101  (not shown in  FIG. 34 ) of the remote unit  3 . The imaging unit  121  provided at a face opposing the display  101  picks up an image of a landscape within a certain angle.  FIG. 35  shows an example of an image  511  picked up by the imaging unit  121 . A predetermined image that is synthesized on the image  121  is displayed in the display  101 .  FIG. 36  shows an example in which a predetermined image that is synthesized on the image  511  in  FIG. 35  is displayed in the display  101 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 36 , a special picture  521  is generated by synthesizing synthesis images  522 - 1  to  522 - 4  on the image  511 . Illustrations of a rocket, a balloon, and others are synthesized in  FIG. 36 . Although the illustrations are synthesized in  FIG. 36 , for example, descriptions (such as the origin of a temple) that are provided in sightseeing spots or the likes may be synthesized and displayed. 
     A process of synthesizing a synthesis image on a picked up image and displaying the synthesized picture in the display  101 , that is, the special-picture providing process will now be described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 37 . 
     In Step S 751 , the remote unit  3  accepts an instruction to display a special picture, for example, through the operation unit  156 . In Step S 752 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  acquires the GPS information through the GPS detecting unit  125  to transmit the acquired GPS information to the base unit  2  through the Bluetooth communication unit  126  and to notify the base unit  2  that the instruction to display the special picture is input. 
     In Step S 761 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the GPS information and the notification that the instruction to display the special picture is input, transmitted by the remote unit  3  in Step S 752 , through the Bluetooth communication unit  221 . In Step S 762 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  transmits the GPS information received in Step S 761  to the positional information service server  7  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225  and requests a synthesis image corresponding to the GPS information from the positional information service server V. 
     In Step S 771 , the CPU  401  in the positional information service server  7  receives the GPS information and the request for a synthesis image corresponding to the GPS information, transmitted by the base unit  2  in Step S 762 . The positional information service server  7  associates the synthesis image with the GPS information and stores the associated image in the HDD  404 . In Step S 772 , the CPU  401  in the positional information service server  7  reads out the synthesis image corresponding to the GPS information, received in Step S 771 , from the HDD  404  and transmits the readout synthesis image to the base unit  2  through the communication unit  411 . 
     In Step S 763 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  receives the synthesis image transmitted by the positional information service server  7  in Step S 772  through the wireless LAN communication unit  225 . In Step S 764 , the CPU  201  in the base unit  2  transmits the synthesis image to the remote unit  3  through the Bluetooth communication unit  221 . 
     In Step S 753 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  receives the synthesis image transmitted by the base unit  2  in Step S 764  through the Bluetooth communication unit  221  and stores the received synthesis image in the RAM  153 . In Step S 754 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  synthesizes the synthesis image stored in the RAM  153  in Step S 753  on the picture (moving image or still image) picked up by the imaging unit  121  and displays the picture in the display  101 . 
     The special-picture providing process is performed in the manner described above. Performing the special-picture providing process can improve the level of entertainment. 
     In Step S 752 , the CPU  151  in the remote unit  3  may transmit the image picked up by the imaging unit  121  to the base unit  2 , in addition to the GPS information and the notification that the instruction to display the special picture is input, and may store the synthesis image in the RAM  153  along with image transmitted here. 
     As described above, according to the present invention, the user who carries the remote unit  3  having the sensors and the base unit  2  selecting information to be presented to the user can automatically perform the sensing in the base unit  2  and the remote unit  3 , can detect the situation (problem) of the user, and can perform the problem solving, without operating the keyboard and/or mouse of a personal computer, unlike conventional cases. 
     Selecting information to be presented to the user in the base unit  2  can reduce the management cost in the server, compared with a case in which the server selects information to be presented to the user, and also can eliminate the time lag due to the communication with the server. 
     When the server selects information to be presented to the user as in conventional cases, it is necessary for all the relevant servers to properly operate. In contrast, according to the present invention, since the need for the server that selects information to be presented to the user is eliminated, the useful information can be stably provided to the user, independent of the operation state of the server. 
     The series of processes may be performed by hardware or by software. When the series of processes are performed by the software, the programs in the software are installed in a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or in, for example, a general-purpose personal computer capable of performing various functions by installing various programs, over a network or from a recording media. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIGS. 9 to 12 , the recording media includes not only package media including the magnetic disk  241  (including a flexible disk),  321 ,  371 , and  421 ; the optical disk  242  (including a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM) and a digital versatile disk (DVD)),  322 ,  372 , and  422 ; the magneto-optical disk  243  (including a minidisc (MD)),  323 ,  373 , and  423 ; or semiconductor memory  244 ,  324 ,  374 , and  424 , which has the programs recorded therein and which is distributed for providing the programs to the user, independent of the main unit, but also the ROM  152 ,  302 ,  352 , and the  402 ; the storage unit  154 ; and the HDD  223 ,  304 ,  354 , and  404 , which have the programs recorded therein and which are provided to the user in a state incorporated in the main unit. 
     In this description, the steps describing the programs recorded on the recording medium may be performed in the described order in time series or may be performed in parallel or individually. 
     In this description, a system represents the overall system including a plurality of apparatuses. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     As described above, according to a first aspect of the present invention, useful information can be provided to a user. 
     According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce leakage of private information of the user. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, information suited to the situation of the user can be presented to the user. 
     According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce leakage of private information of the user. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, information suited to the situation of the user can be selected. 
     According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce leakage of private information of the user. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select presentation information that is presented to the user by another information processing apparatus. 
     According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce leakage of private information of the user.