Patent Description:
An information provision method for providing information for charging a power storage device installed in an electrically driven vehicle is known from the prior art (Patent Document <NUM>). A plurality of charging stations and a plurality of commercial facilities where a user of a vehicle can stay during charging in one of the plurality of charging stations are provided. The method disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> includes three steps. In the first step, a charging server selects a plurality of candidates from among the plurality of charging stations in accordance with location information. In the second step, the charging server provides information indicating the plurality of selected candidates to a vehicle navigation device, distributing an advertisement for a commercial facility associated with each of the plurality of selected candidates. In the third step, the user refers to advertisements pertaining to the commercial facilities and selects one of the plurality of candidates, and the charging server receives information pertaining to the candidate selected with the vehicle navigation device. Then, when distributing the advertisement, the charging server presents a coupon to the user along with the advertisement.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses a plurality of charging stations and a plurality of commercial facilities where a user of a vehicle can stay during charging in one of the stations. A method for providing information for the vehicle includes: causing a charging server to select candidates from among the charging stations in accordance with location information about each vehicle and the commercial facilities, causing the charging server to provide a car navigation device with information shouwing the candidates selected; causing the server to deliver an advertisement for a commercial facility associated with each of the candidates selected; and causing the charging server to receive information about a candidate selected with the car navigation device from the candidates by the user referring to the advertisement.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses a device used at a charging station of electric vehicles. The device generates information including incentive data which can be obtained when a vehicle accepts an invitation to a charging station.

In the information provision method described above, users can obtain coupons that can be used at commercial facilities regardless of whether the user uses the chargers installed in charging stations; thus, it is possible that a user only obtain coupons and not charge the vehicle batteries at the charging station. In other words, the above-described information provision method has the problem that installation of vehicle service facilities, such as charging facilities does not lead to an improved ability to attract customers to commercial facilities.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an information presentation device, a vehicle control device, an information presentation terminal, an information presentation system, and an information presentation method, which execute information presentation that can improve the ability to attract customers to commercial facilities by installing charging facilities.

The above object is solved by an information presentation device, a vehicle control device, an information presentation terminal, an information presentation system, and an information presentation method defined in the appended independent claims. Further advantageous effects can be achieved by preferred embodiments defined in the appended dependent claims.

By means of the present invention, the presentation of information can be executed in such a way that the installation of charging facilities will improve the ability to attract customers to commercial facilities.

An embodiment of an information presentation system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. <FIG> is a block diagram showing an information presentation system according to the embodiment of the invention, wherein information presentation system <NUM> according to the embodiment includes an information presentation device (hereinafter also referred to as a server) <NUM>, a vehicle <NUM>, an information presentation terminal <NUM>, a vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM>, and a network <NUM> that constitutes a telecommunication network. In the system of the embodiment, the server accepts a request from a user or the vehicle <NUM> to use a vehicle service. In response to the request, the information presentation system <NUM> extracts, at the server, commercial facilities suitable for the location of the vehicle <NUM> or the travel route of the vehicle <NUM> and provides advertising information associated with the extracted commercial facilities to the user or the vehicle <NUM>. Then, if the information presentation system <NUM> can confirm that a vehicle service facility indicated in the advertisement information was used, the information presentation system issues an incentive to use a commercial facility associated with the vehicle service facility. As a result, the user can use the advertising information to find a commercial facility where the incentive can be accepted due to the use of the vehicle service facility. And because the information presentation system <NUM> conditions the issuance of the incentive on the use of the vehicle service facility, situations in which the user only receives a coupon with an incentive without using the vehicle service facility can be avoided. Thus, the information presentation system <NUM> can improve the ability to attract customers to commercial facilities through the installation of vehicle service facilities since the installation of the vehicle service facilities leads to the attraction of users to commercial facilities.

In the following description, the embodiment will be described using a charging facility as an example of a vehicle service facility. The charging facility is equipped with a charging device that can charge a battery mounted in the vehicle <NUM> (hereinafter also referred to as an in-vehicle battery). The charging facility is installed in the parking lot of a commercial facility or at a location associated with the commercial facility. A location associated with the commercial facility is a location associated with the business operator of the commercial facility. For example, if a particular parking area is connected to multiple commercial facilities, a charging facility within the parking area corresponds to a charging facility associated with a commercial facility. The vehicle service facilities are not limited to charging facilities and can be any facility at which a service for the vehicle <NUM> can be provided, such as a refueling facility, a car wash facility, a parking facility such as coin-operated parking, etc..

Further, the commercial facilities are not limited to the food and beverage industry, such as cafes, restaurants, and fast-food franchises, but are also convenience stores, department stores, and clothing stores, and other stores where users can purchase goods and services.

