Guiding device

Abstract

To prevent competition for guidance between a guiding device and passengers etc.SOLUTION: In a guiding device 10, a guiding unit 14 outputs guidance information on a route that has been retrieved, a keyword analysis unit 12, at this time, acquires speech voice information, and extracts a keyword regarding guidance and a guiding voice control unit 13 acquires an analysis result of the speech voice information containing the keyword regarding guidance extracted by the keyword analysis unit 12. Then, the guiding voice control unit 13 suppresses output of the guidance information from the guiding unit 14 when a content of the speech voice information indicated by the voice analysis corresponds to guidance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a guidance device having a guidance unit that outputs guidance information along a searched route. [Background technology]

[0002] A guidance device such as a car navigation device searches for a route to a preset destination and provides guidance along the searched route by voice or the like.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes the following invention for the purpose of providing easy-to-understand guidance to the driver, similar to that for a passenger. The invention described in Patent Document 1 calculates driving situation feature values ​​at the time of guidance from the guidance history in a guidance history storage means where a passenger has given guidance to the driver, using a driving situation feature value calculation means, and classifies the guidance into a category in which the driving situation feature value for the guidance satisfies a condition in a guide classification means. Then, the utterance content variable part of the driving situation feature value is replaced with a variable part symbol, and the most frequent utterance content for each category is selected by an utterance content selection means, and stored in a storage means as a guide rule. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-190773 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Patent Document 1 provides easy-to-understand guidance like that of a passenger, but there are cases where the passenger is actually providing guidance because the passenger is familiar with the area in which the driver is traveling. In such cases, if the guidance device is also providing guidance, it may conflict with the guidance provided by the passenger, and may confuse the driver instead. In order to resolve such a conflict, it was previously necessary to turn down the volume of the guidance device or temporarily suspend the guidance.

[0006] One example of a problem to be solved by the present invention is how to prevent conflicts with guidance for fellow passengers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 is characterized by comprising a guidance unit that outputs guidance information along a searched route, a voice detection unit that acquires spoken voice information and detects keywords related to guidance, an analysis result acquisition unit that acquires an analysis result of the spoken voice information including the keywords related to the guidance detected by the voice detection unit, and a guidance voice control unit that stops the output of the guidance information from the guidance unit if the content indicated by the spoken voice information in the analysis result corresponds to route guidance provided by a passenger in the vehicle.

[0008] The invention described in claim 8 is a guidance method executed by a guidance device equipped with a guidance unit that outputs guidance information along a searched route, and is characterized by including a voice detection process of acquiring spoken voice information and detecting keywords related to guidance, an analysis result acquisition process of acquiring an analysis result of the spoken voice information including the keywords related to the guidance detected in the voice detection process, and a guidance voice control process of stopping the output of the guidance information from the guidance unit when the content indicated by the spoken voice information in the analysis result acquired in the analysis result acquisition process corresponds to route guidance provided by a passenger in the vehicle.

[0009] The invention as recited in claim 9 is characterized in that the guiding method as recited in claim 8 is executed by a computer as a guiding program.

[0010] The invention as recited in claim 10 is characterized in that the guidance program as recited in claim 9 is stored in a computer-readable storage medium. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1]1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system having a guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] These are examples of location words, action words, and attention words. [Diagram 3] 13 is a flowchart of an operation for transitioning to a passenger guidance mode. [Figure 4] 13 is a flowchart of an operation for terminating a passenger guidance mode (guidance). [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart of an operation for terminating a passenger guidance mode (warning). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] A guidance device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the guidance device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a guidance unit outputs guidance information along a route searched for by the guidance unit. At this time, a voice detection unit acquires spoken voice information and detects keywords related to guidance, and an analysis result acquisition unit acquires an analysis result of the spoken voice information including the keywords related to guidance detected by the voice detection unit. Then, if the result of the voice analysis indicates that the content indicated by the spoken voice information corresponds to guidance, a guidance voice control unit suppresses output of the guidance information from the guidance unit. In this way, guidance from fellow passengers can be detected, and therefore conflict with guidance from fellow passengers, etc. can be prevented.

