Scent output control device and scent output control method

A scent output control method, comprising:

• in a scent output control device that includes circuitry:
• receiving, by the circuitry, a first image of outside an automobile captured by a first vehicle camera;
• detecting, by the circuitry, a first advertisement from the first image captured outside the automobile;
• analyzing, by the circuitry, a position of the detected first advertisement and a direction of the detected first advertisement;
• determining, by the circuitry, the analyzed position of the detected first advertisement matches a position of a second advertisement registered in advertisement correspondence scent management data;
• determining, by the circuitry, the analyzed direction of the detected first advertisement matches a direction of the second advertisement;
• obtaining, by the circuitry, first registration information based on:
• the determination that the analyzed position of the detected first advertisement matches the position of the second advertisement, and
• the determination that the analyzed direction of the detected first advertisement matches the direction of the second advertisement;
• obtaining, by the circuitry, occupant information of an occupant of the automobile, wherein the occupant information includes at least one of gender information of the occupant, age information of the occupant, or presence of the occupant in the automobile;
• determining, by the circuitry, a match level between the obtained first registration information and the obtained occupant information;
• obtaining, by the circuitry, seat information of the occupant based on the match level between the obtained first registration information and the obtained occupant information, wherein the obtained seat information corresponds to a position of a specific seat;
• selecting, by the circuitry, based on the obtained seat information of the occupant and the detected first advertisement, a scent to be output;
• detecting, by the circuitry, a speed of the automobile and a traveling direction of the automobile;
• controlling, by the circuitry, an intensity of the selected scent based on at least one of the detected speed of the automobile or the detected traveling direction of the automobile, wherein
• the scent output control device is mountable on the automobile, and
• the intensity of the selected scent is inversely proportional to a distance between the automobile and the first advertisement;
• and
• outputting, by the circuitry, a scent output control signal to control a scent output unit to output the scent of the controlled intensity towards the specific seat.

A scent output control system, comprising:

• a scent output control device that includes circuitry configured to:
• receive an image of outside an automobile captured by a vehicle camera;
• detect a first advertisement from the image captured outside the automobile;
• analyze a position of the detected first advertisement and a direction of the detected first advertisement;
• determine the analyzed position of the detected first advertisement matches a position of a second advertisement registered in advertisement correspondence scent management data;
• determine the analyzed direction of the detected first advertisement matches a direction of the second advertisement;
• obtain registration information based on:
• the determination that the analyzed position of the detected first advertisement matches the position of the second advertisement, and
• the determination that the analyzed direction of the detected first advertisement matches the direction of the second advertisement;
• obtain occupant information of an occupant of the automobile, wherein the occupant information includes at least one of gender information of the occupant, age information of the occupant, or presence of the occupant in the automobile;
• determine a match level between the obtained registration information and the obtained occupant information;
• obtain seat information of the occupant based on the match level between the obtained registration information and the obtained occupant information, wherein the obtained seat information corresponds to a position of a specific seat;
• select, based on the obtained seat information of the occupant and the detected first advertisement, a scent to be output;
• detect a speed of the automobile and a traveling direction of the automobile;
• control an intensity of the selected scent based on at least one of the detected speed of the automobile or the detected traveling direction of the automobile, wherein
• the scent output control device is mountable on the automobile, and
• the intensity of the selected scent is inversely proportional to a distance between the automobile and the first advertisement;
• and
• output a scent output control signal;
• and
• a scent output unit configured to output the scent of the controlled intensity towards the specific seat based on the scent output control signal.