The server <NUM> according to the embodiment is composed of a computer provided with hardware and software, ROM (Read-Only Memory) in which programs are stored, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes the programs stored in the ROM, and RAM (Random-Access Memory) that functions as an accessible storage device. As operating circuits, instead of or together with the CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc., can be used. As shown in <FIG>, the server <NUM> is equipped with a facility management unit <NUM>, a vehicle management unit <NUM>, a user management unit <NUM>, an incentive issuing unit <NUM>, a transmitting unit <NUM>, and a receiving unit <NUM> as functional blocks for executing various functions of the server <NUM>. Each functional block realizes each of the functions described further below by software (processor) established in ROM. The server <NUM> also has a database <NUM> as a storage medium for storing map data and data received by the server.

The facility management unit <NUM> manages reservations for charging facilities included in the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM>. The facility management unit <NUM> manages the availability of the charging facilities. The facility management unit <NUM> is communicatively connected to the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM> via the network <NUM>. The facility management unit <NUM> identifies the start time and/or end time of the use of the charging facility from a transmission signal from the charging facility and manages the availability of the charging facility. Further, the facility management unit <NUM> accepts reservations for the charging facility from users or vehicles. When making a reservation for the charging facility, the user inputs reservation information by operating an in-vehicle device of the vehicle <NUM> and/or the information presentation terminal <NUM>. The reservation information includes the location of the charging facility, the desired date and time, the desired time of use, etc. The facility management unit <NUM> determines whether the reservation can be accepted based on the charging facility specified in the reservation information, the desired time of use of the charging facility, and the availability of the charging facility. If a charging facility is available, the facility management unit <NUM> confirms the reservation and transmits data (reservation confirmation data) that include reservation confirmation information to the vehicle <NUM> and/or the information presentation terminal <NUM>. If a charging facility is not available that meets the reservation conditions specified by the user, the facility management unit <NUM> does not confirm the reservation, but transmits information indicating that a reservation cannot be made and information indicating the availability of other charging facilities to the vehicle <NUM> and/or the information presentation terminal <NUM>.

The facility management unit <NUM> obtains facility data from the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM>, and the like, via the receiving unit <NUM>. The facility data are, for example, data input by a business operator of the commercial facility and the vehicle service facility and include advertisement information of the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM>. Advertisement information includes information pertaining to coupons, business hours, products and services of the facility, etc. The facility data are not limited to information input by the business operator and can include map information. Map information indicates the locations of vehicle service facilities and the locations of commercial facilities. The facility data correspond to service facility data and commercial facility data. The service facility data include at least location information of the vehicle service facility. The service facility data can include information pertaining to the vehicle service facility, such as hours of availability, usage fees, etc., of the vehicle service facility. The commercial facility data include at least location information of the commercial facility associated with the extracted vehicle service facility. The commercial facility data can include information pertaining to the commercial facility, such as hours of availability and usage fees of the commercial facility, advertising information, etc. The facility management unit <NUM> manages the service facility data and the commercial facility data by including the information contained in the service facility data and the information contained in the commercial facility data in the map data and storing this information in the database <NUM>.

The facility management unit <NUM> obtains facility usage data from the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM>, etc., via the receiving unit <NUM>. The facility usage data include information pertaining to the use of the vehicle service facility by the vehicle <NUM>. The information pertaining to the use of the vehicle service facility indicates that the vehicle <NUM> has started using the vehicle service facility, that the vehicle <NUM> is using the vehicle service facility, or that the vehicle <NUM> has ended its use of the vehicle service facility. That is, the information pertaining to the use of the vehicle service facility indicates the usage history of the vehicle service facility by the vehicle <NUM>. For example, in a state in which an in-vehicle battery and a charging device of the charging facility are connected by a charging cable, the charging facility transmits the facility usage data to the server <NUM> at the time at which electric power is output from the charging device to the in-vehicle battery. The facility management unit <NUM> can obtain the facility usage data to recognize that the vehicle <NUM> has used the vehicle service facility. The facility usage data can be transmitted to the server <NUM> from not only the vehicle service facility, but also the vehicle <NUM> that is being charged.

The vehicle management unit <NUM> manages the vehicle <NUM>. The vehicle management unit <NUM> is communicatively connected to the vehicle <NUM> via the network <NUM>. The vehicle management unit <NUM> identifies the vehicle location of the vehicle <NUM> from a vehicle signal from the vehicle <NUM>. The vehicle signal of the vehicle <NUM> is a signal transmitted from the vehicle <NUM> and includes at least vehicle location data. The vehicle location data is the current location information of the vehicle <NUM>, and the location of the vehicle <NUM> is measured by GPS. The vehicle signal may also include travel route information of the vehicle <NUM>, an ID (identification information) assigned to each vehicle, etc. Further, the vehicle management unit <NUM> can calculate the travel route from the current location of vehicle to the destination. Information pertaining to the destination of the vehicle <NUM> is transmitted from the vehicle <NUM> or the information presentation terminal <NUM> to the server <NUM>.

