Notification device and notification method

Abstract

To provide a notification device and notification method that allows a driver to perform necessary operations calmly even when the driver is late to notice a notification about the approach between a vehicle driven by the driver and an object.SOLUTION: A notification device 100a includes: a detection section 101 that detects an object present around a specific vehicle 50; a travel information acquisition section 112 that acquires travel information representing a traveling state of the specific vehicle 50; an area setting section 103 that sets an area of a size according to the travel information around the specific vehicle 50; and a notification section 104 that notifies the driver of the specific vehicle 50 of the presence of the object when the object is detected in the area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an alarm device and an alarm method. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, various technologies for assisting driving of a vehicle have been proposed. For example, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, when a driving assistance device approaches a vehicle equipped with the device, the driving assistance device notifies the driver of the approach by using a sound. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-20160 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] According to the driving support device disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to notify the driver of the approach of another vehicle. However, there are cases where the driver does not immediately notice this notification. For example, when the driver's attention is reduced, the driver may be late in noticing the notification informing the presence of another vehicle. If the driver is late in noticing the notification, the driver needs to hastily perform the action required when approaching another vehicle.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an alarm device and an alarm method that enable a driver to take necessary actions without panicking even if the driver is late in noticing the approach of an object to the vehicle he or she is driving. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The notification device according to the first aspect includes: A detection unit that detects an object present around a specific vehicle; a travel information acquisition unit that acquires travel information representing a travel state of the specific vehicle; an area setting unit that sets an area around the specific vehicle having a size corresponding to the travel information; a notification unit that notifies a driver of the specific vehicle of the presence of the object when the object is detected within the area; has.

[0007] In the notification method according to the second aspect, Acquire driving information representing a driving state of a specific vehicle; A region having a size corresponding to the travel information is set around the specific vehicle; If an object is detected within the area, the driver of the specific vehicle is notified of the presence of the object. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an alarm device and an alarm method that enable a driver to take necessary actions without panicking even if the driver is late in noticing an approach between the vehicle he or she is driving and an object. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an alarm system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of operations of the notification device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an alarm system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of operations of the notification device according to the second embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an alarm system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 6] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of operations of the notification device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 7]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer that realizes the processing of the notification device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In order to clarify the description, the following description and drawings are omitted and simplified as appropriate. In each drawing, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions are omitted as necessary. In addition, the execution order of the processes shown in the flowchart or sequence chart is merely an example, and the execution order can be appropriately changed as long as no technical contradiction occurs. In addition, the features of each embodiment can be combined as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

[0011] <Embodiment 1> 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a notification system 10 according to a first embodiment. The notification system 10 is a system that notifies a driver of a vehicle 50 of the approach of an object such as another vehicle, and includes a notification device 100, a sensor device 200, and a speaker 300. Note that the vehicle 50 is, for example, an automobile that runs on four or more wheels, but may also be a motorcycle or the like.

[0012] The sensor device 200 is a group of devices that perform sensing to obtain information necessary for the processing of the notification device 100. The sensor device 200 is provided in the vehicle 50 or is owned by the driver or a passenger of the vehicle 50. The sensor device 200 may include a plurality of sensor devices, or may include a plurality of types of sensor devices. The sensor device 200 may include a camera that captures an image of the periphery of the vehicle 50 for processing by the detection unit 101 described later, or may include a LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) or a millimeter wave radar that measures the periphery of the vehicle 50. The camera, LiDAR, and millimeter wave radar may be used for processing by the environmental information acquisition unit 102 described later. The sensor device 200 may also include a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) or a microphone for processing by the environmental information acquisition unit 102. These are merely examples of the sensor device 200, and other known devices may be used as the sensor device 200 to obtain information necessary for the processing of the notification device 100.

[0013] The speaker 300 is a speaker that outputs sound for notification in response to processing by the notification device 100. The speaker 300 outputs sound to the driver of the vehicle 50. The speaker 300 may include a plurality of speakers. In this case, the speakers may be disposed in a dispersed manner so as to surround the driver. For example, the speakers 300 may be disposed in a dispersed manner on the right side, left side, rear, front, etc. of the driver.

[0014] 1, the notification device 100 includes a detection unit 101, an environmental information acquisition unit 102, an area setting unit 103, and a notification unit 104. In this embodiment, the notification device 100 is mounted on the vehicle 50 or carried by the driver or a passenger of the vehicle 50, but a part or all of the components of the notification device 100 may be included in a device external to the vehicle 50, such as a server.

[0015] The detection unit 101 detects an object existing around the specific vehicle. Here, the specific vehicle is a vehicle driven by a driver who receives the notification, and in this embodiment, it is the vehicle 50. The specific vehicle may be expressed as a vehicle of interest. In this embodiment, the specific vehicle (vehicle of interest) can also be said to be a vehicle equipped with the notification device 100. In addition, in this embodiment and the embodiment described later, the object detected by the detection unit 101 is, as an example, another vehicle, that is, a vehicle existing around the vehicle 50. However, the object detected by the detection unit 101 may be an object that the driver should be careful of approaching, and may not necessarily be another vehicle. For example, the object detected by the detection unit 101 may be a moving object such as a person or a bicycle, a structure such as a building, a utility pole, or a guardrail, or a boundary line (e.g., a white line or a yellow line) existing on the road surface to divide lanes. In addition, when the object detected by the detection unit 101 is another vehicle, the notification device 100 notifies the approach of the vehicle 50 and the other vehicle, so that the driver of the vehicle 50 can be alerted to tailgating by the driver of the vehicle 50 against the other vehicle or tailgating by the driver of the other vehicle against the vehicle 50. The other vehicle detected by the detection unit 101 may be a following vehicle or a preceding vehicle traveling in the same lane as the vehicle 50, or a vehicle traveling in an adjacent lane to the lane in which the vehicle 50 is traveling. The adjacent lane may be an oncoming lane. The other vehicle detected by the detection unit 101 may be a vehicle parked on the road or the like. The other vehicle detected by the detection unit 101 may be an automobile traveling with four or more wheels, a motorcycle, or the like.