[0013] The guidance voice control unit may also specify a guidance point included in the speech voice information based on the acquired analysis result, and suppress output of guidance information up to the specified guidance point. In this way, it is possible to reliably suppress output of guidance information up to the guidance point.

[0014] The voice guidance control unit may also cancel the suppression of the guidance information when the guidance point is passed. In this way, it is possible to suppress the output of the guidance information only for the place where the passenger wants guidance.

[0015] The system may further include a map information acquisition unit that acquires map information, and the guidance voice control unit may specify the guidance point based on the map information. In this way, it becomes possible to specify the guidance point using intersection names and facility names (POI (Point of Interest) information, etc.) included in the map information, and the guidance point can be specified with higher accuracy.

[0016] In addition, when the speech voice information is a combination of words related to a place and words related to an action, the analysis result acquisition unit may acquire an analysis result indicating that the content indicated by the speech voice information corresponds to guidance. In this way, it is possible to detect guidance that combines a place and an action, such as "turn right at the next intersection."

[0017] The voice detection unit may also detect warning-related keywords as keywords, the acquisition unit may acquire analysis results of spoken voice information including warning-related keywords, and the guidance voice control unit may suppress output of guidance information from the guidance unit even if the results of the voice analysis acquired by the analysis result acquisition unit indicate that the content indicated by the spoken voice information corresponds to a warning. In this way, when a passenger issues a warning such as "there are a lot of vehicles jumping out," this can be detected and the output of guidance information can be suppressed to prevent conflict.

[0018] In addition, when the speech information includes a combination of a word related to a location and a word that calls attention, the analysis result acquisition unit may acquire an analysis result indicating that the content of the speech information corresponds to a warning. In this way, a warning that combines a location and a warning, such as "there are many pedestrians running out at the next intersection," can be detected.

[0019] In addition, a guidance method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a voice detection step of acquiring spoken voice information, detecting keywords related to guidance, and an analysis result acquisition step of acquiring an analysis result of the spoken voice information including the keywords related to guidance detected in the voice detection step. Then, in a guidance voice control step, if the result of the voice analysis indicates that the content indicated by the spoken voice information corresponds to guidance, output of the guidance information from the guidance unit is suppressed. In this way, guidance for passengers can be detected, and therefore conflict with guidance for passengers, etc. can be prevented.

[0020] The above-mentioned guidance method may be executed by a computer as a guidance program. In this way, the guidance for a fellow passenger can be detected by the computer, and therefore, it is possible to prevent conflicts with the guidance for the fellow passenger, etc.

[0021] The above-mentioned guidance program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. In this way, the program can be distributed as a standalone program in addition to being incorporated into a device, and version upgrades can be easily performed. EXAMPLES

[0022] A guide device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 9. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system equipped with a guide device according to this embodiment.

[0023] The system shown in Fig. 1 includes a guidance device 10 and a server device 20. The guidance device 10 is provided in a vehicle such as an automobile. The guidance device 10 may be, for example, a car navigation device, or may be a device that can be taken outside the vehicle, such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the guidance device 10 includes a voice input unit 11, a keyword analysis unit 12, a guidance voice control unit 13, a guidance unit 14, and a voice output unit 15.

[0025] Voices spoken inside the vehicle are input to the voice input unit 11. The voice input unit 11 is composed of a microphone and the like. It is preferable that the microphone is installed in a position where it can pick up the voices of not only the driver but also passengers. Therefore, the number of microphones installed inside the vehicle is not limited to one, and may be multiple.

[0026] The keyword analysis unit 12 acquires the spoken voice information output from the voice input unit 11 via the guidance voice control unit 13, and extracts (detects) keywords related to guidance or warning from the spoken voice information. That is, the keyword analysis unit 12 functions as a voice detection unit that acquires the spoken voice information and detects keywords related to guidance.

