Intelligent agent control device, intelligent agent control method and recording medium having intelligent agent control program recorded thereon

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an intelligent agent control device, an intelligent agent control method, and a recording medium having an intelligent agent control program recorded thereon, which can smoothly implement the selection of an intelligent agent according to the communication mode between the vehicle and an intelligent agent server when a user selects an intelligent agent that can be used while riding in a vehicle. The intelligent agent control device (12) obtains setting information related to the communication mode between the vehicle and multiple intelligent agent servers. The intelligent agent control device (12) selects one of the multiple intelligent agent servers based on the obtained setting information. The intelligent agent control device (12) performs control in a manner of outputting voice information of an intelligent agent corresponding to the selected intelligent agent server.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an intelligent agent control device, an intelligent agent control method, and a recording medium having an intelligent agent control program recorded thereon. Background Art

[0002] A technology for controlling the operation of two agents has long been known. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-189984 discloses a technology for determining which of the two agents is to respond based on agent information such as keywords for identifying the agents as a voice dialogue method for utilizing the services of the two agents. Summary of the invention

[0003] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] In addition, there is a case where an intelligent agent such as that disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-189984 can be used in a vehicle. When the intelligent agent is used in a vehicle, the intelligent agent conducts a conversation between itself and the user by voice, and executes a process reflecting the content of the conversation. Moreover, the intelligent agent outputs the execution result of the process reflecting the content of the conversation via a device in the vehicle.

[0005] In addition, there is a case where multiple agents can be used in a vehicle. In this case, an agent to be used is selected from multiple agents. Here, when the agent works in an external server (hereinafter referred to as an "agent server"), communication is required between the vehicle and the agent server.

[0006] When multiple agents are operating in different agent servers, it becomes a problem to select which agent server to use. In this regard, when a vehicle communicates with multiple agent servers, it is necessary to consider the communication mode such as the communication speed and communication cost.

[0007] However, the technology of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-189984 only discloses an agent that selects a work object by using a keyword that identifies the agent, and does not consider a scenario in which multiple agents can be used in a vehicle. In addition, the technology of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-189984 does not consider the communication form between the vehicle and the agent server.

[0008] Therefore, when using the technology disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Gazette No. 2018-189984, there is a problem that when a user selects an available intelligent agent while riding in a vehicle, the selection of the intelligent agent cannot be smoothly implemented according to the communication form between the vehicle and the intelligent agent server.

[0009] Taking the above facts into consideration, the present disclosure provides an intelligent agent control device, an intelligent agent control method, and a recording medium having an intelligent agent control program recorded thereon, which can smoothly implement the selection of an intelligent agent according to the communication form between the vehicle and the intelligent agent server when a user selects an available intelligent agent while riding in a vehicle.

[0010] Methods for solving problems

[0011] The first type of intelligent body control device is an intelligent body control device as follows, including: an acquisition unit, which acquires setting information related to the communication mode between the communication device in the vehicle and multiple intelligent body servers; a selection unit, which selects one of the multiple intelligent body servers based on the setting information acquired by the acquisition unit; and a control unit, which controls in a manner of outputting voice information of the intelligent body corresponding to the intelligent body server selected by the selection unit.

[0012] The first mode of the intelligent agent control device obtains setting information related to the communication mode between the communication device in the vehicle and multiple intelligent agent servers. In addition, the first mode of the intelligent agent implements a conversation between it and the user by voice, and executes a process reflecting the content of the conversation. The intelligent agent outputs the execution result of the process reflecting the content of the conversation via the equipment in the vehicle. The intelligent agent is implemented by a predetermined computer execution program. Then, the intelligent agent control device selects one of the multiple intelligent agent servers based on the obtained setting information. Moreover, the intelligent agent control device is controlled in a manner of outputting voice information of the intelligent agent corresponding to the selected intelligent agent server. Thereby, when the user selects the available intelligent agent while riding in the vehicle, the selection of the intelligent agent can be smoothly implemented according to the communication mode between the vehicle and the intelligent agent server.

[0013] The setting information of the agent control device of the second mode is information pre-set with the following priority, the priority indicating which communication mode is given priority in the communication between the communication device in the vehicle and the plurality of agent servers, and the selection unit selects the agent server with the highest priority with reference to the setting information obtained by the acquisition unit. Thus, the selection of agents can be implemented more smoothly according to the priority of the communication mode.

