Route data processing device, route data processing method, and route data processing program

Abstract

To provide a route data processing device and the like capable of guiding even a visually impaired person to travel safely.SOLUTION: A route data processing device includes the steps of: acquiring sound data indicating a guide point recognizable by a visually impaired person and location data indicating the location of the guide point; recording guide point data PT for the visually impaired person in map data MP based on the acquired sound data and position data; acquiring a request to send route data that shows the route to the destination; generating a route that corresponds to the acquired sent request and includes the guide point; and transmitting the route data indicating the generated route to a sender of the request.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical fields of a route data processing device, a route data processing method, and a program for processing route data. More specifically, the present application belongs to the technical fields of a route data processing device, a route data processing method, and a program for the route data processing device that process route data for guiding visually impaired people, particularly when they are traveling by foot. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been an increasing interest and demand for building a society in which people with visual or hearing impairments can easily live. As part of such demands, research and development of devices to assist the movement of visually impaired people has been actively carried out. For example, the following Patent Document 1 is a prior art document that discloses an example of such conventional technology.

[0003] This patent document 1 discloses a prior art aimed at providing a guidance system for visually impaired people that links a lightweight cane and a mobile terminal. The guidance system disclosed in the patent document 1 is composed of a cane held by a user while walking and a mobile terminal that processes information acquired by the cane. In this case, the cane is configured to acquire various information for identifying location information using a sensor and transmit the acquired various information to the mobile terminal. Meanwhile, the mobile terminal is configured to receive the various information transmitted from the cane, identify the user's location information from the received information, and compare the identified location information with a walking route on a map application set in the mobile terminal to guide the user to the destination. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-102666 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in general, routes suitable for walking by visually able-bodied people (hereinafter simply referred to as "able-bodied people") are often different from routes suitable for walking by visually impaired people. For example, even if a step on a road does not cause any problem for able-bodied people, it may be a big obstacle for visually impaired people and cause injuries due to falls, etc., so a route including such a step is not suitable for visually impaired people. In addition, because of visual impairment, even if a route includes features that can be recognized as landmarks by able-bodied people, it is equivalent to a route without landmarks for visually impaired people. In view of the above-mentioned current situation, there is a demand for setting (searching) a route that allows visually impaired people to move easily and safely to reach a destination, but the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration at all to meet such demands. Therefore, the technology disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 cannot meet the above-mentioned demands.

[0006] Therefore, the present application has been made in consideration of the above problems and demands, and one example of the object of the application is to provide a route data processing device and processing method, as well as a program for said processing device, that can safely guide even visually impaired people to their movements. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 comprises a data acquisition means for acquiring feature data indicating features recognizable by visually impaired persons and location data indicating the positions of the features, a recording means for recording guide points for visually impaired persons in map data based on the acquired feature data and location data, a request acquisition means for acquiring a request to transmit route data indicating a route to a destination, a generation means for generating a route that corresponds to the acquired transmission request and includes the guide points for visually impaired persons, and a transmission means for transmitting the route data indicating the generated route to a sender of the transmission request.

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 7 comprises a data acquisition means for acquiring feature data indicating features recognizable by visually impaired persons and location data indicating the locations of the features, and a recording means for recording guide points for visually impaired persons in map data based on the acquired feature data and location data.

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 8 comprises a request acquisition means for acquiring a request to send route data indicating a route that a visually impaired person can use to travel to a destination, a generation means for generating a route including guide points for visually impaired people recorded in map data based on feature data indicating features recognizable by the visually impaired person and position data indicating the positions of the features, and a transmission means for transmitting the route data indicating the generated route to a sender of the transmission request.

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 9 is a route data processing method executed in a route data processing device equipped with a data acquisition means, a recording means, a request acquisition means, a generation means, and a transmission means, and includes a data acquisition process of acquiring feature data indicating features recognizable by visually impaired persons and position data indicating the positions of the features by the data acquisition means, a recording process of recording guide points for visually impaired persons in map data based on the acquired feature data and position data by the recording means, a request acquisition process of acquiring a transmission request for route data indicating a route to a destination by the request acquisition means, a generation process of generating a route by the generation means that corresponds to the acquired transmission request and includes the guide points for visually impaired persons, and a transmission process of transmitting the route data indicating the generated route to a source of the transmission request by the transmission means.

