Information communication system, facility-side apparatus and program, user-side apparatus and program, status detecting device and program, updating device and program

• US 20080215206A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
• Inventors: Hattori, Toshihiro, Matsuura, Mitsuyasu, Ikeda, Hirotane
• Granted Patent: US 9,112,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services

Abstract

An information communication system includes a user-side apparatus that is associated with a user and a facility-side apparatus provided at a facility, which the user is capable of visiting. The user-side apparatus transmits to the facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item related to the user of the user-side apparatus. The user identifying information item is used for identifying an appearance characteristic of the user. The facility-side apparatus outputs the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

Claims

1. An information communication system comprising:

a user-side apparatus that is associated with a user; and

a facility-side apparatus provided at a facility, which the user is capable of visiting,

wherein the user-side apparatus includes appearance information transmitting means for transmitting to the facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item related to the user of the user-side apparatus, the user identifying information item being used for identifying an appearance characteristic of the user, and

wherein the facility-side apparatus includes output means for outputting the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

2. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the facility-side apparatus is capable of performing radio communication with the user-side apparatus; and

the facility-side apparatus receives the user identifying information item from the user-side apparatus that is in a state for being capable of communicating with the facility-side apparatus.

3. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein the output means provides notification of the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

4. The information communication system according to claim 3, wherein:

the facility-side apparatus includes service information generating means for generating service selection information item used for selecting service to be provided to the user based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus, the user having the appearance characteristic identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus; and

the output means provides notification of the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item together with notification of the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

5. The information communication system according to claim 4,

wherein the facility-side apparatus includes history information storing means for storing a plurality of history information items indicating services provided in a past at the facility having the facility-side apparatus, and

wherein the service information generating means generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the history information storing means, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to the user that has the appearance characteristic identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

6. The information communication system according to claim 5,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus indicates the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means provides the notification of the appearance characteristic indicated by the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus together with the notification of the service selection information item.

7. The information communication system according to claim 5, wherein the facility-side apparatus includes appearance information storing means for storing appearance information items indicating appearance characteristics of the plurality of users,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying one of the appearance information items stored in the appearance information storing means, the one of the appearance information items indicating the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means acquires from the appearance information transmitting means the one of the appearance information items and provides the notification of the appearance characteristic indicated by the acquired one of the appearance information items together with the notification of the service selection information item.

8. The information communication system according to claim 4, further including a management apparatus configured to store a plurality of history information items that indicates services provided in a past at the facility and at another facility,

wherein the service information generating means of the facility-side apparatus generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the management apparatus, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to both (a) the user having the appearance characteristic that is identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus and (b) the facility that has the facility-side apparatus.

9. The information communication system according to claim 8,

wherein the management apparatus includes history information returning means for transmitting one of the plurality of history information items to the facility-side apparatus such that the service information generating means acquires the one of the plurality of history information items when the user identifying information item and facility information item related to the facility having the facility-side apparatus are received from the facility-side apparatus, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to both (a) the user having the appearance characteristic identified based on the received user identifying information item and (b) the facility identified based on the received facility information item.

10. The information communication system according to claim 8,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus indicates the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means provides the notification of the appearance characteristic of the user indicated by the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus together with the notification of the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

11. The information communication system according to claim 8,

wherein the facility-side apparatus includes appearance information storing means for storing appearance information items indicating appearance characteristics of the plurality of users,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying one of the appearance information items stored in the appearance information storing means, the one of the appearance information items indicating the appearance characteristics of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means acquires the one of the appearance information items from the appearance information storing means and provides the notification of the appearance characteristic indicated by the acquired one of the appearance information items together with the notification of the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

12. The information communication system according to claim 8,

wherein the management apparatus is capable of storing appearance information items indicating appearance characteristics of the plurality of users,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying one of the appearance information items stored in the management apparatus, the one of the appearance information items indicating the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means acquires the one of the appearance information items from the management apparatus and provides the notification of the appearance characteristic indicated by the one of the appearance information items together with the notification of the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

13. The information communication system according to claim 12, wherein the management apparatus includes appearance information returning means for transmitting one of the appearance information items to the facility-side apparatus such that the output means acquires the one of the appearance information items when the user identifying information item is received from the output means of the facility-side apparatus, the one of the appearance information items being identified based on the received user identifying information item.