[0014] The selection unit of the agent control device of the third mode displays the agent selection screen corresponding to the agent server with the highest priority when selecting the agent server, and determines the selection of the agent corresponding to the agent server when the agent displayed on the selection screen is selected by the user. Thus, the agent selection can be implemented more smoothly in consideration of the user's intention.

[0015] The fourth type of intelligent agent control method is an intelligent agent control method in which a computer performs the following processing, wherein the processing is: obtaining setting information related to the communication mode between a communication device in a vehicle and a plurality of intelligent agent servers, selecting one of the plurality of intelligent agent servers based on the obtained setting information, and controlling the intelligent agent by outputting voice information of an intelligent agent corresponding to the selected intelligent agent server.

[0016] The fifth mode of recording a recording medium having an intelligent agent control program is a recording medium having an intelligent agent control program for causing a processor to execute the following processing, wherein the processing is: obtaining setting information related to the communication mode between a communication device in a vehicle and a plurality of intelligent agent servers, selecting one of the plurality of intelligent agent servers based on the obtained setting information, and controlling the intelligent agent by outputting voice information of an intelligent agent corresponding to the selected intelligent agent server.

[0017] Effects of the Invention

[0018] As described above, according to the present disclosure, when a user selects an agent that can be used while riding in a vehicle, the agent selection can be smoothly implemented according to the communication mode between the vehicle and the agent server. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 This is an explanatory diagram for describing the outline of this embodiment.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic block diagram of the intelligent agent control system involved in this embodiment.

[0021] Figure 3 A diagram showing an example of the structure of a computer of an intelligent body control device.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an example of setting information.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed in the agent control device according to the embodiment.

[0024] Figure 6 A diagram showing an example of a selection screen displayed on the touch panel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] <Implementation Method>

[0026] Hereinafter, the agent control system according to the embodiment will be described using the drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 This is an explanatory diagram for describing the outline of this embodiment. Figure 1 2 is a diagram showing a scene when user A is riding in a vehicle. User A has a portable terminal 20 such as a smartphone. Figure 1 , a touch panel 14 is shown as an example of a display device for displaying various information in a vehicle. The touch panel 14 and the portable terminal 20 are connected to an agent control device (not shown) to be described below.

[0028] In this embodiment, user A uses an agent capable of voice conversation in a vehicle. The agent of this embodiment conducts a voice conversation with user A and executes a process reflecting the content of the conversation. The agent outputs the execution result of the process reflecting the content of the conversation via a device in the vehicle. The agent of this embodiment is realized by executing a predetermined program on an agent server (omitted in the figure) described below.

[0029] For example, there is a case where user A wants to use an agent that is usually used in the portable terminal 20 in the vehicle. Or, there is a case where user A wants to use an agent that is used at home in the vehicle. Or, there is a case where user A wants to use an agent that can only be used in the vehicle in the vehicle. Therefore, one agent to be used in the vehicle is selected from multiple agents.

[0030] In addition, the multiple agents available in the vehicle are realized by multiple different agent servers. In this case, when the vehicle communicates with the multiple agent servers, it is necessary to consider the communication mode such as the communication speed and communication cost.

[0031] For example, it is expected that since the agent operating in the portable terminal 20 needs to communicate between the portable terminal 20 and the external agent server, the communication speed will be slow and the communication fee will be high. On the other hand, for example, there is a case where the communication speed between a specific agent server and the vehicle is fast and the communication fee is cheap.

[0032] Therefore, when multiple agents can be used in the vehicle, the agent control device of this embodiment selects the agent of the object to be used by the user in the vehicle according to the communication form between the agent server and the vehicle on which the multiple agents operate. Thus, when multiple agents can be used in the vehicle, the selection of the agent can be smoothly implemented according to the communication form between the vehicle and the agent server.

[0033] The following will provide a detailed description.

[0034] Figure 2 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of the agent control system 10 according to the embodiment. Figure 2 As shown, the agent control system 10 includes an agent control device 12, a touch panel 14, a speaker 16, a microphone 18, a communication device 19, a portable terminal 20, a first agent server 22A, a second agent server 22B, and a third agent server 22C. The agent control device 12, the touch panel 14, the speaker 16, the microphone 18, and the communication device 19 are installed in a vehicle.