[0011] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 10 causes a computer to function as a data acquisition means for acquiring feature data indicating features recognizable by visually impaired persons and location data indicating the positions of the features, a recording means for recording guide points for visually impaired persons in map data based on the acquired feature data and location data, a request acquisition means for acquiring a request to transmit route data indicating a route to a destination, a generation means for generating a route that corresponds to the acquired transmission request and includes the guide points for visually impaired persons, and a transmission means for transmitting the route data indicating the generated route to the sender of the transmission request. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a route data processing device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 1A and 1B are block diagrams showing a detailed configuration of a location information transmitting terminal constituting a navigation system of an embodiment, in which FIG. 1A is the block diagram, and FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining location information registration processing of the embodiment. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are block diagrams showing the detailed configuration of a server constituting the navigation system of the embodiment, in which FIG. 1A is the block diagram, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of the contents of guide point data of the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are block diagrams showing a detailed configuration of a guidance terminal constituting a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is the block diagram, and FIG. 1B is a diagram (I) for explaining guidance processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram (II) for explaining the guidance process of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a route data processing device according to the embodiment.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, a route data processing device S of the embodiment is configured to include a data acquisition means 1, a recording means 2, a request acquisition means 3, a generating means 4, and a transmitting means 5.

[0015] In this configuration, the data acquisition means 1 acquires feature data indicating features recognizable by visually impaired people and position data indicating the positions of the features. The recording means 2 then records the guide points for visually impaired people in the map data based on the feature data and position data acquired by the data acquisition means 1.

[0016] Meanwhile, the request acquisition means 3 acquires a request to transmit route data indicating a route to the destination. The generation means 4 generates a route including guidance points for visually impaired persons in response to the transmission request acquired by the request acquisition means 3. Thereafter, the transmission means 5 transmits the route data indicating the route generated by the generation means 4 to the sender of the transmission request acquired by the request acquisition means 3.

[0017] As described above, according to the operation of the route data processing device S of the embodiment, guide points for visually impaired persons are recorded in map data based on feature data indicating features recognizable by visually impaired persons and position data indicating the positions of the features. Then, in response to a request for transmission of route data to the destination, a route including guide points for visually impaired persons is generated, and route data indicating the generated route is transmitted to the sender of the transmission request.

[0018] Therefore, a route that includes guide points for visually impaired people that correspond to features that even visually impaired people can recognize can be shared among multiple people, and the visually impaired people can be safely guided using the route. EXAMPLES

[0019] Next, specific examples corresponding to the above-mentioned embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 6. The examples described below are examples in which the present application is applied to a navigation system that uses a guidance terminal of the example carried by a visually impaired person to guide the visually impaired person on his / her walking movement (hereinafter referred to as "walking movement" as appropriate) using, for example, voice. In this case, the navigation system of the example includes a guidance point data recording system for recording guidance point data, which is data related to points suitable for guiding the walking movement of the visually impaired person, in map data, and a route generation / guidance system for providing the guidance using a route generated for guiding the walking movement of the visually impaired person using the recorded guidance point data.

[0020] Also, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the navigation system of the embodiment, Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of a point information transmitting terminal constituting the navigation system of the embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of a server constituting the navigation system of the embodiment. Furthermore, Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of a guidance terminal constituting the navigation system of the embodiment, and Fig. 6 is a diagram explaining the guidance process of the embodiment. In Fig. 4, the same component numbers as those of the respective components in the route data processing device S of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 are used for the respective components of the embodiment.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2, the navigation system SS of the embodiment is configured to include location information transmission terminals T1, T2, ..., Tn (n is a natural number, the same applies below) that are carried by visually impaired or able-bodied persons and function as part of the guide location data recording system, guidance terminals G1, G2, ..., Gm (m is a natural number, the same applies below) that are carried by visually impaired persons and function as part of the route generation / guidance system, and a server SV that functions as part of the guide location data recording system and part of the route generation / guidance system. The location information transmission terminals T1, T2, ..., Tn, the guidance terminals G1, G2, ..., Gm, and the server SV are connected to each other via a network NW such as the Internet so that they can exchange information or data with each other. In the following description, when describing matters common to the location information transmitting terminal T1, the location information transmitting terminal T2, ..., and the location information transmitting terminal Tn, they will be collectively referred to as the "location information transmitting terminal T." Furthermore, when describing matters common to the guidance terminal G1, the guidance terminal G2, ..., and the guidance terminal Gm, they will be collectively referred to as the "guidance terminal G." Furthermore, a visually impaired person or a visually able-bodied person who carries the location information transmitting terminal T will be simply referred to as the "carrier" of the location information transmitting terminal T.