[0016] The detection unit 101 detects an object such as another vehicle present around the vehicle 50 by using the sensing result of the sensor device 200. The detection unit 101 also specifies the distance between the detected object and the vehicle 50 by using the sensing result of the sensor device 200. The detection unit 101 then determines whether or not an object exists within a region set by the region setting unit 103 described later. The detection unit 101 may perform these processes by using an image output from the sensor device 200 as a camera that captures the periphery of the vehicle 50, or may perform these processes by using measurement data output from the sensor device 200 as a distance measuring device such as LiDAR or millimeter wave radar. When using an image from a camera that captures the periphery of the vehicle 50, the detection unit 101 may detect the other vehicle by using a known image recognition technology. In this case, for example, the detection unit 101 may estimate the distance between the vehicle 50 and the other vehicle from the size of the license plate of the other vehicle in the image, or may estimate the distance of the other vehicle from the position of the ground contact part (for example, a tire) of the other vehicle in the image. However, the detection unit 101 may detect objects present around the vehicle 50 and identify the distance thereto using known techniques, and the specific processing method is not limited to the above-mentioned processing method.

[0017] The environmental information acquisition unit 102 acquires environmental information representing characteristics of an environment in which a specific vehicle (i.e., the vehicle 50) is driven. The environmental information acquisition unit 102 may acquire the environmental information using a sensing result of the sensor device 200, or may acquire the environmental information using a processing result of the detection unit 101. It is preferable that the environmental information acquired by the environmental information acquisition unit 102 is information representing characteristics of the environment that may affect the attention of the driver of the vehicle 50.

[0018] The environmental information may be, for example, information indicating the number of other vehicles traveling around the vehicle 50. In this case, the environmental information acquisition unit 102 acquires the number of other vehicles currently traveling around the vehicle 50 based on the processing result of the detection unit 101. When there are many other vehicles traveling around the vehicle 50, it is expected that even a slight lack of attention will lead to a traffic accident, so the driver of the vehicle 50 is required to drive the vehicle 50 while paying more attention than when there are few other vehicles traveling around the vehicle 50. In other words, driving on an empty road is more likely to result in a state of absent-minded driving with reduced attention than when driving on a congested road. For this reason, the number of other vehicles currently traveling around the vehicle 50 may be acquired as environmental information to be referred to for setting an area to be described later.

[0019] The environmental information may also be information indicating whether a predetermined condition is satisfied. Here, the predetermined condition may be a condition that the vehicle 50 is traveling on a predetermined road. That is, the environmental information may be information indicating whether the vehicle 50 is traveling on a predetermined road. Here, the predetermined road is, for example, a road on which there are no traffic lights for a predetermined distance or more. The predetermined road may also be, for example, a road on which there are no traffic lights or stop signs for a predetermined distance or more. The predetermined road may also be an expressway. When there are many traffic lights and stop signs on the road on which the vehicle 50 is traveling, the driver of the vehicle 50 needs to always pay attention to the presence of traffic lights and stop signs, and is therefore required to drive the vehicle 50 with more attention than when the road on which the vehicle 50 is traveling is a road or expressway on which there are no traffic lights or stop signs for a predetermined distance or more. In other words, driving on a road or expressway on which there are no traffic lights or stop signs for a predetermined distance or more is more likely to result in a state of absent-minded driving with reduced attention than when driving on a road on which there are many traffic lights and stop signs. For this reason, the environmental information acquisition unit 102 may acquire information indicating whether or not the vehicle 50 is traveling on a predetermined road as environmental information to be referred to for setting an area described later. The environmental information acquisition unit 102 acquires information indicating whether or not the vehicle 50 is traveling on a predetermined road, for example, based on a sensing result of the sensor device 200. Specifically, the environmental information acquisition unit 102 may acquire environmental information indicating whether or not the vehicle 50 is traveling on a predetermined road by determining whether or not the vehicle 50 is traveling on a predetermined road using position data of the vehicle 50 output from the GNSS and map data including road characteristics. In addition, the environmental information acquisition unit 102 may acquire environmental information indicating whether or not the vehicle 50 is traveling on a predetermined road by determining whether or not a traffic light or a stop sign exists on the road on which the vehicle 50 is traveling, based on an image from a camera that captures the periphery of the vehicle 50.

[0020] The above-mentioned predetermined condition may be a condition that the volume inside the vehicle 50 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. That is, the environmental information may be information indicating whether the volume inside the vehicle 50 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The volume inside the vehicle 50 is, for example, the volume of the voice spoken by the driver or passenger of the vehicle 50, the volume of the audio voice output by the audio device equipped in the vehicle 50, and the volume of the voice output by the hands-free communication device equipped in the vehicle 50 and the mobile device owned by the driver or passenger of the vehicle 50. When the inside of the vehicle is noisy, it is assumed that the attention of the driver of the vehicle 50 is directed to the sound inside the vehicle 50, and there is a possibility that the driver will be in a state of absent-minded driving with reduced attention. For this reason, the environmental information acquisition unit 102 may acquire information indicating whether the volume inside the vehicle 50 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value as environmental information to be referred to for setting the region described later. The environmental information acquisition unit 102 acquires information indicating whether the volume inside the vehicle 50 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, for example, based on the sensing result of the sensor device 200. Specifically, the environmental information acquisition unit 102 may acquire environmental information regarding whether the volume inside the vehicle 50 is above a predetermined value by determining whether the volume inside the vehicle 50 is above a predetermined value based on sound data obtained using a microphone installed inside the vehicle 50.

[0021] Although some specific examples of environmental information have been described above, the environmental information acquired by the environmental information acquisition unit 102 is not limited to the above-mentioned specific examples. For example, the above-mentioned predetermined condition may be a condition that the number of other vehicles traveling around the vehicle 50 is a predetermined number or more. In other words, the environmental information may be information indicating whether or not the number of other vehicles traveling around the vehicle 50 is a predetermined number or more. In addition, the acquired environmental information does not have to be of one type, and the environmental information acquisition unit 102 may acquire multiple types of environmental information.