[0035] (Intelligent body control device)

[0036] like Figure 2 As shown, the intelligent body control device 12 includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 51 and a storage unit 53 .

[0037] More specifically, the intelligent body control device 12 can, for example, Figure 3 The computer that realizes the intelligent body control device 12 includes a CPU 51, a memory 52 as a temporary storage area, and a non-volatile storage unit 53. In addition, the computer includes an input / output interface (I / F) 54 for connecting to an input / output device (omitted in the figure), and a read / write (R / W) unit 55 that controls the reading and writing of data to a recording medium 59. In addition, the computer includes a network I / F 56 for connecting to a network such as the Internet. The CPU 51, the memory 52, the storage unit 53, the input / output I / F 54, the R / W unit 55, and the network I / F 56 are connected to each other via a bus 57.

[0038] The storage unit 53 can be implemented by a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, etc. In the storage unit 53 as a storage medium, a program for making the computer function is stored. The CPU 51 reads the program from the storage unit 53 and expands it in the memory 52, and sequentially executes the processes of the program.

[0039] like Figure 2 As shown, the CPU 51 of the agent control device 12 functionally includes an acquisition unit 510, a selection unit 512, and a control unit 514. The processing of the acquisition unit 510, the selection unit 512, and the control unit 514 will be described below.

[0040] In addition, if Figure 2 As shown, the storage unit 53 of the agent control device 12 stores setting information 530. The setting information 530 is information related to the communication mode between the vehicle and a plurality of agent servers.

[0041] Figure 4 1 is a diagram showing an example of setting information 530 stored in the storage unit 53. In the setting information 530, an ID as identification information of an agent server, a name of the agent server, a name of an agent operating in the agent server, information related to the communication mode between the agent server and a vehicle, and a priority of the agent server are associated with each other.

[0042] Priority is information indicating which communication mode is given priority in the communication between the communication device 19 in the vehicle and the plurality of agent servers. The smaller the number indicating the priority, the higher the priority of the agent server with the communication device 19 in the vehicle. The priority is set, for example, based on the communication fee and the communication speed. In this case, the priority is set higher when the communication speed is faster, and the priority is set higher when the communication fee is cheaper.

[0043] For example, in a case where the cost associated with the communication mode between the communication device 19 and the first intelligent server 22A is lower than the cost associated with the communication mode between the communication device 19 and the second intelligent server 22B, the priority of the communication mode between the first intelligent server 22A is set to be higher than that of the second intelligent server 22B.

[0044] In addition, when the user has signed a more special contract regarding the communication mode with the second intelligent server 22B (for example, when an additional data package is purchased regarding the communication mode with the second intelligent server 22B), the priority of the communication mode with the second intelligent server 22B is set to be higher than that of other intelligent servers.

[0045] In addition, the priority of connecting to an external agent server (not shown) via the user's portable terminal 20 may be reflected in the setting information. For example, when the user uses the agent operating in the portable terminal 20, the portable terminal 20 needs to use the communication network used by the portable terminal 20 for the external agent server (not shown). In this case, since the communication fee becomes expensive, the priority corresponding to this may also be set.

[0046] In addition, the setting information 530 may be acquired by the acquisition unit 510 and stored in the storage unit 53 each time the agent activation process described below is executed.

[0047] The touch panel 14 is connected to the agent control device 12 via the input / output I / F 54. The touch panel 14 displays an arbitrary image. In addition, the touch panel 14 receives operation information from the user.

[0048] The speaker 16 is connected to the agent control device 12 via the input / output I / F 54 and outputs speech.

[0049] The microphone 18 is connected to the agent control device 12 via the input / output I / F 54 and acquires speech uttered in the vehicle.

[0050] The communication device 19 is connected to the agent control device 12 via the network I / F 56. The agent control device 12 exchanges information with the first agent server 22A, the second agent server 22B, and the third agent server 22C via the communication device 19. In addition, the communication device 19 is connected to the first agent server 22A, the second agent server 22B, and the third agent server 22C via a communication network such as the Internet.

[0051] Likewise, the body control device 12 and the portable terminal 20 exchange information via the communication device 19. The body control device 12 and the portable terminal 20 are connected, for example, by a predetermined short-distance communication.

