Reader Device, Information Providing System, and Provided Information Acquisition Method

An information providing system, comprising:

• a reader device;
• a database device;
• and
• an information providing device, wherein:
• the reader device which is carried by a user and includes carrier identification information reader unit reading carrier identification information for identifying a data carrier in a non-contact state from the data carrier, includes:
• a reading time counting unit counting a number of times of reading by the carrier identification information reader unit with respect to the carrier identification information read by the carrier identification information reader unit;
• a user correlation unit selecting at least one carrier identification information from carrier identification information read by the carrier identification information reader unit according to the number of times counted by the reading time counting unit, and correlating the selected carrier identification information with the user;
• and
• an information transmission unit transmitting the carrier identification information correlated by the user correlation unit to the database device;
• the database device includes a carrier identification information storage unit storing the carrier identification information transmitted from the information transmission unit in correlation with the user;
• and
• the information providing device includes:
• a carrier identification information reader unit reading at least one carrier identification information for identifying a data carrier in a non-contact state from the data carrier;
• and
• an information providing unit performing predetermined information providing processing regarding the user when the carrier identification information stored in correlation with the user in the carrier identification information storage unit is contained in the read carrier identification information.

A reader device which recognizes a data carrier capable of receiving and transmitting a radio wave from among a plurality of data carriers set at a plurality of locations respectively, for reading provided information from provided information storage unit which stores data carrier identification information for identifying the data carrier in correlation with the provided information and providing the read provided information to a user, comprising:

• an adjacent data carrier identification information storage unit storing adjacent data carrier identification information indicating a data carrier set at a location adjacent to a location at which the each of the data carriers is set, in correlation with each of the data carriers;
• a destination data carrier identification information acquisition unit acquiring destination data carrier identification information for identifying a data carrier set at a destination of the user;
• a data carrier series acquisition unit acquiring a plurality of data carrier series containing a plurality of data carrier identification information indicating a route of the user from a current location to the destination based on a data carrier actually recognized, the data carrier indicated by the destination data carrier identification information, and the adjacent data carrier identification information stored in the adjacent data carrier identification information storage unit;
• and
• a provided information acquisition unit acquiring the provided information stored in the provided information storage unit in correlation with the data carrier identification information indicating at least a part of the plurality of data carriers contained in the plurality of data carrier series.

A provided information acquisition method of acquiring provided information regarding a moving destination prior to a movement of a user, which uses a reader device which recognizes a data carrier capable of receiving and transmitting a radio wave from among a plurality of data carriers set at a plurality of locations respectively, for reading provided information from provided information storage unit which stores data carrier identification information for identifying the data carrier in correlation with the provided information and providing the read provided information to the user, the method comprising:

• a destination data carrier identification information acquisition step of acquiring destination data carrier identification information for identifying a data carrier set at a destination of the user;
• a data carrier series acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of data carrier series containing a plurality of data carrier identification information indicating a route of the user from a current location to the destination based on a data carrier actually recognized, the data carrier indicated by the destination data carrier identification information, and adjacent data carrier identification information indicating a data carrier set at a location adjacent to a location at which each of the data carriers is set;
• and
• a provided information acquisition step of acquiring the provided information stored in the provided information storage unit in correlation with the data carrier identification information indicating at least apart of the plurality of data carriers contained in each of the plurality of data carrier series.