[0022] The area setting unit 103 sets an area around a specific vehicle (i.e., the vehicle 50) whose size corresponds to the environmental information acquired by the environmental information acquisition unit 102. Hereinafter, this area is also referred to as a notification area. The notification area is used to determine whether or not to notify the driver of the vehicle 50 of the presence of another vehicle. For example, when the environmental information acquisition unit 102 acquires information indicating the number of other vehicles traveling around the vehicle 50 as environmental information, the area setting unit 103 sets a larger notification area as the number of other vehicles decreases. Also, when the environmental information acquisition unit 102 acquires information indicating whether or not the above-mentioned predetermined condition is satisfied as environmental information, the area setting unit 103 sets a larger notification area when the predetermined condition is satisfied than when the predetermined condition is not satisfied. That is, the area setting unit 103 sets a first notification area when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, and sets a second notification range wider than the first notification area when the predetermined condition is satisfied. When the vehicle 50 is traveling at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour, the first notification area may be, for example, an area within 80 meters from the vehicle 50 in both the front and rear directions of the vehicle 50, and the second notification area may be, for example, an area within 120 meters from the vehicle 50 in both the front and rear directions of the vehicle 50. Note that these are merely examples, and the specific size of the notification area can be designed arbitrarily. In addition, the length of the notification area in the front and rear directions of the vehicle 50 may be different from the length of the notification area in the left and right directions of the vehicle 50. For example, the length of the notification area on the side of the lane adjacent to the lane in which the vehicle 50 is traveling may be shorter than the length of the notification area in front or behind the vehicle 50.

[0023] When an object is detected within the area set by the area setting unit 103, the notification unit 104 notifies the driver of a specific vehicle (i.e., the vehicle 50) of the presence of the object. As described above, the object here is an object that the driver should be careful of approaching, specifically, for example, another vehicle. That is, when the other vehicle is detected within the area set by the area setting unit 103, the notification unit 104 notifies the driver of the approach of the other vehicle. As described above, the area setting unit 103 sets an area having a size according to the acquired environmental information. For this reason, the distance between the vehicle 50 and the object (other vehicle) for the notification by the notification unit 104 to occur varies depending on the environmental information. Therefore, in a situation where it is estimated that the driver's attention is reduced, the distance between the vehicle 50 and the object for the notification by the notification unit 104 is longer than in a situation where it is not reduced. That is, in a situation where it is estimated that the driver's attention is reduced, the notification is performed at an earlier timing than in a situation where it is not reduced. By issuing a notification even when the object and the vehicle 50 are not very close to each other, it is possible to increase the sensitivity of the notification regarding the approach of an object.

[0024] The notification unit 104 notifies the driver of the presence of an object (another vehicle) by changing the output mode of audio content in the vehicle 50. The audio content may be audio data of music or video recorded on a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc, a memory card, or the like, or may be audio data of music or video streamed, or may be audio broadcast by a broadcasting station (specifically, audio of a radio broadcast or a television broadcast). The notification unit 104 may obtain the audio content via an audio device mounted on the vehicle 50, or via a device carried by the driver, such as a smartphone. When an object is detected in the notification area, the notification unit 104 changes the output mode from a predetermined output mode and outputs an audio signal of the audio content to the speaker 300.

[0025] A specific example of notification by changing the output mode of audio content will be described. When another vehicle is detected within the notification area, the notification unit 104 may change the playback speed of the audio content from the normal playback speed. Here, the normal playback speed is the original playback speed of the audio content. When no other vehicle is present within the notification area, the notification unit 104 outputs the audio content at the normal playback speed. For example, when another vehicle is detected within the notification area, the notification unit 104 makes the playback speed of the audio content faster than the normal playback speed.

[0026] Furthermore, when another vehicle is detected within the notification area, the notification unit 104 may output the audio content by emphasizing only a specific frequency band of the audio content. By changing the output mode in this manner, the output mode can be easily changed even for audio content whose playback speed is difficult to change, such as audio broadcast by a broadcasting station.

[0027] Furthermore, when another vehicle is detected within the notification area, the notification unit 104 may change the volume of the audio content from the volume set by the driver and output the audio content. For example, when another vehicle is detected within the notification area, the notification unit 104 outputs the audio signal of the audio content to the speaker 300 at a volume higher than the set volume. Note that, when the vehicle 50 is equipped with a plurality of speakers 300, the notification unit 104 may control the volume output from the speaker 300 provided at a position corresponding to the direction of the object (other vehicle) existing within the notification area. For example, when another vehicle is approaching from the right side of the vehicle 50, when outputting the audio content from the speaker 300, the notification unit 104 may increase the volume of the sound output from the speaker 300 provided on the right side of the driver.

[0028] In this way, by making a notification by changing the output mode of the audio content, the following effects can be expected. Since the notification is made using audio content that the driver listens to on a daily basis, rather than by outputting a sound specialized for notifying abnormalities such as an alarm sound, the notification can be made while suppressing the driver's anxiety and stress. In addition, a driver who listens to audio content that has been output without changing the output mode can recognize that the driving condition is safe. In other words, the driver can easily understand what kind of driving condition he or she is in by simply listening to the audio content.

[0029] The notification unit 104 may adjust the degree of change in the output mode according to the distance between the vehicle 50 and the object. For example, the notification unit 104 may increase the playback speed as the distance between the vehicle 50 and the other vehicle becomes closer. The notification unit 104 may emphasize a specific frequency band as the distance between the vehicle 50 and the other vehicle becomes closer. The notification unit 104 may increase the volume as the distance between the vehicle 50 and the other vehicle becomes closer. In this way, by adjusting the degree of change in the output mode according to the distance between the vehicle 50 and the object, the driver can grasp the degree of approach between the vehicle 50 and the object.

[0030] In the present embodiment, the notification unit 104 notifies the driver by changing the output mode of the audio content. However, when an object is detected in the region set by the region setting unit 103, the notification unit 104 may notify the driver of the presence of the object by another method. For example, the notification unit 104 may output an alarm sound or a warning voice from the speaker 300. In addition, the notification by changing the output mode of the audio content and the notification by outputting the alarm sound or the warning voice may be combined. For example, when an object enters the notification region, the notification unit 104 starts to notify by changing the output mode of the audio content, and then, when the object approaches the vehicle 50 further and the distance between the vehicle 50 and the object becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the notification unit 104 may notify by outputting the alarm sound or the warning voice. The vehicle 50 may be provided with an automatic brake function that automatically applies the brakes when the distance between the vehicle 50 and the object becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. When an object is detected within the region set by the region setting unit 103, the notification unit 104 may provide notification by turning on or blinking a light-emitting unit such as a lamp (not shown).