[0027] The keyword analysis unit 12 has keywords related to guidance or warnings in advance as a database or the like. Examples of keywords related to guidance or warnings include general guidance words such as the traffic light there, the next intersection, and the names of facilities around the current location, action instructions such as turn right, turn right, and stay as is, and instructions calling attention such as jumping out and difficult to see. Note that the voice recognition, natural language processing, and other technologies used in the keyword analysis unit 12 and the voice analysis unit 21 described later can be well-known technologies used in so-called smart speakers and AI speakers.

[0028] The guidance voice control unit 13 acquires the speech information input from the voice input unit 11, and outputs the speech information to the keyword analysis unit 12. If the keyword analysis unit 12 determines that a keyword related to guidance or a warning has been spoken, the guidance voice control unit 13 outputs the speech information to the server device 20. Then, the guidance voice control unit 13 receives the result of the voice analysis in the server device 20, and if the result is "guidance" or "warning", the guidance voice control unit 13 transitions to a passenger guidance mode and causes the guidance unit 14 to suppress output of voice related to guidance or warning. In other words, the guidance voice control unit 13 functions as an analysis result acquisition unit that acquires the analysis result of the speech information including the keyword related to guidance detected by the voice detection unit, and as a guidance voice control unit that suppresses output of guidance information from the guidance unit if the result of the voice analysis acquired by the analysis result acquisition unit indicates that the content indicated by the speech information corresponds to guidance.

[0029] In addition, after passing a relevant location such as an intersection included in the speech voice information, if the passenger continues to give guidance, the guidance voice control unit 13 asks the driver whether or not to continue the passenger guidance mode. If yes, the passenger guidance mode is maintained, and if no or there is no continued speech, the passenger guidance mode is terminated. In other words, the suppression of the guidance information is released.

[0030] As is well known, the guidance unit 14 searches for a route to a destination, generates information (guidance information) for guiding the driver, etc. along the searched route, and outputs it from the voice output unit 15, etc. When the guidance voice control unit 13 transitions to a passenger guidance mode, the guidance unit 14 suppresses output of voices related to guidance and warnings.

[0031] The voice output unit 15 outputs voices and the like related to the guidance information generated by the guidance unit. The voice output unit 15 also outputs voices related to the inquiry by the guidance voice control unit 13 as to whether or not to continue the passenger guidance mode. The voice output unit 15 is composed of a speaker and the like. The speaker is, of course, provided inside the vehicle.

[0032] The server device 20 is a well-known server computer, and is capable of communicating with the guiding device 10 via a network N such as the Internet. The server device 20 includes a voice analysis unit 21 and map information 22.

[0033] The voice analysis unit 21 analyzes the speech information transmitted from the guidance voice control unit 13. The voice analysis unit 21 determines the content of the speech information as either "guidance," "warning," or "other" from the context. Then, it returns (transmits) the classification result to the guidance voice control unit 13.

[0034] Regarding the judgment of "guidance," "warning," or "other" in the voice analysis unit 21, if the message contains words related to a location and words related to an action, it is judged as "guidance." If the message contains words related to a location and words calling attention, it is judged as "warning." If the message does not fall into either "guidance" or "warning," it is judged as "other."

[0035] Examples of location-related words, action-related words, and attention-calling words are shown in the table in Figure 2. Of course, the words are not limited to those shown in Figure 2.

[0036] Furthermore, when determining a word related to a location, the voice analysis unit 21 refers to the map information 22 and compares it with place names and POI information around the current location, and if there is a match, it is determined that the word is related to a location. Furthermore, if it is determined to be "guidance" or "warning," the result of the comparison with the map information 22 is transmitted to the guidance voice control unit 13 together with the determination result. This comparison result may be the place name, intersection name, facility name, or latitude and longitude of the point that matches when compared with the map information 22. The point that matches when compared with the map information 22 is the location (instruction location) indicated by the passenger in the guidance. By receiving the information on the instruction location, the guidance voice control unit 13 can identify the guidance location included in the uttered voice information.

[0037] The map information 22 is map information possessed by a navigation device or the like, and includes place names, intersection names, facility names, etc. This map information 22 also includes so-called POI information.