The vehicle management unit <NUM> also obtains battery data of the state of charge (SOC: State of Charge) of the in-vehicle battery from the vehicle signal of the vehicle <NUM>. The vehicle management unit <NUM> calculates the battery capacity required to travel the route from the current location of the vehicle <NUM> to the destination (required battery capacity). The vehicle management unit <NUM> compares the calculated charge capacity and the SOC (equivalent to the amount of remaining charge) of the in-vehicle battery obtained from battery data. Then, if the remaining capacity of the in-vehicle battery is insufficient, the vehicle management unit <NUM> proposes charging to the user and/or the vehicle <NUM>. The vehicle management unit <NUM> compares a lower limit value (state of charge threshold) of the preset SOC and the SOC of the in-vehicle battery and can propose charging to the user and/or the vehicle <NUM> if the SOC of the in-vehicle battery is less than or equal to the SOC lower limit value.

If there is a charging request from the user and/or the vehicle <NUM> after proposing charging to the user and/or the vehicle <NUM>, the vehicle management unit <NUM> extracts vehicle service facilities located in the vicinity of the current vehicle location of the vehicle <NUM> or in the vicinity of the travel route of the vehicle <NUM>. The vicinity of the vehicle location or the travel route is defined as a prescribed range from the location indicated by the vehicle location or travel route on a map. The prescribed range is, for example, a range within which it is possible to make a detour within a time obtained by adding a few percent to several tens of percent to the arrival time to the destination.

The vehicle management unit <NUM> outputs the commercial facility data and the service facility data managed by the facility management unit <NUM> to the vehicle <NUM> and/or the information presentation terminal <NUM> via the transmitting unit <NUM>. The commercial facility data include at least location information of commercial facilities pertaining to the extracted vehicle service facility.

The user management unit <NUM> manages user information. When the user uses a service provided by the information presentation system <NUM>, the user inputs information for identifying the user and information indicating the user's preferences to the system. The user identification information includes gender, age, etc. Information indicating user preferences includes information pertaining to frequently visited vehicle service facilities and commercial facilities, information related to favorite foods and beverages, etc. The user management unit <NUM> manages the user information of each registered user.

The incentive issuing unit <NUM> issues incentives as reward information for using the commercial facilities. An incentive corresponds to a coupon that can be used by the user. When facility usage data are received by the receiving unit <NUM>, the incentive issuing unit <NUM> issues an incentive to the user or the vehicle <NUM>. That is, the incentive issuing unit <NUM> issues an incentive that is triggered by the use of the vehicle service facility. The incentive is issued with limitations on the target commercial facilities, the hours that the coupon can be used, etc. The incentive is issued by displaying a QR code (registered trademark) on a display <NUM> of the information presentation terminal <NUM>, for example. An incentive is also issued by displaying a coupon redemption code on a display <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>, for example. The user can obtain a prescribed benefit by presenting an incentivized coupon to the commercial facility, for example.

The incentive issuing unit <NUM> measures the time spent by the user at the commercial facility based on the user's location information. The user's location information corresponds to the location information of the vehicle <NUM> and/or the information presentation terminal <NUM>. The incentive issuing unit <NUM> measures the time spent by referring to the map data stored in the database <NUM> and calculating, for example, the time that the user's position is stopped at the location of the commercial facility on the map. The incentive issuing unit <NUM> may then issue an incentive when the facility usage data are received by the receiving unit <NUM> and the measured time spent is a prescribed time or more. For example, if the business operator of a commercial facility wants users to stay at the facility for a long period of time, incentives can be given to users who stay for a long time, thereby linking the issuance of incentives to the attraction of users desired by the business operator. Further, by issuing an incentive to users who stay for long periods of time, it is possible to avoid situations in which users stay at a commercial facility, which is the target of the incentive, for short periods of time to receive benefits and then move on to other facilities.

The transmitting unit <NUM> transmits management data of the facility management unit <NUM>, the management data of the vehicle management unit <NUM>, and/or the management data of the user management unit <NUM> to the vehicle <NUM>, the information presentation terminal <NUM>, and/or the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM>. The data transmitted by the transmitting unit <NUM> are service facility data or commercial facility data, vehicle management data, vehicle service facility reservation confirmation data, etc. The vehicle management data include the travel route, etc., calculated by the vehicle management unit <NUM>. The transmitting unit <NUM> also transmits incentive data to the vehicle <NUM> and/or the information presentation terminal <NUM>. The incentive data include information pertaining to the incentive issued by the incentive issuing unit <NUM>.

The transmitting unit <NUM> transmits a signal that includes the service facility data, the commercial facility data, the vehicle management data, the incentive data to the vehicle <NUM>, and, thus, the display <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> can display the travel route, the location of the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM>, advertising information of the commercial facility <NUM>, the incentive information, etc. Similarly, the transmitting unit <NUM> transmits a signal to the information presentation terminal <NUM> which includes the service facility data, the commercial facility data, and the vehicle management data, and, thus, the display <NUM> of the information presentation terminal <NUM> can display the travel route, the location of the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM>, advertising information of the commercial facility <NUM>, and the incentive information. That is, the transmitting unit <NUM> transmits a signal for causing the displays <NUM>, <NUM> to display the travel route, information pertaining to the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM>, and incentive information.