[0031] Next, a flow of a notification operation performed by the notification device 100 according to the present embodiment regarding the approach of the vehicle 50 to another vehicle will be described. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the operation of the notification device 100. The flow of the operation of the notification device 100 will be described below with reference to Fig. 2. It is assumed that audio content is being output in the vehicle 50 when the process of the following flowchart is executed.

[0032] In step S100, the detection unit 101 starts a process of detecting other vehicles around the vehicle 50 and a process of identifying the distance to the detected other vehicles. Next, in step S101, the environmental information acquisition unit 102 acquires the above-mentioned environmental information. Next, in step S102, the area setting unit 103 sets a notification area having a size according to the environmental information acquired in step S101. Next, in step S103, the notification unit 104 determines whether or not another vehicle has been detected in the notification area set in step S102. If another vehicle has been detected in the notification area (Yes in step S103), the process proceeds to step S104. If another vehicle has not been detected in the notification area (No in step S103), the process proceeds to step S105. In step S104, the notification unit 104 changes the output mode of the audio content to notify the driver of the presence of another vehicle approaching the vehicle 50. This allows the driver of the vehicle 50 to recognize, for example, tailgating by a driver of another vehicle against the vehicle 50 or tailgating by the driver himself against another vehicle. In contrast, in step S105, the notification unit 104 does not issue a notification. Therefore, the notification unit 104 does not change the output mode of the audio content. After step S104 or step S105, the process returns to step S103. Note that after step S104 or step S105, the process may return to step S101.

[0033] The first embodiment has been described above. In this embodiment, the size of the notification area is set according to the environmental information. Therefore, when the driver's attention may be reduced due to the influence of the environment, notification is started early based on the wide notification area. Therefore, even if the driver with reduced attention is late in noticing the notification, it can be expected that there is a sufficient margin between the vehicle 50 and other objects. Therefore, the driver can perform necessary operations such as accelerating, decelerating, and changing lanes of the vehicle 50 without panicking. Also, when the driver's attention is not considered to be reduced, that is, when it is expected that the driver will quickly notice the notification, a notification area narrower than the above-mentioned wide notification area is set, so that the notification can be made at an appropriate timing for the driver.

[0034] <Embodiment 2> Next, a second embodiment will be described. This embodiment is different from the above-mentioned embodiment in that the size of the notification area is set based on the driving information. Hereinafter, the configuration and processing of the second embodiment will be described while omitting the description of the same configuration and processing as the first embodiment as appropriate.

[0035] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a notification system 10a according to the second embodiment. The notification system 10a is different from the above-described notification system 10 in that the notification device 100 is replaced with a notification device 100a. That is, the notification system 10a includes a notification device 100a, a sensor device 200, and a speaker 300.

[0036] In this embodiment, the sensor device 200 performs sensing to obtain information necessary for processing by the notification device 100a. A camera that captures images of the periphery of the vehicle 50, which is one of the sensor devices 200, may be used for processing by the travel information acquisition unit 112 described later. The sensor device 200 may also include a vehicle speed sensor or an acceleration sensor for detecting the speed of the vehicle 50 for processing by the travel information acquisition unit 112, or may include a GNSS. In this embodiment, the speaker 300 outputs a sound for notification in accordance with the processing by the notification device 100a.

[0037] 3, the notification device 100a includes a detection unit 101, a driving information acquisition unit 112, an area setting unit 103, and a notification unit 104. In this manner, the notification device 100a differs from the notification device 100 in that the environmental information acquisition unit 102 is replaced with the driving information acquisition unit 112. In the present embodiment, the notification device 100a is mounted on the vehicle 50 or carried by the driver or a passenger of the vehicle 50, but a part or all of the configuration of the notification device 100a may be included in a device external to the vehicle 50, such as a server.

[0038] The travel information acquisition unit 112 acquires travel information representing a travel state of a specific vehicle (i.e., the vehicle 50). The travel information acquisition unit 112 acquires the travel information using, for example, a sensing result of the sensor device 200. It is preferable that the travel information acquired by the travel information acquisition unit 112 is information representing a travel state that may be related to the attentiveness of the driver of the vehicle 50.

[0039] The travel information may be, for example, information indicating a transition of the travel speed of the vehicle 50. In this case, the travel information acquisition unit 112 acquires information indicating a transition of the travel speed of the vehicle 50 based on, for example, a sensing result of the sensor device 200. Specifically, the travel information acquisition unit 112 may acquire travel information indicating a transition of the speed by identifying the speed of the vehicle 50 from a signal output from a vehicle speed sensor and calculating the amount of change, or by acquiring travel information indicating a transition of the speed from a signal output from an acceleration sensor. In addition, the travel information acquisition unit 112 may acquire travel information indicating a transition of the speed by identifying the speed of the vehicle 50 from a temporal change in the position data of the vehicle 50 output from the GNSS and calculating the amount of change. Note that the speed may be acquired by other known methods. For example, the speed may be identified by analyzing an image from a camera that captures the periphery of the vehicle 50. In addition, the travel information indicating a transition of the speed may be acquired by acquiring information on the speed from the vehicle 50 via a CAN (Controller Area Network) of the vehicle 50 and calculating the amount of change. When the driver's attention is reduced, the driver may neglect to change the speed in response to the situation around the vehicle 50. In addition, a state in which the change in speed is small may lead to a reduction in the driver's attention. For this reason, the traveling speed of the vehicle 50 may be acquired as the traveling information to be referred to for setting the notification area.