[0022] In the above configuration, as part of the function of the guide point data recording system, information indicating a point or road (movement route) having attributes suitable for guiding a visually impaired person to walk is input by voice to each of the point information transmitting terminals T by the carrier of the point information transmitting device T. As a result, each point information transmitting terminal T transmits the information input by voice to the server SV via the network NW together with position data indicating the current position of the point information transmitting terminal T. The server SV then associates the information transmitted from each point information transmitting terminal T with the position data transmitted at the same time, and records it non-volatilely as the guide point data of the embodiment. At this time, the point or movement route having attributes suitable for guiding a visually impaired person to walk becomes the guide point of the embodiment.

[0023] Here, the location or route as the guide location in the embodiment having attributes suitable for guiding the walking movement of the visually impaired is a location or route that the visually impaired can use as a landmark without relying on vision when walking. More specifically, the characteristics of the guide location include, for example, "a convenience store that emits a specific sound that can be recognized as the sound from that convenience store," "a bakery that emits the smell of bread," "a traffic light with a voice assistance function," "a slope that can be distinguished from a normal flat road because it is a slope," and "a gravel road that can be distinguished from a normal road by sound or the sensation through the feet or legs." The server SV associates the characteristics indicated by the information input by the carrier of the location information transmission device T with the position data transmitted from the location information transmission terminal T together with the information, and records them in a mutually identifiable and non-volatile manner as guide location data indicating the guide location having these characteristics.

[0024] On the other hand, as a part of the function of the route generation / guidance system, information indicating a facility or location (in the following description, the facility or location is simply referred to as a "land feature") that is the destination of the walking movement is input by voice to each of the guidance terminals G carried by the visually impaired person carrying the location information transmission device T. As a result, each guidance terminal G transmits the information input by voice to the server SV via the network NW together with position data indicating the current location of the guidance terminal G. Then, based on the information indicating the destination and the position data transmitted from each guidance terminal G, the server SV generates a route from the current location indicated by the position data (the current location of the guidance terminal G) to the destination so as to include as many of the guidance locations as possible. After that, the server SV transmits route data indicating the generated route to the guidance terminal G that transmitted the information indicating the destination and the position data via the network NW. The guidance terminal G that receives the route data thereby guides the walking movement of the visually impaired person carrying the guidance terminal G based on the received route data, for example, by voice or a vibration that can be felt.

[0025] Next, the detailed configurations and operations of the location information transmitting terminal T, the guide terminal G and the server SV constituting the navigation system SS of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0026] (I) Detailed configuration and functions of the guide point data recording system of the embodiment First, the detailed configuration and functions of the guide point data recording system of the embodiment, including the point registration process of the embodiment, will be described with reference to Figs.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3(a), each of the location information transmission terminals T in the embodiment is composed of a processing unit 20 consisting of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., a non-volatile recording unit 21 consisting of an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), etc., an operation unit 22 consisting of operation buttons, etc., a microphone 23, a camera 24 consisting of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) imaging element, etc., a sensor unit 25 constituting a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) or an autonomous navigation system, etc., a display 26 consisting of a liquid crystal display, etc., a speaker 27, and an interface 28.

[0028] In the above configuration, the recording unit 21 non-volatilely records programs and voice data necessary for the location information transmitting terminal T to fulfill the functions to be assumed as part of the functions of the guidance location data recording system of the embodiment, and the programs and voice data are read out by the processing unit 20 as necessary. Under the control of the processing unit 20, the microphone 23 collects the voice of the carrier of the location information transmitting terminal T and outputs the collected voice data to the processing unit 20. Under the control of the processing unit 20, the camera 24 outputs, for example, image data corresponding to the imaging result of the surroundings of the location information transmitting terminal T to the processing unit 20. Furthermore, under the control of the processing unit 20, the sensor unit 25 detects the current position, moving speed, traveling direction, etc. of the location information transmitting terminal T using the GNSS or the like, generates detection data indicating the detection result, and outputs it to the processing unit 20.

[0029] On the other hand, the display 26 displays images or maps, etc., required for the above functions to be performed by the location information transmitting terminal T under the control of the processing unit 20. Also, the speaker 27 emits sounds, etc., required for the above functions to be performed by the location information transmitting terminal T under the control of the processing unit 20. Furthermore, the interface 28 controls the exchange of information or data required for the above functions to be performed by the location information transmitting terminal T with the server SV via the network NW under the control of the processing unit 20. Furthermore, when an instruction operation is performed on the location information transmitting terminal T by its carrier, the operation unit 22 generates an operation signal corresponding to the instruction operation and outputs it to the processing unit 20. As a result, the processing unit 20 controls each component constituting the location information transmitting terminal T, such as the microphone 23, the sensor unit 25, and the interface 28, based on the above operation signal, while controlling the performance of the above functions to be performed by the location information transmitting terminal T.