The receiving unit <NUM> receives data pertaining to the vehicle <NUM>, the information presentation terminal <NUM>, and/or the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM> transmitted from the vehicle <NUM>, the information presentation terminal <NUM>, and/or the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM>, respectively. The transmitted data pertaining to the vehicle <NUM> include the vehicle location data, the travel route data calculated by the vehicle <NUM>, the reservation data of the vehicle <NUM>, etc. The reservation data include the reservation information input by the user. For example, if a vehicle service facility displayed on the display <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> or the display <NUM> of the information presentation terminal <NUM> is selected, the reservation information includes information pertaining to the selected vehicle service facility. The transmitted data pertaining to the information presentation terminal <NUM> include the user information, the reservation information input by the user, etc. The transmitted data pertaining to the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM> are service facility data, commercial facility data, facility usage data, etc. The facility usage data can be transmitted from the vehicle <NUM> or the information presentation terminal <NUM>.

The database <NUM> stores the management data of the facility management unit <NUM>, the management data of the vehicle management unit <NUM>, and/or the management data of the user management unit <NUM>, as well as map data, etc..

The vehicle <NUM> is equipped with a vehicle navigation device <NUM>, a battery controller <NUM>, a vehicle transmitting unit (vehicle transmitter) <NUM>, and a vehicle receiving unit (vehicle receiver) <NUM>. The vehicle navigation device <NUM>, the battery controller <NUM>, the vehicle transmitting unit <NUM>, and the vehicle receiving unit <NUM> are part of the configuration of the vehicle control device. The vehicle <NUM> is an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle battery. The vehicle <NUM> can be a gasoline vehicle. The vehicle navigation device <NUM> computes the current location of the vehicle <NUM>, the travel route of the vehicle <NUM>, etc., and provides route guidance from the current location of the vehicle <NUM> to the destination. The vehicle navigation device <NUM> includes a GPS receiving unit <NUM>, a control unit <NUM>, and a display <NUM>. The GPS receiving unit <NUM> receives GPS signals. The control unit <NUM> measures the current location of the vehicle <NUM> from the location information contained in the GPS signal. The control unit <NUM> also computes the travel route to the destination based on destination information input by the user. The control unit <NUM> causes the current location, the travel route, information pertaining to the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM>, and incentive information to be displayed on the display <NUM>. The display <NUM> is a touch panel type display device (equivalent to a vehicle display unit).

The battery controller <NUM> manages the state of the in-vehicle battery during charging and discharging. The vehicle transmitting unit <NUM> transmits the management data of the vehicle <NUM>, the data input by the user through the operation of the display <NUM>, and other data to the server <NUM>. The vehicle receiving unit <NUM> receives the service facility data, the commercial facility data, the incentive data, etc., transmitted from the server <NUM>.

The information presentation terminal <NUM> is a terminal operated by the user and is a portable mobile terminal, such as a smartphone, owned by the user. The information presentation terminal <NUM> includes a GPS receiving unit <NUM>, the display <NUM>, a terminal transmitting unit (terminal transmitter) <NUM>, and a terminal receiving unit (terminal receiver) <NUM>. The GPS receiving unit <NUM> receives GPS signals. The information presentation terminal <NUM> measures the current location of the information presentation terminal <NUM> from the location information included in the GPS signal. The current location of the information presentation terminal <NUM> corresponds to the current location of the user. The display <NUM> is a touch panel display device (equivalent to a terminal display unit). The terminal transmitting unit <NUM> transmits the management data of the information presentation terminal <NUM>, the data input by the user through operation of the display <NUM>, and other data, to the server <NUM>. The terminal receiving unit <NUM> receives the service facility data, the commercial facility data, the incentive data, etc., transmitted from the server <NUM>.

The vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM> has a communication unit <NUM> and a charging control unit <NUM>. The communication device <NUM> is a communication device capable of communicating with the server <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> may communicate with the vehicle <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> transmits the service facility data, the commercial facility data, the facility usage data, etc. The charging control unit <NUM> controls the charging of the in-vehicle battery.

The vehicle <NUM> and the information presentation terminal <NUM> can be communicatively connected to each other in order to associate vehicle <NUM> with the information presentation terminal <NUM>. The connection between the vehicle <NUM> and the information presentation terminal <NUM> can be realized by using in-vehicle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. When the vehicle <NUM> and the information presentation terminal <NUM> are communicatively connected to each other, the vehicle transmitting unit <NUM> and the vehicle receiving unit <NUM> may transmit and receive via the terminal transmitting unit <NUM> and the terminal receiving unit <NUM>. Further, the transmission and reception of the terminal transmitting unit <NUM> and the terminal receiving unit <NUM> can be performed via the vehicle transmitting unit <NUM> and the vehicle receiving unit <NUM>.