14. The information communication system according to claim 8, wherein the one of the plurality of history information items indicates the service provided in the past at the facility having the facility-side apparatus.

15. The information communication system according to claim 8, wherein the one of the plurality of history information items indicates the service provided at the another facility of a category identical to a category of the facility having the facility-side apparatus.

16. The information communication system according to claim 5,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted to the facility-side apparatus by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying an identification information item unique to the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the service information generating means generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items, the one of the plurality of history information items indicating the service provided to the user corresponding to the identification information item identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

17. The information communication system according to claim 5,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted to the facility-side apparatus by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying a characteristic information item indicating a characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the service information generating means generates the service selection information item based on the one of the plurality of history information items, the one of the plurality of history information items indicating the service provided to the user corresponding to the characteristic information item identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

18. The information communication system according to claim 17,

wherein the service information generating means generates the service selection information item based on the one of the plurality of history information items, the one of the plurality of history information items indicating the service provided another user corresponding to a characteristic information item identical or similar to the characteristic information item identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

19. The information communication system according to claim 5,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted to the facility-side apparatus by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying a status information item indicative of a state related to the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the service information generating means generates the service selection information item based on the one of the plurality of history information items, the one of the plurality of history information items corresponding to the status information item identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

20. The information communication system according to claim 19, further including a status detecting device mounted to a vehicle,

wherein the status detecting device includes:

status detecting means for detecting at least one of a state of the user that gets in the vehicle and a state of the vehicle; and

status information transmitting means for transmitting the status information item indicative of the state detected by the status detecting means to the user-side apparatus of the user, and

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted to the facility-side apparatus by the appearance information transmitting means is used for identifying the status information item received from the status detecting device.

21. The information communication system according to claim 4,

wherein the user-side apparatus includes history information storing means for storing a plurality of history information items indicating services provided at the facility and at another facility in a past to the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the service information generating means of the facility-side apparatus generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the history information storing means, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to the facility having the facility-side apparatus.

22. The information communication system according to claim 21,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus indicates the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means provides notification of the appearance characteristic of the user indicated by the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus together with the notification of the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

23. The information communication system according to claim 21,

wherein the facility-side apparatus includes appearance information storing means for storing appearance information items indicative of appearance characteristics of a plurality of users,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying one of the appearance information items stored in the appearance information storing means, the one of the appearance information items indicating the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means acquires the one of the appearance information items from the appearance information storing means and provides the notification of the appearance characteristic indicated by the one of the appearance information items together with the notification of the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

24. The information communication system according to claim 21, wherein the one of the plurality of history information items indicates the service provided in the past at the facility having the facility-side apparatus.

25. The information communication system according to claim 21, wherein the one of the plurality of history information items indicates the service provided in the past at the another facility of a category identical to a category of the facility having the facility-side apparatus.

26. The information communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted to the facility-side apparatus by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying a face-shot image as the appearance characteristic, the face-shot image showing a face of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means outputs the face-shot image of the user, the face-shot image being identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

27. The information communication system according to claim 26, further including an updating device that captures an image of the user to generate the face-shot image of the user and that transmits the face-shot image to the user-side apparatus associated with the user to perform image updating processing,

wherein the appearance information transmitting means transmits the user identifying information item to the facility-side apparatus, the user identifying information item being used for identifying, as the appearance characteristic, the face-shot image received from the updating device.

28. The information communication system according to claim 27, wherein the updating device is provided to a vehicle and captures the image of the face of the user that sits in a driver seat of the vehicle.

29. The information communication system according to claim 27, wherein the updating device performs the image updating processing after elapse of a predetermined period since a time, when the updating device previously performs the image updating processing.

30. The information communication system according to claim 29, wherein the period is set to a length that differs depending on an age of the user.

31. The information communication system according to claim 27, wherein the updating device performs the image updating processing under a circumstance where an amount of light for capturing the image is ensured.