[0052] (Intelligent Server)

[0053] like Figure 2 As shown, the agent control system 10 of the present embodiment includes a first agent server 22A, a second agent server 22B, and a third agent server 22C.

[0054] The first agent server 22A, the second agent server 22B, and the third agent server 22C are servers for making the agents work. Each agent is realized by making the first agent server 22A, the second agent server 22B, and the third agent server 22C execute a predetermined program respectively. In addition, in this embodiment, agent X works in the first agent server 22A, agent Y works in the second agent server 22B, and agent Z works in the third agent server 22C.

[0055] (Portable Terminal)

[0056] The portable terminal 20 is, for example, a smart phone held and used by a user in a vehicle. The user in the vehicle can also use the agent operating in the portable terminal 20. In addition, in the portable terminal 20 of the present embodiment, the agent W operates. In fact, the agent W operating in the portable terminal 20 is implemented in an external agent server (not shown).

[0057] Next, the operation of the agent control system 10 according to the embodiment will be described.

[0058] When receiving a signal indicating that the user is using an agent in the vehicle, the agent control device 12 executes Figure 5 The agent control processing routine shown.

[0059] For example, in a case where a button indicating the start of an intelligent agent (not shown) is provided near the steering device of the vehicle, when the user long presses the button to issue an indication signal for starting the intelligent agent, the intelligent agent control device 12 executes the intelligent agent control processing routine.

[0060] In step S100 , the acquisition unit 510 of the CPU 51 of the agent control device 12 acquires setting information related to the communication mode between the vehicle agent control device 12 and a plurality of agent servers. Then, the acquisition unit 510 temporarily stores the setting information 530 in the storage unit 53 .

[0061] For example, in step S100, the acquisition unit 510 acquires Figure 4 The setting information 530 as shown in the figure is temporarily stored in the storage unit 53. For example, the acquisition unit 510 acquires the setting information 530 from the respective storage units (not shown) of the portable terminal 20, the first agent server 22A, the second agent server 22B, and the third agent server 22C. In addition, the acquisition unit 510 may also acquire the setting information 530 from other external servers.

[0062] In step S102, the selection unit 512 of the CPU 51 of the agent control device 12 reads the setting information 530 stored in the storage unit 53 in step S100. Then, based on the setting information 530, the selection unit 512 selects one of the plurality of agent servers.

[0063] For example, the selection unit 512 refers to the setting information 530 and selects the agent server with the highest priority. Figure 4 The priority in the setting information 530 is that the agent server 22A has the highest priority. Therefore, the selection unit 512 selects the agent server 22A with the highest priority.

[0064] In step S104, the control unit 514 performs control in such a manner as to output the voice information of the agent corresponding to the agent server selected in the above step S102.

[0065] For example, when the agent server 22A is selected, the control unit 514 transmits a control signal to the first agent server 22A via the communication device 19 to instruct the agent X of the first agent server 22A to operate. As a result, the agent X of the first agent server 22A operates, and the user in the vehicle starts a conversation with the agent X via the speaker 16 and the microphone 18.

[0066] As described above, the agent control device 12 of the agent control system 10 involved in this embodiment obtains setting information related to the communication mode between the vehicle and multiple agent servers. The agent control device 12 selects one of the multiple agent servers based on the obtained setting information. The agent control device 12 controls in a manner of outputting voice information of the agent corresponding to the selected agent server. Therefore, when the user selects the agent that can be used while riding in the vehicle, the selection of the agent can be smoothly implemented according to the communication mode between the vehicle and the agent server.

[0067] In addition, although the processing performed by each device in the above-mentioned embodiment is described as software processing performed by executing a program, it can also be a processing performed by hardware. Alternatively, it can also be a processing that combines both software and hardware. In addition, the program stored in the ROM can also be stored in various storage media and circulated.

[0068] Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above contents, and can of course be implemented with various modifications other than the above within the scope not departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0069] For example, the following method may be adopted, that is, when the selection unit 512 of the CPU 51 selects an intelligent agent server, a selection screen of an intelligent agent corresponding to the intelligent agent server with the highest priority in the setting information 530 is displayed on the touch panel 14, and when the intelligent agent displayed on the selection screen is selected by the user, the selection of the intelligent agent corresponding to the intelligent agent server is confirmed.