An overview of the information processing procedure executed in the system of the present embodiment will now be described. <FIG> is a flowchart showing the information processing procedure.

In Step S1, the control unit <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> measures the vehicle location of the vehicle <NUM> based on the GPS signal and computes the travel route from the vehicle location to the destination. In Step S2, the battery controller <NUM> calculates the SOC of the in-vehicle battery. In Step S3, the control unit <NUM> calculates the battery capacity required from the current location of the vehicle <NUM> to the destination based on the travel route. The control unit <NUM> compares the calculated battery capacity with the current SOC. If the current SOC is less than or equal to the required battery capacity, the control unit <NUM> determines that the in-vehicle battery requires charging, which is then proposed to the user. The charging proposal is performed by displaying the information on the display <NUM>.

In Step S4, the control unit <NUM> confirms the input of the charging request from the user. In Step S5, the control unit <NUM> uses the vehicle transmitting unit <NUM> to transmit the vehicle location data and the charging request to the server <NUM>.

In Step S6, the vehicle management unit <NUM> of the server <NUM> extracts vehicle service facilities and commercial facilities located in the vicinity of the current location of the vehicle <NUM> or in the vicinity of the travel route of the vehicle <NUM> based on the vehicle location data and the map data. In Step S7, the vehicle management unit <NUM> transmits the service facility data of the extracted charging facilities and the commercial facility data of the commercial facilities associated with the extracted charging facilities to the vehicle <NUM>.

In Step S8, the vehicle <NUM> receives the service facility data and the commercial facility data, and the control unit <NUM> displays the extracted charging facility information and commercial facility information on the display <NUM>. <FIG> shows a schematized diagram of a display screen of the display <NUM>.

<FIG> is a screen displayed on the display <NUM> in the control process of Step S8. As shown in <FIG>, in addition to the map and the travel route to the destination, the display <NUM> shows charging facilities as candidate charging destinations and commercial facilities (stores A to C) associated with the charging facilities. In <FIG>, the charging facilities are located in the parking lots of stores A to C, so that the display of stores A to C also serves to indicate the charging facilities. The user can identify the charging facilities and commercial facilities by observing the message "there are stores with available charging facilities" on the display <NUM>. Since stores A to C are commercial facilities extracted by the server <NUM>, charging facilities located near the current location t or the travel route of the vehicle <NUM> are displayed. Further, advertising information for stores A to C is displayed on the display <NUM>. The order in which the advertising information for stores A to C is displayed gives preference to advertisements of sponsors and partner companies of the information presentation system <NUM>. For example, in the example of <FIG>, store A is a sponsor of the information presentation system <NUM> and has prepared coupons to attract customers through the information presentation system <NUM>. Stores B and C are not sponsors. Thus, the advertisement display of store A is given higher priority than the advertisement display of stores B and C, and the advertising information for store A is displayed above that of stores B, C. Further, the advertisement display for store A includes a coupon display (for example, a coupon for free coffee). In the display examples of <FIG>, "not issued" appears in the coupon display area and was added for the purpose of explaining the present embodiment; the "not issued" display can be omitted. The "not issued" display indicates that the coupon is invalid, i.e., an incentive has not been issued because the vehicle <NUM> is not using the charging facility of store A.

When viewing the display screen of <FIG>, the user can see that the advertisement for store A has higher priority than the advertisements for stores B, C and that, further, an incentive in the form of a coupon could be obtained by using the charging facility at store A. This type of display enhances the ability of attracting customers to store A. The order of priority for displaying advertisements is managed by the facility management unit <NUM> of the server <NUM>, and the priority information is contained in the commercial facility data. Further, the prioritized display of advertisements is not limited to the display order shown in <FIG>; for example, the display format for store A could be made more prominent than that for stores B and C. Further, in addition to the presence or absence of sponsors, the order of priority for the display of advertisements can be assigned in accordance with user preferences. User preferences can be obtained by using the information managed by the user management unit <NUM>.

In Step S9, the user operates the touch panel of the display <NUM> and selects a commercial facility (store A) that has a charging facility, and the control unit <NUM> reserves a charging facility associated with the commercial facility (store A) and transmits reservation data to the server <NUM>. The reservation data include the reservation time in addition to a request for reserving a charging facility associated with the commercial facility (store A). The reservation time can be the desired time entered by the user or a time calculated from the required charging time and the estimated time of arrival at store A based on a route calculated by the control unit <NUM>. Further, when the user selects a commercial facility, the control unit <NUM> can recalculate the travel route to arrive at the destination via the selected commercial facility.

In Step S10, the facility management unit <NUM> confirms the reservation after checking the availability of the charging facility associated with the commercial facility (store A). In Step S11, the facility management unit <NUM> transmits the reservation confirmation data to the vehicle <NUM>. The reservation confirmation data include the location information of the charging facility to be reserved, the confirmed reservation time, etc..