32. The information communication system according to claim 27, wherein the updating device performs the image updating processing if the user is provided with a predetermined service at one of the facility and another facility.

33. A facility-side apparatus provided at a facility, which a user is capable of visiting, the facility-side apparatus being capable of communicating with a user-side apparatus associated with the user, the user-side apparatus including appearance information transmitting means for transmitting to the facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item related to the user, the user identifying information item being used for identifying an appearance characteristic of the user, the facility-side apparatus comprising:

output means for outputting the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

34. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the output means provides notification of the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

35. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising:

service information generating means for generating service selection information item used for selecting service to be provided to the user based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus, the user having the appearance characteristic identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus, wherein;

the output means provides notification of the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item together with notification of the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

36. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising:

history information storing means for storing a plurality of history information items indicating services provided in a past at the facility having the facility-side apparatus, wherein;

the service information generating means generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the history information storing means, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to the user that has the appearance characteristic identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

37. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 35, further including a management apparatus configured to store a plurality of history information items that indicates services provided in a past at the facility and at another facility,

wherein the service information generating means generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the management apparatus, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to both (a) the user having the appearance characteristic that is identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus and (b) the facility that has the facility-side apparatus.

38. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the one of the plurality of history information items indicates the service provided in the past at the facility having the facility-side apparatus.

39. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the one of the plurality of history information items indicates the service provided at the another facility of a category identical to a category of the facility having the facility-side apparatus.

40. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 36,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted to the facility-side apparatus by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying an identification information item unique to the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the service information generating means generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items, the one of the plurality of history information items indicating the service provided to the user corresponding to the identification information item identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

41. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 36,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted to the facility-side apparatus by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying a characteristic information item indicating a characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the service information generating means generates the service selection information item based on the one of the plurality of history information items, the one of the plurality of history information items indicating the service provided to the user corresponding to the characteristic information item identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

42. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 36,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted to the facility-side apparatus by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying a status information item indicative of a state related to the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the service information generating means generates the service selection information item based on the one of the plurality of history information items, the one of the plurality of history information items corresponding to the status information item identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

43. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 35,

wherein the user-side apparatus includes history information storing means for storing a plurality of history information items indicating services provided at the facility and at another facility in a past to a plurality of users, and

wherein the service information generating means generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the history information storing means, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to the facility having the facility-side apparatus.

44. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the one of the plurality of history information items indicates the service provided in the past at the facility having the facility-side apparatus.

45. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the one of the plurality of history information items indicates the service provided in the past at the another facility of a category identical to a category of the facility having the facility-side apparatus.

46. The facility-side apparatus according to claim 33,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted to the facility-side apparatus by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying a face-shot image as the appearance characteristic, the face-shot image showing a face of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means outputs the face-shot image of the user, the face-shot image being identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

47. A user-side apparatus associated with a user for being capable of communicating with a facility-side apparatus, the facility-side apparatus being provided at a facility, which the user is capable of visiting, the facility-side apparatus including output means for outputting an appearance characteristic of the user identified based on a user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus, the user-side apparatus comprising:

appearance information transmitting means for transmitting to the facility-side apparatus the user identifying information item related to the user of the user-side apparatus, the user identifying information item being used for identifying the appearance characteristic of the user.

48. The user-side apparatus according to claim 47, wherein:

the facility-side apparatus includes service information generating means for generating service selection information item used for selecting service to be provided to the user based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus, the user having the appearance characteristic identified based on the user identifying information item; and

the output means provides notification of the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item together with notification of the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

49. The user-side apparatus according to claim 48,

wherein the facility-side apparatus includes history information storing means for storing a plurality of history information items indicating services provided in a past at the facility having the facility-side apparatus,

wherein the service information generating means generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the history information storing means, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to the user that has the appearance characteristic identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus,

wherein the appearance information transmitting means is configured to transmit the user identifying information item that indicates the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means provides the notification of the appearance characteristic of the user indicated by the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus together with the notification of the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