[0040] The travel information may also be information indicating whether or not a predetermined condition such as the following is satisfied. For example, the predetermined condition may be a condition that the vehicle 50 is traveling at a speed that is different from the speed limit of the road on which the vehicle 50 is traveling by a predetermined difference or more. That is, the travel information may be information indicating whether or not the vehicle 50 is traveling at a speed that is different from the speed limit by a predetermined difference or more. When the driver's attention is reduced, the vehicle may be traveling at a speed that is significantly different from the speed limit set for the road on which the vehicle 50 is traveling. In other words, when the vehicle 50 is traveling at a speed that is significantly different from the speed limit of the road on which the vehicle 50 is traveling, the driver of the vehicle 50 may be in a state of absent-minded driving with reduced attention, not paying attention to the speed limit displayed on the road sign or the speed at which other vehicles other than the vehicle 50 are traveling. For this reason, the travel information acquisition unit 112 may acquire information indicating whether or not the vehicle 50 is traveling at a speed that is different from the speed limit by a predetermined difference or more as travel information to be referred to for setting the notification area. For example, the travel information acquisition unit 112 acquires information indicating whether the vehicle 50 is traveling at a speed that is different from the speed limit by a predetermined difference or more, using the speed of the vehicle 50 and the speed limit information of the road on which the vehicle 50 is traveling. As described above, the speed of the vehicle 50 may be identified from the sensing result of the sensor device 200, may be acquired from the CAN, or may be acquired by other known methods. The speed limit of the road on which the vehicle 50 is traveling may be identified using the position data of the vehicle 50 output from the GNSS and map data including the speed limit information of the road. The speed limit of the road on which the vehicle 50 is traveling may be identified by photographing a sign indicating the speed limit provided on the road with a camera. Note that these specific processes are merely examples, and the above-mentioned travel information may be acquired by other known methods.

[0041] The above-mentioned predetermined condition may be a condition that the vehicle 50 continues to travel in the passing lane for a predetermined time or more. That is, the travel information may be information indicating whether or not the vehicle 50 continues to travel in the passing lane for a predetermined time or more. When the driver's attention is reduced, the vehicle 50 may continue to travel in the passing lane for a long time. In other words, when the vehicle 50 continues to travel in the passing lane for a long time, the driver of the vehicle 50 may be in a state of absent-minded driving with reduced attention, not noticing that the lane in which the vehicle 50 is traveling is the passing lane. For this reason, the travel information acquisition unit 112 may acquire information indicating whether or not the vehicle 50 continues to travel in the passing lane for a predetermined time or more as travel information to be referred to for setting the notification area. For example, the travel information acquisition unit 112 may acquire such travel information by determining whether or not the vehicle 50 continues to travel in the passing lane for a predetermined time or more using the position data of the vehicle 50 output from the GNSS and map data including information indicating the attributes of the lane. Furthermore, the driving information acquisition unit 112 may acquire driving information as to whether the vehicle 50 is continuously driving in the passing lane for a predetermined period of time or more by recognizing the lane in which the vehicle 50 is driving and the adjacent lanes based on an image from a camera that captures the periphery of the vehicle 50 and determining whether the vehicle 50 is driving in the passing lane based on the positional relationship. Note that these specific processes are merely examples, and the above-mentioned driving information may be acquired by other known methods.

[0042] Although several specific examples of the driving information have been described above, the driving information acquired by the driving information acquisition unit 112 is not limited to the above specific examples. For example, the above-mentioned predetermined condition may be a condition that the amount of change in the driving speed of the vehicle 50 in a predetermined period is equal to or less than a predetermined value. In other words, the driving information may be information indicating whether the amount of change in the driving speed of the vehicle 50 in a predetermined period is equal to or less than a predetermined value. In addition, the driving information acquired does not have to be of one type, and the driving information acquisition unit 112 may acquire multiple types of driving information.

[0043] The region setting unit 103 sets a notification region around a specific vehicle (i.e., the vehicle 50) whose size corresponds to the driving information acquired by the driving information acquisition unit 112. In this embodiment, too, the notification region is used to determine whether or not to notify the driver of the vehicle 50 of the presence of an object such as another vehicle. When the driving information acquisition unit 112 acquires information indicating the transition of the driving speed of the vehicle 50 as the driving information, the region setting unit 103 sets a wider notification region, for example, as the amount of change in the driving speed in a predetermined period is smaller. In addition, when the driving information acquisition unit 112 acquires information indicating whether or not the above-mentioned predetermined condition is satisfied as the driving information, the region setting unit 103 sets a wider notification region when the predetermined condition is satisfied than when the predetermined condition is not satisfied. That is, the region setting unit 103 sets a first notification region when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, as in the first embodiment, and sets a second notification range wider than the first notification region when the predetermined condition is satisfied. The area setting unit 103 may set an area based on a condition that combines a plurality of the specific examples of the travel information described above.

[0044] The notification unit 104 performs notification using the notification area set by the area setting unit 103, as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the area setting unit 103 sets a notification area of ​​a size according to the driving information, so the distance between the vehicle 50 and the object (other vehicle) for the notification by the notification unit 104 to occur varies depending on the driving information. Therefore, in a situation where it is estimated that the driver's attention is reduced, the distance between the vehicle 50 and the object for the notification by the notification unit 104 to occur is longer than in a situation where it is not. In other words, in a situation where it is estimated that the driver's attention is reduced, the notification is performed at an earlier timing than in a situation where it is not. By performing a notification even when the object and the vehicle 50 are not very close to each other, the sensitivity of the notification regarding the approach of the object can be increased. Note that in this embodiment as well, the notification unit 104 realizes the notification by changing the output mode of the audio content in the vehicle 50, but the notification may be realized by other methods such as outputting an alarm sound or a warning sound. When an object is detected within the region set by the region setting unit 103, the notification unit 104 may provide notification by turning on or blinking a light-emitting unit such as a lamp (not shown).

[0045] Next, a flow of a notification operation performed by the notification device 100a according to the present embodiment regarding the approach of the vehicle 50 to another vehicle will be described. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the operation of the notification device 100a. The flow of the operation of the notification device 100a will be described below with reference to Fig. 4. It is assumed that audio content is being output in the vehicle 50 when the process of the following flowchart is executed.

[0046] In step S200, the detection unit 101 starts a process of detecting other vehicles around the vehicle 50 and a process of identifying the distance to the detected other vehicles. Next, in step S201, the travel information acquisition unit 112 acquires the travel information described above. Next, in step S202, the area setting unit 103 sets a notification area having a size according to the travel information acquired in step S201. Next, in step S203, the notification unit 104 determines whether or not another vehicle has been detected in the notification area set in step S202. If another vehicle has been detected in the notification area (Yes in step S203), the process proceeds to step S204. If another vehicle has not been detected in the notification area (No in step S203), the process proceeds to step S205. In step S204, the notification unit 104 changes the output mode of the audio content to notify the driver of the presence of another vehicle approaching the vehicle 50. This allows the driver of the vehicle 50 to recognize, for example, tailgating by a driver of another vehicle against the vehicle 50 or tailgating by the driver himself against another vehicle. In contrast, in step S205, the notification unit 104 does not issue a notification. Therefore, the notification unit 104 does not change the output mode of the audio content. After step S204 or step S205, the process returns to step S203. Note that after step S204 or step S205, the process may return to step S201.