[0030] Here, in the above-mentioned functions that the location information transmission terminal T should assume, it is assumed that a user carrying the location information transmission terminal T walks to the destination GL through the roads R1 to R3 shown by the broken lines in Fig. 3(b). At this time, it is assumed that at one corner of the intersection CX1 where the roads R1 and R2 intersect, there is a bakery BK that emits a fragrant aroma of baked bread outside the store that can be recognized by visually impaired people. Also, it is assumed that at one corner of the intersection CX2 where the roads R2 and R3 intersect, there is a convenience store CS that emits a unique sound outside that can be recognized by visually impaired people. Furthermore, it is assumed that the road R2 between the intersections CX1 and CX2 is a gravel road that can be recognized by the sound or the sense of the feet or legs when a visually impaired person walks there, and the road R3 from the intersection CX2 to the destination GL is a slope that can be recognized by the slope when a visually impaired person walks there.

[0031] Then, when the carrier of the point information transmission terminal T walks toward the destination GL via roads R1 to R3, the carrier makes the processing unit 20 recognize the start of the point registration process for the feature such as a facility that is the target of the point registration process of the embodiment when passing through an intersection CX1. At this time, the carrier who starts the point registration process, for example, speaks a preset term (so-called wake word) indicating the start of the point registration process into the microphone 23, or executes a start operation (for example, an operation of a point registration button not shown in the operation unit 22) indicating the start of the point registration process on the operation unit 22, so that the start of the point registration process is recognized by the processing unit 20. In the following description, the utterance of the wake word or the start operation is simply referred to as the "point registration start operation" by the carrier. Then, the carrier who performs the point registration process speaks, for example, "I will register this bakery" after the point registration start operation when passing through the intersection CX1. Next, when passing through road R2, the carrier utters, for example, "I will register this gravel road." after the location registration start operation. Next, when passing through intersection CX2, the carrier utters, for example, "I will register this convenience store." after the location registration start operation. Finally, when passing through road R3, the carrier utters, for example, "I will register this slope." after the location registration start operation. Then, at each location registration start operation and each of the subsequent utterances, microphone 23 collects each of the utterances, generates the sound data corresponding to each of the utterances, and outputs the generated data to processing unit 20. Then, processing unit 20 associates each of the sound data (excluding the voice data corresponding to the location registration start operation) with the detection data (including the corresponding position data indicating the current position) at each time, and transmits the data to server SV via interface 28 and network NW, for example, each time the utterance (excluding the voice for the location registration start operation) is made. As a result, the server SV, as will be described in detail later, records the pairs of sound data and detection data transmitted from the point information transmitting terminal T in a mutually distinguishable and non-volatile manner as guide point data PT, as will be described later.

[0032] Next, the detailed configuration and functions of the server SV of the above embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4(a), the server SV of the embodiment is composed of a processing unit 10 consisting of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., a non-volatile recording unit 11 consisting of an HDD or SSD, etc., an operation unit 12 consisting of a keyboard, mouse, etc., a display 13 consisting of a liquid crystal display, etc., and an interface 1.

[0033] The processing unit 10 is also composed of a recording control unit 2 and a route generation unit 4. In this case, the recording control unit 2 and the route generation unit 4 may be realized by a hardware logic circuit constituting the processing unit 10, or may be realized in software by the processing unit 10 reading and executing a program corresponding to the location information registration process of the embodiment and the guidance process of the embodiment described later from the recording unit 11. The interface 1 corresponds to an example of the data acquisition means 1, the request acquisition means 3, and the transmission means 5 of the embodiment, the recording control unit 2 corresponds to an example of the recording means 2 of the embodiment, and the route generation unit 4 corresponds to an example of the generation means 4 of the embodiment.

[0034] In the above configuration, the above programs and map data MP used to perform the functions of the guide point data recording system and the route generation / guidance system of the embodiment are non-volatilely recorded in the recording unit 11. As part of this map data MP, the guide point data PT of the embodiment corresponding to the sound data and the detection data (including the position data of the point information transmitting terminal T) transmitted from each point information transmitting terminal T via the network NW and the interface 1 is recorded.

[0035] At this time, the guide point data PT is generated and recorded by the recording control section 2 of the processing section 10 using the sound data and the detection data received via the interface 1.