[0038] Next, the operation (guiding method) of the guiding device 10 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of Figures 3 to 5. The flowcharts of Figures 3 to 5 can be configured as a program executed by a computer having a CPU or the like to form a guidance program.

[0039] 3 is a flowchart of the operation of shifting to the passenger guidance mode. First, the keyword analysis unit 12 acquires the spoken voice information input from the voice input unit 11 via the guidance voice control unit 13 and performs keyword analysis (step S11).

[0040] The keyword analysis unit 12 determines whether a keyword related to guidance or warning is extracted as a result of the keyword analysis (step S12). If a keyword related to guidance or warning is not extracted (step S12; NO), the utterance is not a guidance by a passenger or the like, and the process returns to step S11.

[0041] On the other hand, if a keyword related to guidance or warning is extracted (step S12; YES), the guidance voice control unit 13 transmits the uttered voice information to the server device 20, and the voice analysis unit 21 performs voice analysis (step S13). As described above, the voice analysis unit 21 outputs the result of the voice analysis, which is either "guidance," "warning," or "other," to the guidance voice control unit 13. At this time, as described above, the place name of the location that matches the map information 22 is also output.

[0042] Next, the guidance voice control unit 13 determines whether the result of the received voice analysis is "guidance" (step S14). If the result of the voice analysis is "guidance" (step S14; YES), the guidance voice control unit 13 transitions to passenger guidance mode (guidance) (step S15). On the other hand, if the result of the voice analysis is not "guidance" (step S14; NO), the guidance voice control unit 13 does not transition to passenger guidance mode (guidance) and proceeds to step S16. The passenger guidance mode (guidance) suppresses voice output of route guidance-related outputs from the guidance unit 14.

[0043] Next, the voice guidance control unit 13 determines whether the result of the received voice analysis is a "warning" (step S16). If the result of the voice analysis is a "warning" (step S16; YES), the voice guidance control unit 13 transitions to passenger guidance mode (warning) (step S17). On the other hand, if the result of the voice analysis is not a "warning" (step S16; NO), the voice guidance control unit 13 does not transition to passenger guidance mode (warning) but proceeds to step S18. The passenger guidance mode (warning) suppresses voice output of warning-related items at specified locations among the outputs of the guidance unit 14.

[0044] Next, the guidance voice control unit 13 determines whether or not the operation is to be ended, such as turning off the power of the guidance device 10 or ending the application executing this flowchart (step S18). If the operation is to be ended (step S18; YES), this flowchart is ended, and if the operation is not to be ended (step S18; NO), the process returns to step S11.

[0045] In addition, passenger guidance mode (guidance) and passenger guidance mode (warning) are not mutually exclusive, so there are cases where passenger guidance mode (guidance) and passenger guidance mode (warning) are both in effect. For example, if a passenger utters something like "The visibility is poor at the next curve" while the mode is already in passenger guidance mode (guidance) during guidance, the mode will be in passenger guidance mode (guidance) and passenger guidance mode (warning).

[0046] In the flowchart of FIG. 3, if the result of the voice analysis is "other", neither the passenger guidance mode (guidance) nor the passenger guidance mode (warning) is entered, and step S18 is executed.

[0047] As is clear from the above description, step S11 functions as a voice detection step, step S13 functions as an analysis result acquisition step, and step S15 functions as a guidance voice control step.

[0048] 4 is a flowchart of an operation for terminating the passenger guidance mode (guidance). First, the guidance voice control unit 13 determines whether the passenger guidance mode (guidance) is currently set (step S21). If the passenger guidance mode (guidance) is not currently set (step S21; NO), step S21 is repeated.

[0049] On the other hand, if the passenger guidance mode (guidance) is currently set (step S21; YES), the guidance voice control unit 13 determines whether the indicated location has been passed (step S22). The passing of the indicated location may be determined by comparing the current location with map information (not shown) held by the guidance device 10 based on information such as a location that matches the map information 22 received from the voice analysis unit 21 (server device 20).