[0047] The second embodiment has been described above. In this embodiment, the width of the notification area is set according to the driving information. Therefore, when it is estimated that the driver's attention is reduced based on the driving information, notification is started early based on the wide notification area. Therefore, even if the driver with reduced attention is late in noticing the notification, it can be expected that there is a sufficient margin between the vehicle 50 and other objects. Therefore, the driver can perform necessary actions such as accelerating, decelerating, and changing lanes of the vehicle 50 without panicking. Also, when it is thought that the driver's attention is not reduced, that is, when it is expected that the driver will quickly notice the notification, a notification area narrower than the above-mentioned wide notification area is set, so that the driver can be notified at an appropriate timing.

[0048] <Embodiment 3> Next, a third embodiment will be described. This embodiment is different from the above-mentioned embodiments in that the size of the notification area is set based on the driver information. Hereinafter, the configuration and processing of the third embodiment will be described while omitting the description of the same configuration and processing as the first embodiment as appropriate.

[0049] 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a notification system 10b according to the third embodiment. The notification system 10b differs from the above-described notification system 10 in that the notification device 100 is replaced with a notification device 100b. That is, the notification system 10b includes a notification device 100b, a sensor device 200, and a speaker 300.

[0050] In this embodiment, the sensor device 200 performs sensing to obtain information necessary for the processing of the notification device 100b. In this embodiment, the sensor device 200 may include a camera that captures an image of the driver of the vehicle 50 for the processing of the driver information acquisition unit 122 described later. The sensor device 200 may also include a microphone provided in the vehicle for the processing of the driver information acquisition unit 122. The sensor device 200 may be a terminal device such as a smart watch or a biosensor worn by the driver for the processing of the driver information acquisition unit 122, or may be a terminal device such as a biosensor installed in the seat of the vehicle 50. The sensor device 200 may sense data such as pulse, brainwaves, and body temperature from these terminal devices. In this embodiment, the speaker 300 outputs a sound for notification in response to the processing of the notification device 100b.

[0051] 5, the notification device 100b includes a detection unit 101, a driver information acquisition unit 122, an area setting unit 103, and a notification unit 104. In this manner, the notification device 100b differs from the notification device 100 in that the environmental information acquisition unit 102 is replaced with the driver information acquisition unit 122. In the present embodiment, the notification device 100b is also mounted on the vehicle 50 or carried by the driver or a passenger of the vehicle 50, but a part or all of the configuration of the notification device 100b may be included in a device external to the vehicle 50, such as a server.

[0052] The driver information acquisition unit 122 acquires driver information representing the state of the driver of a specific vehicle (i.e., the vehicle 50). The driver information acquisition unit 122 acquires the driver information using, for example, a sensing result of the sensor device 200. It is preferable that the driver information acquired by the driver information acquisition unit 122 is information representing the state of the driver that may be related to the attentiveness of the driver of the vehicle 50.

[0053] The driver information may be, for example, information indicating whether or not a predetermined condition such as the following is satisfied. For example, the predetermined condition may be a condition that the number of times the driver of the vehicle 50 turns his / her gaze to a mirror provided on the vehicle 50 during a predetermined period is equal to or less than a predetermined first threshold. That is, the driver information may be information indicating whether or not the number of times the driver turns his / her gaze to a mirror during a predetermined period is equal to or less than a first threshold. Specifically, the mirror referred to here may be, for example, a rearview mirror provided on the vehicle 50, such as a room mirror or a side mirror. If the driver checks the mirror infrequently while driving, it is estimated that the driver's attention is reduced. In other words, if the driver of the vehicle 50 checks the rearview mirror provided on the vehicle 50 infrequently, the driver of the vehicle 50 may be in a state of absent-minded driving with reduced attention, not paying attention to other vehicles traveling around the vehicle 50 or the surrounding driving environment. For this reason, the driver information acquisition unit 122 may acquire information indicating whether or not the number of times the driver turns his / her gaze to a mirror is equal to or less than a first threshold, as driver information to be referred to for setting the notification area. For example, the driver information acquisition unit 122 analyzes the driver's gaze from an image captured by a camera capturing the driver's eyes, thereby acquiring information indicating whether the number of times the gaze is directed toward the mirror in a predetermined period is equal to or less than a first threshold. Any known gaze detection technology can be used to detect the gaze.

[0054] The above-mentioned predetermined condition may be a condition that the number of times that the driver of the vehicle 50 moves his / her line of sight during a predetermined period is equal to or less than a predetermined second threshold. That is, the driver information may be information indicating whether or not the number of times that the driver moves his / her line of sight during a predetermined period is equal to or less than a second threshold. When the frequency of the line of sight movement during driving is low, it is estimated that the driver's attention is reduced. In other words, when the frequency of the line of sight movement of the driver of the vehicle 50 is low, the driver of the vehicle 50 may be in a state of absent-minded driving with reduced attention, not paying attention to the surrounding driving environment such as other vehicles traveling around the vehicle 50, existing traffic signs, and pedestrian behavior. For this reason, the driver information acquisition unit 122 may acquire information indicating whether or not the number of times that the driver moves his / her line of sight during a predetermined period is equal to or less than a second threshold, as the driver information to be referred to for setting the notification area. For example, the driver information acquisition unit 122 acquires information indicating whether or not the number of times that the driver moves his / her line of sight during a predetermined period is equal to or less than a second threshold by analyzing the driver's line of sight from an image of a camera that captures the driver's eyes.

[0055] The above-mentioned predetermined condition may be a condition that the amount of movement of the line of sight of the driver of the vehicle 50 in a predetermined period is equal to or less than a predetermined third threshold. That is, the driver information may be information indicating whether or not the amount of movement of the line of sight in a predetermined period is equal to or less than a third threshold. When the amount of movement of the line of sight during driving is small, it is estimated that the driver's attention is reduced. In other words, when the amount of movement of the line of sight of the driver of the vehicle 50 is small, the driver of the vehicle 50 may be in a state of absent-minded driving with reduced attention, not paying attention to the surrounding driving environment such as other vehicles traveling around the vehicle 50, existing traffic signs, and pedestrian behavior. For this reason, the driver information acquisition unit 122 may acquire information indicating whether or not the amount of movement of the line of sight is equal to or less than a third threshold as the driver information referred to for setting the notification area. For example, the driver information acquisition unit 122 acquires information indicating whether or not the amount of movement of the line of sight in a predetermined period is equal to or less than a third threshold by analyzing the driver's line of sight from an image of a camera that captures the driver's eyes.