50. The user-side apparatus according to claim 48, wherein:

the facility-side apparatus includes history information storing means for storing a plurality of history information items indicating services provided in a past at the facility having the facility-side apparatus; and

the facility-side apparatus includes appearance information storing means for storing appearance information items indicative of appearance characteristics of a plurality of users,

wherein the service information generating means is configured to generate the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the history information storing means, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to the user having the appearance characteristic identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus,

wherein the appearance information transmitting means is configured to transmit the user identifying information item that is used for identifying one of the appearance information items stored in the appearance information storing means, the one of the appearance information items indicating the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means acquires from the appearance information storing means the one of the appearance information items and provides the notification of the appearance characteristic indicated by the acquired one of the appearance information items together with the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

51. The user-side apparatus according to claim 48, further including a management apparatus configured to store a plurality of history information items that indicates services provided in a past at the facility and at another facility,

wherein the service information generating means of the facility-side apparatus generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the management apparatus, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to both (a) the user having the appearance characteristic that is identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus and (b) the facility that has the facility-side apparatus,

wherein the appearance information transmitting means is configured to transmit the user identifying information item that indicates the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means provides the notification of the appearance characteristic of the user indicated by the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus together with the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

52. The user-side apparatus according to claim 48, further including a management apparatus that stores a plurality of history information items indicating services provided in a past at the facilities and at another facility,

wherein the facility-side apparatus includes appearance information storing means for storing appearance information items indicative of appearance characteristics of a plurality of users,

wherein the service information generating means of the facility-side apparatus generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the management apparatus, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to both (a) the user having the appearance characteristic that is identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus and (b) the facility that has the facility-side apparatus,

wherein the appearance information transmitting means is configured to transmit the user identifying information item that is used for identifying one of appearance information items stored in the appearance information storing means, the one of appearance information items indicating the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means acquires the one of appearance information items from the appearance information storing means and provides notification of the appearance characteristic indicated by the acquired one of appearance information items together with the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

53. The user-side apparatus according to claim 48, further including a management apparatus that stores a plurality of history information items indicating services provided in a past at the facilities and at another facility,

wherein the management apparatus is configured to store appearance information items indicative of appearance characteristics of a plurality of users,

wherein the service information generating means of the facility-side apparatus generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the management apparatus, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to both (a) the user having the appearance characteristic that is identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus and (b) the facility that has the facility-side apparatus,

wherein the appearance information transmitting means is configured to transmit the user identifying information item that is used for identifying one of appearance information items stored in the management apparatus, the one of appearance information items indicating the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means acquires the one of appearance information items from the management apparatus and provides notification of the appearance characteristic indicated by the acquired one of appearance information items together with the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

54. The user-side apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the user-side apparatus includes history information storing means for storing a plurality of history information items indicating services provided at the facility and at another facility in a past to the user associated with the user-side apparatus,

wherein the service information generating means of the facility-side apparatus generates the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the history information storing means, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to the facility having the facility-side apparatus,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus indicates the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means provides the notification of the appearance characteristic of the user indicated by the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus together with the notification of the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

55. The user-side apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the user-side apparatus includes history information storing means for storing a plurality of history information items indicating services provided in a past to the user associated with the user-side apparatus at the facility and at another facility,

wherein the facility-side apparatus includes appearance information storing means for storing appearance information items indicative of appearance characteristics of a plurality of users,

wherein the service information generating means of the facility-side apparatus is configured to generate the service selection information item based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the history information storing means, the one of the plurality of history information being related to the facility having the facility-side apparatus,

wherein the appearance information transmitting means is configured to transmit the user identifying information item used for identifying one of the appearance information items stored in the appearance information storing means, the one of the appearance information items indicating the appearance characteristic of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and wherein the output means acquires the one of the appearance information items from the appearance information storing means and provides notification of the appearance characteristic indicated by the acquired one of the appearance information items together with the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means.