[0050] When the guidance voice control unit 13 determines that the designated location will not be passed (step S22; NO), it repeats step S22 and waits until the designated location is passed. In other words, the passenger guidance mode is continued until the designated location is passed. That is, the guidance voice control unit 13 identifies the designated location (guidance point) included in the uttered voice information based on the acquired analysis result, and suppresses the output of guidance information up to the identified designated location (guidance point).

[0051] On the other hand, if it is determined that the indicated location has been passed (step S22; YES), the guidance voice control unit 13 determines whether or not it has heard the utterance "end" (step S23). The user of the guidance device 10 has been informed in advance by an instruction manual, guidance voice, etc. that the passenger guidance mode will be ended by speaking "end". Thus, the guidance voice control unit 13 can end the passenger guidance mode by determining whether or not it has heard the utterance "end". To hear the utterance of "end", the keyword analysis unit 12 may analyze the spoken voice information input from the voice input unit 11, similar to keyword analysis.

[0052] When the guidance voice control unit 13 hears the utterance of "end" (step S23; YES), it ends the passenger guidance mode (guidance) (step S26).

[0053] On the other hand, if the utterance "end" is not heard (step S23; NO), the guidance voice control unit 13 judges whether the utterance is continuing (step S24). In other words, if the passenger continues to give guidance, the passenger guidance mode (guidance) continues, and if not, the passenger guidance mode (guidance) ends. The continuation of the utterance may be determined based on the detection time of a silent (no speech) state.

[0054] When the speech is not continuing (step S24; NO), the guidance voice control unit 13 ends the passenger guidance mode (guidance) (step S26).

[0055] On the other hand, if the speech continues (step S24; YES), the guidance voice control unit 13 asks the driver or the like whether or not to continue the passenger guidance mode (guidance) (step S25). For example, the guidance voice control unit 13 outputs a voice such as "Do you want to continue guidance by passengers?" from the voice output unit 15. The answer may be, for example, "Yes" or "No."

[0056] If the question results in "Yes" for the continuation of the passenger guidance mode (guidance) (step S25; YES), the guidance voice control unit 13 returns to step S21 and retries the determination of whether to end the mode. On the other hand, if the question results in "No" for the continuation of the passenger guidance mode (guidance), the passenger guidance mode (guidance) is ended (step S26). Note that the answer to the question is not limited to the driver, but may be a passenger.

[0057] In step S26, when the passenger guidance mode (guidance) is ended, suppression of output of voice guidance and the like is released, and output of voice guidance and the like from the guidance unit 14 is resumed. Note that if the result of guidance by the passenger results in traveling a route different from the route searched by the guidance unit 14, a reroute is automatically performed.

[0058] Also, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the end of the passenger guidance mode (guidance) is detected through the three determinations of steps S23 to S25, but it may be through any one or two of them.

[0059] Moreover, steps S23 to S25 are executed when it is determined in step S22 that the designated location has been passed. That is, the guidance voice control unit 13 releases the suppression of guidance information when the designated location (guidance point) has been passed.

[0060] Fig. 5 is a flow chart of the operation for terminating the passenger guidance mode (warning). The passenger guidance mode (warning) is composed of only steps S21, S22, and S26 in Fig. 4. Although Fig. 4 describes steps S21A and S26A, this is because the passenger guidance mode has been changed from (guidance) to (warning). The operation is substantially the same.

[0061] In FIG. 5, in the passenger guidance mode (warning), guidance (warning) is given to a specific point, and it is considered that the mode may be terminated once the warning point (instruction location) has been passed, so judgments such as steps S23 to S25 in FIG. 4 are omitted.

[0062] In addition, even in the case of the passenger guidance mode (warning), the mode may be ended by listening to "end" as in step S23 of Fig. 4. Also, the passenger guidance mode (guidance) may be a flowchart as shown in Fig. 5.