[0056] The above-mentioned predetermined condition may be a condition that the driver of the vehicle 50 is vocalizing. That is, the driver information may be information indicating whether or not the driver is vocalizing. Here, the vocalization of the driver may be specifically singing or talking. When the driver is vocalizing, such as singing or talking, the driver's attention may be reduced. When the driver of the vehicle 50 is vocalizing, it is assumed that the driver's attention is directed to the lyrics or melody being sung, or the contents of the conversation or the reaction of the other person in the conversation. Therefore, the driver information acquisition unit 122 may acquire information indicating whether or not the driver is vocalizing as the driver information to be referred to for setting the notification area. For example, the driver information acquisition unit 122 acquires information indicating whether or not the driver is vocalizing by determining whether or not the driver is vocalizing based on sound data obtained using a microphone provided in the vehicle 50. It should be noted that whether or not the vocalization is by the driver can be determined using any known technology. For example, whether or not the voice is from the driver may be determined by estimating the sound source position using multiple microphones, or by comparing the voice data with pre-registered driver voice data.

[0057] The above-mentioned predetermined condition may be a condition that the wakefulness level of the driver of the vehicle 50 is less than a reference value. That is, the driver information may be information indicating whether or not the wakefulness level of the driver is less than a reference value. When the wakefulness level of the driver is lowered, it is estimated that the driver's attention is also lowered. For this reason, the driver information acquisition unit 122 may acquire information indicating whether or not the wakefulness level of the driver is less than a reference value as the driver information referred to for setting the notification area. For example, the driver information acquisition unit 122 acquires information indicating whether or not the wakefulness level of the driver is less than a reference value by analyzing the frequency of yawning or eyelid movement of the driver from an image of a camera that captures the face of the driver to estimate the wakefulness level of the driver. That is, the driver information acquisition unit 122 may identify the drowsiness level of the driver from the frequency of yawning or eyelid movement, and calculate the wakefulness level from this drowsiness level. The driver information acquisition unit 122 may acquire data such as pulse rate, brain waves, and body temperature from a terminal device such as a smart watch or a biosensor worn by the driver, and calculate the alertness level.

[0058] Although some specific examples of the driver information have been described above, the driver information acquired by the driver information acquisition unit 122 is not limited to the above specific examples. For example, the driver information may be information indicating whether or not the frequency of the driver looking away while driving is equal to or higher than a threshold. In addition, the acquired driver information does not have to be of one type, and the driver information acquisition unit 122 may acquire multiple types of driver information.

[0059] The region setting unit 103 sets a notification region around a specific vehicle (i.e., the vehicle 50) having a size according to the driver information acquired by the driver information acquisition unit 122. In this embodiment as well, the notification region is used to determine whether or not to notify the driver of the vehicle 50 of the presence of an object such as another vehicle. When the driver information acquisition unit 122 acquires information indicating whether or not the above-mentioned predetermined condition is satisfied as the driver information, the region setting unit 103 sets a notification region that is wider when the predetermined condition is satisfied than when the predetermined condition is not satisfied. That is, the region setting unit 103 sets a first notification region when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, as in the first embodiment, and sets a second notification range that is wider than the first notification region when the predetermined condition is satisfied. The region setting unit 103 may set a region according to a condition that combines a plurality of specific examples of the driver information described above.

[0060] The notification unit 104 executes notification using the notification area set by the area setting unit 103, as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the area setting unit 103 sets a notification area of ​​a size according to the driver information, so the distance between the vehicle 50 and the object (other vehicle) for the notification by the notification unit 104 to occur varies depending on the driver information. Therefore, in a situation where it is estimated that the driver's attention is reduced, the distance between the vehicle 50 and the object for the notification by the notification unit 104 to occur is longer than in a situation where it is not reduced. In other words, in a situation where it is estimated that the driver's attention is reduced, the notification is performed at an earlier timing than in a situation where it is not reduced. By performing a notification even when the object and the vehicle 50 are not very close to each other, the sensitivity of the notification regarding the approach of the object can be increased. Note that in this embodiment as well, the notification unit 104 realizes notification by changing the output mode of audio content in the vehicle 50, but the notification may be realized by other methods such as outputting an alarm sound or a warning sound. When an object is detected within the region set by the region setting unit 103, the notification unit 104 may provide notification by turning on or blinking a light-emitting unit such as a lamp (not shown).

[0061] Next, a flow of a notification operation performed by the notification device 100b according to the present embodiment regarding the approach of the vehicle 50 to another vehicle will be described. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the operation of the notification device 100b. The flow of the operation of the notification device 100b will be described below with reference to Fig. 6. It is assumed that audio content is being output in the vehicle 50 when the process of the following flowchart is executed.

[0062] In step S300, the detection unit 101 starts a process of detecting other vehicles around the vehicle 50 and a process of identifying the distance to the detected other vehicles. Next, in step S301, the driver information acquisition unit 122 acquires the driver information described above. Next, in step S302, the area setting unit 103 sets a notification area having a size according to the driver information acquired in step S301. Next, in step S303, the notification unit 104 determines whether or not another vehicle has been detected in the notification area set in step S302. If another vehicle has been detected in the notification area (Yes in step S303), the process proceeds to step S304. If another vehicle has not been detected in the notification area (No in step S303), the process proceeds to step S305. In step S304, the notification unit 104 changes the output mode of the audio content to notify the driver of the presence of another vehicle approaching the vehicle 50. This allows the driver of the vehicle 50 to recognize, for example, tailgating by a driver of another vehicle against the vehicle 50 or tailgating by the driver himself against another vehicle. In contrast, in step S305, the notification unit 104 does not issue a notification. Therefore, the notification unit 104 does not change the output mode of the audio content. After step S304 or step S305, the process returns to step S303. Note that after step S304 or step S305, the process may return to step S301.