In Step S12, the control unit <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> causes the display <NUM> to display the confirmed reservation information together with a travel route via the commercial facility (store A). <FIG> shows the screen displayed on the display <NUM> in the control process of Step S12.

In Step S13, when the vehicle <NUM> arrives at a commercial facility (store A) and uses the charging facility, the battery controller <NUM> starts charging the in-vehicle battery. In Step S14, the control unit <NUM> transmits the facility usage data to the server <NUM> at the time at which the charging facility is used. The facility usage data can include the location information of the vehicle <NUM>, the location information of the charging facility, the location information of the commercial facility, and POI information of the commercial facility, in addition to the fact that the charging facility was used. The facility usage data can be transmitted to the server from not only the vehicle <NUM> but also the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM> corresponding to store A. Here, the accuracy of the location information transmitted from the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM> is affected by the accuracy of the GPS. For example, if stores A to C are densely clustered and GPS accuracy is poor, the server may receive location information from the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM> corresponding to store A, but may not be able to identify at which charging facility associated with which store, A to C, the vehicle was charged. In such cases, communication between the vehicle <NUM> and the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM> can be used to transmit identification information of the vehicle <NUM> to the server <NUM> in addition to the facility usage data. Another method, for example, is during charging of an in-vehicle battery at a charging facility, a display screen can be displayed on the display <NUM> of the information presentation terminal <NUM> via communication between the vehicle <NUM> and the information presentation terminal <NUM> on which the user can specify at which store, A to C, the vehicle is being charged, where the vehicle <NUM> or the information presentation terminal <NUM> can transmit the facility usage data to the server <NUM> based on the users decision. Further, the time at which the facility usage data is transmitted can be after the arrival of the vehicle <NUM> at the charging facility, when the charging status of the vehicle <NUM> becomes charging, or when charging is completed. Alternatively, after charging has started and upon entering the store of the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM>, the user can be notified to check in by means of a display such as "have you started charging?" on the display <NUM> of the information presentation terminal <NUM>, and the facility usage data can be transmitted at the time of the user's approval.

In Step S15, the receiving unit <NUM> receives the facility usage data, and the incentive issuing unit <NUM> issues an incentive by validating a coupon for the commercial facility (store A). In Step S16, the incentive issuing unit <NUM> uses the transmitting unit <NUM> to transmit the incentive data. The incentive data includes such information as the fact that the coupon has been validated, the time during which the coupon can be used, etc..

In Step S17, the vehicle <NUM> uses the vehicle transmitting unit <NUM> to transmit the incentive data received from the server <NUM> to the information presentation terminal <NUM>. The user subsequently uses the validated coupon at the store A to receive a coffee.

As described above, an information presentation device <NUM> according to the present embodiment comprises the receiving unit <NUM> for receiving vehicle location data indicating the vehicle location of the vehicle <NUM>, the transmitting unit <NUM> for transmitting service facility data including location information of a vehicle service facility in the vicinity of the vehicle location or in the vicinity of the travel route of the vehicle <NUM>, and commercial facility data including location information of a commercial facility associated with the vehicle service facility, and the incentive issuing unit <NUM> for issuing an incentive to use the commercial facility. The receiving unit <NUM> then receives facility usage data pertaining to the use of the vehicle service facility by the vehicle <NUM>, and when the facility usage data are received by the receiving unit, the incentive issuing unit <NUM> issues an incentive to the user or the vehicle. As a result, since incentives are issued based on the usage history of the charging facility (track record of the charging facility being used or use of the charging facility being initiated), the installation of vehicle service facilities, such as charging facilities, leads to an improved ability to attract customers to commercial facilities. As a result, information can be presented in such a way that it is possible to improve the ability to attract customers to commercial facilities through the installation of charging facilities.

According to the information presentation device <NUM> of this embodiment, the transmitting unit <NUM> transmits data, including information pertaining to the incentive issued by the incentive issuing unit <NUM>, to the information presentation terminal <NUM> associated with the vehicle <NUM>. As a result, this allows a user carrying the information presentation terminal <NUM> to carry a coupon with an incentive, thereby increasing the usefulness of the coupon.

Further, according to the information presentation device <NUM> of the present embodiment, the incentive issuing unit <NUM> measures the time spent by the user at the commercial facility, the receiving unit <NUM> receives facility usage data, and an incentive is issued if the time spent is greater than or equal to a prescribed period of time. As a result, it is possible to avoid situations in which users stay at a commercial facility, which is the target of the incentive, for short periods of time to receive benefits and then move on to other facilities.

Further, according to the information presentation device <NUM> of the present embodiment, when the receiving unit <NUM> receives reservation data indicating a reservation for a vehicle service facility, the facility management unit <NUM> confirms the reservation for the vehicle service facility. It is thereby possible to reliably receive reservations and enhance the reliability of the system.