56. The user-side apparatus according to claim 47,

wherein the user identifying information item transmitted to the facility-side apparatus by the appearance information transmitting means of the user-side apparatus is used for identifying a face-shot image as the appearance characteristic, the face-shot image showing a face of the user associated with the user-side apparatus, and

wherein the output means outputs the face-shot image of the user, the face-shot image being identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

57. The user-side apparatus according to claim 56, further including an updating device that captures an image of the user to generate the face-shot image of the user and that transmits the face-shot image to the user-side apparatus associated with the user to perform image updating processing,

wherein the appearance information transmitting means transmits the user identifying information item to the facility-side apparatus, the user identifying information item being used for identifying, as the appearance characteristic, the face-shot image received from the updating device.

58. A status detecting device for an information communication system,

wherein the information communication system includes a user-side apparatus associated with a user, the user-side apparatus including appearance information transmitting means for transmitting to a facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item used for identifying a status information item indicative of an appearance characteristic of the user and indicative of a state related to the user, the status information item being received from the status detecting device,

wherein the system includes a facility-side apparatus provided at a facility, which the user is capable of visiting, the facility-side apparatus including history information storing means for storing a plurality of history information items indicating services provided at the facility in a past, the facility-side apparatus including service information generating means for generating a service selection information item for selecting service to be provided to the user based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the history information storing means, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to the user having the appearance characteristic identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus, the one of the plurality of history information items corresponding to the status information item identified based on the user identifying information item, the facility-side apparatus including notifying means for providing notification of the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus together with the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means, and

wherein the system includes a status detecting device mounted to a vehicle, the status detecting device comprising:

status detecting means for detecting at least one of a state of the user that sits in the vehicle and a state of the vehicle; and

status information transmitting means for transmitting the status information item indicative of the state detected by the status detecting means to the user-side apparatus.

59. A status detecting device for an information communication system,

wherein the information communication system includes a user-side apparatus associated with a user, the user-side apparatus including appearance information transmitting means for transmitting to a facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item used for identifying a status information item indicative of an appearance characteristic of the user and indicative of a state related to the user, the status information item being received from the status detecting device,

wherein the system includes a management apparatus that stores a plurality of history information items indicating services provided in a past at a plurality of facilities,

wherein the system includes a facility-side apparatus provided at a facility, which the user is capable of visiting, the facility-side apparatus including service information generating means for generating a service selection information item for selecting service to be provided to the user based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the management apparatus, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to both (a) the user having the appearance characteristic identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus and (b) the facility having facility-side apparatus, the one of the plurality of history information items corresponding to the status information item identified based on the user identifying information item, the facility-side apparatus including notifying means for providing notification of the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus together with the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means, and

wherein the system includes a status detecting device mounted to a vehicle, the status detecting device comprising:

status detecting means for detecting at least one of a state of the user that sits in the vehicle and a state of the vehicle; and

status information transmitting means for transmitting the status information item indicative of the state detected by the status detecting means to the user-side apparatus.

60. An updating device suitable for an information communication system,

wherein the system includes an updating device provided in a vehicle,

wherein the system includes a user-side apparatus associated with the user, the user-side apparatus including appearance information transmitting means for transmitting to a facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item related to the user received from the updating device, the user identifying information item being used for identifying a face-shot image of the user, and

wherein the system includes the facility-side apparatus provide at a facility, at which the user is capable of visiting, the facility-side apparatus including output means for outputting the face-shot image of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus,

the updating device comprising a capturing device that captures an image of a face of the user to generate the face-shot image and that transmits the face-shot image to the user-side apparatus associated with the user to perform image updating processing, the user sitting in a driver seat of the vehicle.

61. The updating device according to claim 60, wherein the capturing device performs the image updating processing after elapse of a predetermined period since a time, when the updating device previously performs the image updating processing.

62. The updating device according to claim 61, wherein the period is set to a length that differs depending on an age of the user.

63. The updating device according to claim 60, wherein the capturing device performs the image updating processing under a circumstance where an amount of light for capturing the image is ensured.

64. The updating device according to claim 60, wherein the updating device performs the image updating processing if the user is provided with a predetermined service at one of the facility and another facility.