[0063] The third embodiment has been described above. In this embodiment, the size of the notification area is set according to the driver information. Therefore, when it is estimated that the driver's attention is reduced based on the driver information, notification is started early based on the wide notification area. Therefore, even if the driver with reduced attention is late in noticing the notification, it can be expected that there is a sufficient margin between the vehicle 50 and other objects. Therefore, the driver can perform necessary actions such as accelerating, decelerating, and changing lanes of the vehicle 50 without panicking. Also, when it is thought that the driver's attention is not reduced, that is, when it is expected that the driver will quickly notice the notification, a notification area narrower than the above-mentioned wide notification area is set, so that the notification can be made at an appropriate timing for the driver.

[0064] The above-mentioned functions (processing) of the notification device 100, the notification device 100a, and the notification device 100b may be realized by a computer 500 having the following configuration, for example.

[0065] 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer 500 that realizes the processing of the notification device 100, the notification device 100a, and the notification device 100b. As shown in FIG. 7, the computer 500 includes an input / output interface 501, a memory 502, and a processor 503.

[0066] The input / output interface 501 is used to communicate with other devices such as the sensor device 200 and the speaker 300 .

[0067] The memory 502 is configured, for example, by a combination of a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory, and is used to store programs executed by the processor 503, data used in processing, and the like.

[0068] The processor 503 reads and executes a program from the memory 502 to perform processing of the notification device 100, the notification device 100a, and the notification device 100b. For example, the processor 503 reads and executes a program from the memory 502 to perform these processes. The processor 503 may be, for example, a microprocessor, a microprocessor unit (MPU), or a central processing unit (CPU). The processor 503 may include multiple processors.

[0069] The program includes a set of instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, causes the computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, the computer-readable medium or tangible storage medium includes random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray® disk or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device. The program may be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, the transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium includes electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0070] Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the notification device may have two or more of the environmental information acquisition unit 102, the driving information acquisition unit 112, and the driver information acquisition unit 122. In this case, the region setting unit 103 may adopt the widest notification region among the notification region determined according to the environmental information, the notification region determined according to the driving information, and the notification region determined according to the driver information. Furthermore, when multiple types of environmental information are acquired, the region setting unit 103 may adopt the widest notification region among the notification regions determined according to each environmental information. Similarly, when multiple types of driving information are acquired, the region setting unit 103 may adopt the widest notification region among the notification regions determined according to each driving information. Furthermore, when multiple types of driver information are acquired, the region setting unit 103 may adopt the widest notification region among the notification regions determined according to each driver information. In the above embodiment, the region setting unit 103 sets the notification region according to the environmental information, the driving information, or the driver information, but the notification region may be set to a predetermined size regardless of these information. For example, when the speed of the vehicle 50 is too slow, the notification unit 104 may play back the audio content at a playback speed slower than the original playback speed of the audio content. For example, the notification unit 104 may determine that the speed of the vehicle 50 is too slow when the speed of the vehicle 50 is lower than the speed limit of the road on which the vehicle 50 is traveling and the difference between the speed of the vehicle 50 and the speed limit is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[0071] A part or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but is not limited to, the following supplementary notes. (Appendix 1) A detection unit that detects an object present around a specific vehicle; a travel information acquisition unit that acquires travel information representing a travel state of the specific vehicle; an area setting unit that sets an area around the specific vehicle having a size corresponding to the travel information; a notification unit that notifies a driver of the specific vehicle of the presence of the object when the object is detected within the area; An alarm device having the above structure. (Appendix 2) The travel information indicates a change in a travel speed of the specific vehicle, The region setting unit sets a larger region as the amount of change in the traveling speed is smaller. 2. An alarm device as described in claim 1. (Appendix 3) The driving information indicates whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, The predetermined condition is at least one of a condition that the specific vehicle is traveling at a speed that is different from the speed limit of the road on which the specific vehicle is traveling by a predetermined difference or more, or a condition that the specific vehicle is traveling in an overtaking lane for a predetermined period of time or more. The region setting unit sets the region larger when the predetermined condition is satisfied than when the predetermined condition is not satisfied. 3. An alarm device according to claim 1 or 2. (Appendix 4) The notification unit notifies the presence of the object by changing an output mode of audio content in the specific vehicle. 4. An alarm device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. (Appendix 5) Acquire driving information representing a driving state of a specific vehicle; A region having a size corresponding to the travel information is set around the specific vehicle; When an object is detected within the area, the driver of the specific vehicle is notified of the presence of the object. Notification method.

[0072] This disclosure includes matters that contribute to the realization of the SDGs' goal of "Ensure good health and well-being for all" and contribute to reducing traffic accidents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10. Notification System 10a Notification System 10b Notification System 50 vehicles 100 Notification device 100a Notification device 100b Notification device 101 Detection unit 102 Environmental Information Acquisition Department 103 Area setting section 104 Notification Department 112 Driving information acquisition unit 122 Driver Information Acquisition Unit 200 Sensor device 300 speakers 500 Computers 501 Input / Output Interface 502 Memory 503 Processor

Claims

1. A detection unit that detects an object present around a specific vehicle; a travel information acquisition unit that acquires travel information representing a travel state of the specific vehicle; an area setting unit that sets an area around the specific vehicle having a size corresponding to the travel information; a notification unit that notifies a driver of the specific vehicle of the presence of the object when the object is detected within the area; An alarm device having the above structure.

2. The travel information indicates a change in a travel speed of the specific vehicle, The region setting unit sets a larger region as the amount of change in the traveling speed is smaller. The notification device according to claim 1 .

3. The driving information indicates whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, The predetermined condition is at least one of a condition that the specific vehicle is traveling at a speed that is different from the speed limit of the road on which the specific vehicle is traveling by a predetermined difference or more, or a condition that the specific vehicle is traveling in an overtaking lane for a predetermined period of time or more. The region setting unit sets the region larger when the predetermined condition is satisfied than when the predetermined condition is not satisfied. The notification device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The notification unit notifies the presence of the object by changing an output mode of audio content in the specific vehicle. The notification device according to claim 1 .

5. Acquire driving information representing a driving state of a specific vehicle; A region having a size corresponding to the travel information is set around the specific vehicle; When an object is detected within the area, the driver of the specific vehicle is notified of the presence of the object. Notification method.

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