Further, according to the information presentation device <NUM> of the present embodiment, the vehicle management unit <NUM> computes a travel route by way of the vehicle service facility, and the transmitting unit <NUM> transmits a signal for causing the vehicle <NUM> and/or the information presentation terminal <NUM> to display the travel route computed by the vehicle management unit <NUM>. The user can thus ascertain the travel route that passes via the vehicle service facility.

Further, according to the information presentation device <NUM> of the present embodiment, the vehicle management unit <NUM> manages the state of charge of the in-vehicle battery, and the transmitting unit <NUM> transmits the service facility data and commercial facility data if the state of charge is less than or equal to a prescribed state of charge threshold. It is thus possible to present to the user information pertaining to charging facilities associated with commercial facilities that attract customers, at the time at which the remaining amount of charge on the in-vehicle battery is low.

A vehicle control device (equivalent to a control device included in the vehicle <NUM>) of the present embodiment comprises the vehicle transmitting unit <NUM> for transmitting vehicle location data indicating the location of the vehicle <NUM>, the vehicle receiving unit <NUM> for receiving the service facility data indicating the locations of vehicle service facilities in the vicinity of the vehicle location or in the vicinity of the travel route of the vehicle <NUM>, and commercial facility data including the location information of commercial facilities associated with the vehicle service facilities, and a vehicle display unit (equivalent to the display <NUM>) for displaying the information contained in the commercial facility data. When the user selects a vehicle service facility displayed on the display unit, the vehicle transmitting unit <NUM> then transmits data that include information pertaining to the selected vehicle service facility, and, after use of the selected vehicle service facility is started, the vehicle receiving unit <NUM> receives an incentive to use the commercial facility. Thus, information can be presented in such a way that it is possible to improve the ability to attract customers to commercial facilities through the installation of charging facilities.

Further, the information presentation system <NUM> or an information presentation method executed by a processor of the present embodiment comprises receiving vehicle location data indicating the vehicle location of the vehicle <NUM>, extracting the vehicle service facility located in the vicinity of the vehicle location or in the vicinity of the vehicle's <NUM> travel route, and a commercial facility pertaining to the vehicle service facility, transmitting service facility data including location information of the extracted vehicle service facility and commercial facility data including the location information of the extracted commercial facility, receiving facility usage data pertaining to the use of the vehicle service facility by the vehicle <NUM>, and issuing an incentive to use the commercial facility to the vehicle <NUM> or the user when the facility usage data are received. As a result, information can be presented in such a way that it is possible to improve the ability to attract customers to commercial facilities through the installation of charging facilities.

In the present embodiment, the association between the vehicle <NUM> and the user (information presentation terminal <NUM>) is not limited to a method of establishing communication between the vehicle <NUM> and the information presentation terminal <NUM> and can be one of the following methods. For example, after the user boards the vehicle, the server <NUM>, the vehicle <NUM>, or the information presentation terminal <NUM> can recognize that the location of the vehicle <NUM> corresponds to the location of the information presentation terminal <NUM> (i.e., in the same location, or the locations moving synchronously), thereby associating the vehicle <NUM> and the information presentation terminal <NUM>. In another method, the vehicle <NUM> detects a user boarding the vehicle by image recognition using an in-vehicle camera, voice recognition using a microphone, or the like, and sends identification information of the detected user to the server <NUM>. The server <NUM> identifies the corresponding information presentation terminal <NUM> from the registered user information. Further, in another method, when the user operates the information presentation terminal <NUM> to reserve a charging facility, communication is established between the server <NUM> and the information presentation terminal <NUM>, so that the communication information can be used to associate the two. According to the information presentation device <NUM> of the present embodiment, the transmitting unit <NUM> transmits data including information pertaining to the incentive issued by the incentive issuing unit <NUM> to the information presentation terminal associated with the user on board the vehicle. It is thus possible to enhance the usefulness of coupons.

Further, in this embodiment, if several users are on board the vehicle <NUM>, the server <NUM> may issue a coupon to each passenger. The number of passengers can be determined using a camera recognition function, a seatbelt reminder function, etc., provided in the vehicle <NUM>. The server <NUM> may send coupons for all passengers to one information presentation terminal <NUM> or may send a coupon to the information presentation terminal <NUM> of each user.

In this embodiment, an incentive is issued when the time spent at a commercial facility is greater than or equal to a prescribed period of time, but an incentive can be issued when the time spent at a commercial facility is less than a prescribed period of time. For example, when the time spent at a commercial facility becomes prolonged, such as during charging in normal charging mode, restaurants and other eating establishments may need to keep the charging time as short as possible to increase their table turnover rate. In light of such needs, the convenience of the service can be increased by issuing incentives when the time spent at the given commercial facility is less than a prescribed period of time.