[0070] Alternatively, for example, the following method may be adopted, that is, the selection unit 512 of the CPU 51 makes Figure 6 The selection screen shown is displayed on the touch panel 14, and the agent server selected by the user is selected. Figure 6 The example shown is an example in which the priority of the agent X operating in the agent server 22A is the highest, and the priority of the agent W operating in the portable terminal 20 is the lowest. Figure 6 The example shown displays not only a list of agents but also information related to their communication modes, and the user selects an agent to be used by referring to this information.

[0071] Explanation of symbols

[0072] 10…Agent control systems;

[0073] 12…Intelligent body control device;

[0074] 14…Touch panel;

[0075] 19…communication devices;

[0076] 20…Portable terminal;

[0077] 22A ... a first agent server;

[0078] 22B ... a second agent server;

[0079] 22C…third agent server;

[0080] 51…CPU;

[0081] 53…storage unit;

[0082] 510…Acquisition Department;

[0083] 512…Selection Department;

[0084] 514…Control Department;

[0085] 530…Setting information.

Claims

1. An intelligent agent control device, comprising a memory and a processor connected to the memory, wherein: The processor is configured to: acquiring information related to the communication mode between the communication device in the vehicle and the plurality of agent servers, and information related to the communication mode between the portable terminal held by the user in the vehicle and the agent server, Based on the acquired information related to the communication form, the following screen is displayed on the display unit, and an agent server corresponding to an agent selected by the user is selected, wherein the screen is a screen for selecting an agent corresponding to the agent server, and is a screen that displays a list of agents working in each of a plurality of agent servers, information related to the communication form between the agent server and the communication device in the vehicle, and information related to the communication form between the agent server and the portable terminal. Control is performed in a manner of outputting voice information of an agent corresponding to the selected agent server, The list of agents also includes agents operating in the portable terminal, In the screen, the priority of each of the plurality of agents is also displayed in such a manner that the priority of the agent operating in the portable terminal is the lowest. When a user purchases an additional data package regarding a communication mode with one of a plurality of agent servers, the priority of the communication mode with the one agent server is set higher than the priorities of the other agent servers.

2. A method for controlling an intelligent agent, wherein a processor performs the following processing, namely: acquiring information related to the communication mode between the communication device in the vehicle and the plurality of agent servers, and information related to the communication mode between the portable terminal held by the user in the vehicle and the agent server, Based on the acquired information related to the communication form, the following screen is displayed on the display unit, and an agent server corresponding to an agent selected by the user is selected, wherein the screen is a screen for selecting an agent corresponding to the agent server, and is a screen that displays a list of agents working in each of a plurality of agent servers, information related to the communication form between the agent server and the communication device in the vehicle, and information related to the communication form between the agent server and the portable terminal. Control is performed in a manner of outputting voice information of an agent corresponding to the selected agent server, The list of agents also includes agents operating in the portable terminal, In the screen, the priority of each of the plurality of agents is also displayed in such a manner that the priority of the agent operating in the portable terminal is the lowest. When a user purchases an additional data package regarding a communication mode with one of a plurality of agent servers, the priority of the communication mode with the one agent server is set higher than the priorities of the other agent servers.

3. A recording medium having an agent control program recorded thereon, wherein the agent control program is used to cause a processor to execute the following processing, namely: acquiring information related to the communication mode between the communication device in the vehicle and the plurality of agent servers, and information related to the communication mode between the portable terminal held by the user in the vehicle and the agent server, Based on the acquired information related to the communication form, the following screen is displayed on the display unit, and an agent server corresponding to an agent selected by the user is selected, wherein the screen is a screen for selecting an agent corresponding to the agent server, and is a screen that displays a list of agents working in each of a plurality of agent servers, information related to the communication form between the agent server and the communication device in the vehicle, and information related to the communication form between the agent server and the portable terminal. Control is performed in a manner of outputting voice information of an agent corresponding to the selected agent server, The list of agents also includes agents operating in the portable terminal, In the screen, the priority of each of the plurality of agents is also displayed in such a manner that the priority of the agent operating in the portable terminal is the lowest. When a user purchases an additional data package regarding a communication mode with one of a plurality of agent servers, the priority of the communication mode with the one agent server is set higher than the priorities of the other agent servers.

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