[0063] According to this embodiment, the guidance device 10 outputs guidance information along the route searched by the guidance unit 14. At this time, the keyword analysis unit 12 acquires the spoken voice information and extracts keywords related to guidance, and the guidance voice control unit 13 acquires the analysis result of the spoken voice information including the keywords related to guidance extracted by the keyword analysis unit 12. Then, when the result of the voice analysis shows that the content indicated by the spoken voice information corresponds to guidance, the guidance voice control unit 13 suppresses the output of guidance information from the guidance unit 14. In this way, guidance for fellow passengers can be detected, and therefore conflict with guidance for fellow passengers, etc. can be prevented.

[0064] In addition, the guidance voice control unit 13 identifies a guidance point included in the speech voice information based on the acquired analysis result, and suppresses output of guidance information up to the identified point. In this way, it is possible to reliably suppress output of guidance information up to the guidance point.

[0065] In addition, the guidance voice control unit 13 cancels the suppression of the guidance information when the guidance point is passed. In this way, it is possible to suppress the output of the guidance information only for the place where the passenger wants to be guided.

[0066] In addition, when the spoken voice information is a combination of words related to a place and words related to an action, the guidance voice control unit 13 may obtain an analysis result that the content indicated by the spoken voice information corresponds to guidance. In this way, it is possible to detect guidance that combines a place and an action, such as "turn right at the next intersection."

[0067] The keyword analysis unit 12 also extracts warning-related keywords as keywords, and the guidance voice control unit 13 also acquires the analysis results of the spoken voice information including the warning-related keywords. The guidance voice control unit 13 also suppresses the output of guidance information from the guidance unit 14 when the acquired voice analysis results indicate that the content indicated by the spoken voice information corresponds to a warning. In this way, when a passenger issues a warning such as "there are a lot of vehicles jumping out," it is detected and the output of guidance information is suppressed, thereby preventing conflict.

[0068] In addition, when the speech information is a combination of a word related to a location and a word that calls attention, the guidance voice control unit 13 acquires an analysis result that the content indicated by the speech information corresponds to a warning. In this way, it is possible to detect a warning that combines a location and a warning, such as "there are many pedestrians running out at the next intersection."

[0069] In the above embodiment, the server device 20 has the map information 22, and the server device 20 actually identifies the designated location, but the guidance device 10 may identify the designated location. If the guidance device 10 is a car navigation device, it often has map information (including POI information), and even if it is a navigation application, it can access map information from an external server, so the guidance device 10 can identify the designated location based on that information. That is, the guidance device 10 has a map information acquisition unit that acquires map information, and the guidance voice control unit 13 identifies the guidance point based on the map information.

[0070] Moreover, the operation is not limited to the speech of passengers, etc., but may be similarly performed for the speech of devices, etc. other than the guidance device 10. For example, when the guidance device 10 is a retrofit device, it is possible to prevent conflict with the speech from devices originally installed in the vehicle, etc.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the server device 20 executes the function of the voice analysis unit 21, but the guidance device 10 may incorporate a function equivalent to the voice analysis unit 21. This eliminates the need for communication with the outside, so that even in places where communication is unstable, such as inside a tunnel, the output of guidance information can be suppressed when guidance is given by a passenger.

[0072] In addition, when the server device 20 is executing the function of the guidance unit 14, the server device 20 may also have the functions of the keyword analysis unit 12 and the guidance voice control unit 13. In this case, all of the speech voice information input from the voice input unit 11 is output to the server device 20.

[0073] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. In other words, a person skilled in the art can implement various modifications according to the conventionally known knowledge without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as the guiding device of the present invention is still included in such modifications, it is of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 10 Guidance device 12 Keyword Analysis Section 13 Guidance voice control unit 14 Information Department 20 Server device 21 Audio Analysis Section 22 Map Information

Claims

[Claim 1] a guidance unit that outputs guidance information along the searched route; a voice detection unit that acquires spoken voice information and detects keywords related to guidance; an analysis result acquisition unit that acquires an analysis result of the speech voice information including a keyword related to the guidance detected by the voice detection unit; A guidance device characterized by comprising: a guidance voice control unit that suppresses the output of the guidance information from the guidance unit when the result of the voice analysis acquired by the analysis result acquisition unit indicates that the content indicated by the spoken voice information corresponds to guidance.

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