In a modified example of the present embodiment, part of the control flow shown in <FIG> can be executed by the information presentation terminal <NUM>. <FIG> is a flowchart showing the information processing procedure according to the modified embodiment example. Of the control process of the information presentation terminal <NUM>, the control flow of Steps S21, S22, S23, S26, S27, and S30 is the same as the control flow of Steps S1, S4, S5, S8, S9, and S12 of the information processing procedure of the present embodiment. Further, in the control process of server <NUM>, the control flow of Steps S24, S25, S28, S29, S32, and S33 is the same as the control flow of Steps S6, S7, S10, S11, S15, and S16, of the information processing procedure of the present embodiment. However, the display of the display <NUM> in the control flow of <FIG> can be replaced with the display of the display <NUM>. Further, the vehicle location can be replaced with the user's location. Further, in the control flow of <FIG>, charging is suggested to the user at the time the SOC drops, but in the modified example, a charging request can be made at any time by the user. The new flow that is added in the control flow of the modified example will be described below.

In the control process performed by the server <NUM>, the server <NUM> receives facility usage data from the vehicle <NUM> or the vehicle service/commercial facility <NUM> in Step S31. In the control process of the information presentation terminal <NUM>, the display <NUM> displays incentive data in Step S34.

As described above, the information presentation terminal <NUM> according to the present embodiment comprises the terminal transmitting unit <NUM> for transmitting location data indicating the user's location, the terminal receiving unit <NUM> for receiving the service facility data indicating the locations of vehicle service facilities in the vicinity of the user's location or in the vicinity of the travel route of the vehicle, and commercial facility data including the location information of commercial facilities associated with the vehicle service facilities, and a terminal display unit (equivalent to the display <NUM>) for displaying the information contained in the commercial facility data. When the user selects a vehicle service facility displayed on the display unit, the terminal transmitting unit <NUM> transmits data that include information pertaining to the selected vehicle service facility, and, after use of the selected vehicle service facility has started, the terminal receiving unit <NUM> receives the incentive to use the commercial facility. Thus, information can be presented in such a way that it is possible to improve the ability to attract customers to commercial facilities through the installation of charging facilities.

The vehicle service facility can be, for example, a refueling facility, a car wash facility, a parking facility such as coin-operated parking lot. In the case that the vehicle service facility is a refueling facility, the vehicle can recognize that a refueling facility is being used by detecting that the refueling port is open or that the value of the fuel sensor is increasing, so that the facility usage data can be transmitted to the server <NUM> as data indicating that a refueling facility is being used at the time at which these detections occur. Further, the refueling facility or the information presentation terminal <NUM> may transmit the facility usage data to the server <NUM>.

In the case that the vehicle service facility is a car wash facility, the vehicle can recognize that a car wash facility is being used by detecting water with a raindrop sensor after parking in a prescribed parking space, so that facility usage data can be transmitted to the server <NUM> at the time water is detected. Further, the car wash facility or the information presentation terminal <NUM> may transmit the facility usage data to the server <NUM>.

Further, in the case that the vehicle service facility is a parking facility, such as a coin-operated parking facility, the parking facility can recognize that the parking facility is being used by detecting the opening of the gate to the parking facility; thus, facility usage data can be transmitted to the server <NUM> at the time that the opening of the gate is detected. Further, the vehicle <NUM> or the information presentation terminal <NUM> can transmit the facility usage data.

Claim 1:
An information presentation device (<NUM>) comprising:
a receiving unit (<NUM>) for receiving vehicle location data indicating a vehicle location of a vehicle (<NUM>), the vehicle location data being the current location information of the vehicle (<NUM>), and the location of the vehicle (<NUM>) being measured by GPS;
a transmitting unit (<NUM>) for transmitting to the vehicle (<NUM>) and/or an information presentation terminal (<NUM>) service facility data including location information of a vehicle service facility in a vicinity of the vehicle location or in a vicinity of a travel route of the vehicle, and commercial facility data including location information of a commercial facility associated with the vehicle service facility; and
an incentive issuing unit (<NUM>) for issuing an incentive to use the commercial facility, wherein
the receiving unit (<NUM>) receives facility usage data including information indicating that the vehicle used the vehicle service facility, the facility usage data being transmitted from the vehicle (<NUM>), an information presentation terminal (<NUM>), and/or a vehicle service/commercial facility (<NUM>), and
the incentive issuing unit (<NUM>) issues the incentive to a user on board the vehicle or the vehicle when the facility usage data are received by the receiving unit,
the transmitting unit (<NUM>) transmits data, including information pertaining to the incentive issued by the incentive issuing unit (<NUM>), to an information presentation terminal (<NUM>) associated with the vehicle (<NUM>) and/or associated with the user on board the vehicle (<NUM>), and
the information presentation terminal (<NUM>) is associated with the vehicle based on at least one of the location of the vehicle corresponding to a location of the information presentation terminal (<NUM>) and communication information between the information presentation device (<NUM>) and the information presentation terminal (<NUM>) when the information presentation terminal (<NUM>) is operated to reserve a charging facility.