65. An article manufacture for a facility-side apparatus provided at a facility, which a user is capable of visiting, the facility-side apparatus being capable of communicating with a user-side apparatus associated with the user, the user-side apparatus including appearance information transmitting means for transmitting to the facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item related to the user, the user identifying information item being used for identifying an appearance characteristic of the user, the article manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium readable by a computer; and

program instructions carried by the computer readable medium for causing the computer to serve as;

output means for outputting the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

66. An article manufacture for a user-side apparatus associated with a user for being capable of communicating with a facility-side apparatus, the facility-side apparatus being provided at a facility, which the user is capable of visiting, the facility-side apparatus including output means for outputting an appearance characteristic of the user identified based on a user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus, the article manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium readable by a computer; and

program instructions carried by the computer readable medium for causing the computer to serve as;

appearance information transmitting means for transmitting to the facility-side apparatus the user identifying information item related to the user of the user-side apparatus, the user identifying information item being used for identifying the appearance characteristic of the user.

67. An article manufacture for a status detecting device for an information communication system,

wherein the information communication system includes a user-side apparatus associated with a user, the user-side apparatus including appearance information transmitting means for transmitting to a facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item used for identifying a status information item indicative of an appearance characteristic of the user and indicative of a state related to the user, the status information item being received from the status detecting device,

wherein the system includes a facility-side apparatus provided at a facility, which the user is capable of visiting, the facility-side apparatus including history information storing means for storing a plurality of history information items indicating services provided at the facility in a past, the facility-side apparatus including service information generating means for generating a service selection information item for selecting service to be provided to the user based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the history information storing means, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to the user having the appearance characteristic identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus, the one of the plurality of history information items corresponding to the status information item identified based on the user identifying information item, the facility-side apparatus including notifying means for providing notification of the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus together with the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means, and

wherein the system includes a status detecting device mounted to a vehicle, the article manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium readable by a computer; and

program instructions carried by the computer readable medium for causing the computer to serve as;

status detecting means for detecting at least one of a state of the user that sits in the vehicle and a state of the vehicle; and

status information transmitting means for transmitting the status information item indicative of the state detected by the status detecting means to the user-side apparatus.

68. An article manufacture for a status detecting device for an information communication system,

wherein the information communication system includes a user-side apparatus associated with a user, the user-side apparatus including appearance information transmitting means for transmitting to a facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item used for identifying a status information item indicative of an appearance characteristic of the user and indicative of a state related to the user, the status information item being received from the status detecting device,

wherein the system includes a management apparatus that stores a plurality of history information items indicating services provided in a past at a plurality of facilities,

wherein the system includes a facility-side apparatus provided at a facility, which the user is capable of visiting, the facility-side apparatus including service information generating means for generating a service selection information item for selecting service to be provided to the user based on one of the plurality of history information items stored in the management apparatus, the one of the plurality of history information items being related to both (a) the user having the appearance characteristic identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus and (b) the facility having facility-side apparatus, the one of the plurality of history information items corresponding to the status information item identified based on the user identifying information item, the facility-side apparatus including notifying means for providing notification of the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus together with the service selection information item generated by the service information generating means, and

wherein the system includes a status detecting device mounted to a vehicle, the article manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium readable by a computer; and

program instructions carried by the computer readable medium for causing the computer to serve as;

status detecting means for detecting at least one of a state of the user that sits in the vehicle and a state of the vehicle; and

status information transmitting means for transmitting the status information item indicative of the state detected by the status detecting means to the user-side apparatus.

69. An article manufacture for an updating device suitable for an information communication system,

wherein the system includes an updating device provided in a vehicle,

wherein the system includes a user-side apparatus associated with the user, the user-side apparatus including appearance information transmitting means for transmitting to a facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item related to the user received from the updating device, the user identifying information item being used for identifying a face-shot image of the user, and

wherein the system includes the facility-side apparatus provide at a facility, at which the user is capable of visiting, the facility-side apparatus including output means for outputting the face-shot image of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus,

the article manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium readable by a computer; and

program instructions carried by the computer readable medium for causing the computer to serve as;

a capturing device that captures an image of a face of the user to generate the face-shot image and that transmits the face-shot image to the user-side apparatus associated with the user to perform image updating processing, the user sitting in a driver seat of the vehicle.