[0036] More specifically, the case explained using FIG. 3(b) will be explained using FIG. 4(b). Using the sound data corresponding to the utterance "Register this bakery," transmitted when the carrier of the location information transmitting terminal T passes through the intersection CX1 illustrated in FIG. 3(b) and the position data indicating the position of the location information transmitting terminal T at the time of passing through, the recording control unit 2 records in the map data MP, in association with the ID "A0" illustrated in FIG. 4(b), the example guidance point data PT indicating a guidance point characterized by "bakery" (a guidance point for guiding visually impaired people on foot; the same applies below) located at the position indicated by the position data (for example, a position indicated by latitude / longitude). Using the sound data corresponding to the utterance "Register this gravel road" transmitted when the carrier passed the road R2 illustrated in Fig. 3(b) and the position data indicating the position of the point information transmitting terminal T at the time of passing, the recording control unit 2 records the guide point data PT of the embodiment indicating the guide point characterized as "gravel road" located at the position indicated by the position data in the map data MP, in association with the ID "A1" illustrated in Fig. 4(b) while referring to the map data MP. In this case, the recording control unit 2 includes the position data indicating the positions of one end point (intersection CX1) and the other end point (intersection CX2) of the road R2 as a gravel road in the guide point data PT as the position data indicating the position of the road R2 (road R2 as a "gravel road").

[0037] Furthermore, using sound data corresponding to the utterance of "Register this convenience store" transmitted when the carrier passes through the intersection CX2 illustrated in Fig. 3(b) and the position data indicating the position of the point information transmitting terminal T at the time of passing, the recording control unit 2 records in the map data MP the guide point data PT of the embodiment indicating the guide point characterized by "convenience store" located at the position indicated by the position data in association with the ID "A2" illustrated in Fig. 4(b). Furthermore, using sound data corresponding to the utterance of "Register this slope" transmitted when the carrier passes through the road R3 illustrated in Fig. 3(b) and the position data indicating the position of the point information transmitting terminal T at the time of passing, the recording control unit 2 records in the map data MP the guide point data PT of the embodiment indicating the guide point characterized by "slope" located at the position indicated by the position data in association with the ID "A3" illustrated in Fig. 4(b) while referring to the map data MP. In this case, the recording control unit 2 causes position data indicating the positions of one end point (intersection CX2) and the other end point (destination GL) of road R3 as a slope to be included in the guide point data PT as position data indicating the position of road R3 (road R3 as a "slope"). Similarly, the recording control unit 2 generates guide point data PT based on the sound data and detection data transmitted from the point information transmitting terminal T and records it in the map data MP.

[0038] Next, the route generating unit 4 generates a route corresponding to the route data, which will be described later, using the guidance point data PT, based on a request for sending route data from the guidance device G of the embodiment as a route generating / guiding system of the embodiment described later. After that, the processing unit 10 transmits the route data corresponding to the generated route to the guidance device G that transmitted the request via the interface 1 and the network NW. The administrator of the server SV inputs instructions, etc., required for the processing as the server SV described above, using the operation unit 12. As a result, the operation unit 12 generates an instruction signal corresponding to the instruction, etc., and outputs it to the processing unit 10. As a result, the processing unit 10 (the recording control unit 2 and the route generating unit 4) controls the processing as the server SV in an integrated manner based on the instruction signal. At this time, information, etc. to be presented to the administrator is presented to the administrator by image display, etc., using the display 13, for example.

[0039] (II) Detailed configuration and functions of the route generation / guidance system of the embodiment Next, the detailed configuration and functions of the route generation / guidance system of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0040] First, as shown in FIG. 5(a), each of the guidance terminals G of the embodiment constituting the above-mentioned route generation / guidance system is composed of a processing unit 30 consisting of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., a non-volatile recording unit 31 consisting of an HDD or SSD, etc., an operation unit 32 consisting of operation buttons, etc., a microphone 33, a camera 34 consisting of a CCD or CMOS imaging element, etc., a sensor unit 35 constituting a GNSS system or a self-contained navigation system, etc., a display 36 consisting of a liquid crystal display, etc., a speaker 37, and an interface 38.

[0041] The processing unit 30 is composed of a voice guidance unit 30A and a guidance control unit 30B. In this case, the voice guidance unit 30A and the guidance control unit 30B may be realized by a hardware logic circuit constituting the processing unit 30, or may be realized by software by the processing unit 30 reading out from the recording unit 31 and executing a program corresponding to the guidance processing as the route generation / guidance system of the embodiment.

[0042] In the above configuration, the recording unit 31 non-volatilely records programs and voice data necessary for the guidance terminal G to perform the functions to be performed as part of the functions of the route generation / guidance system of the embodiment, and the programs and voice data are read out by the processing unit 30 as necessary. The sensor unit 35 detects the current position, moving speed, and traveling direction of the guidance terminal G using the GNSS or the like under the control of the processing unit 30, generates detection data indicating the detection results, and outputs the detection data to the processing unit 30. The speaker 37 emits voices such as guidance voices necessary for the functions to be performed by the guidance terminal G under the control of the processing unit 30. The microphone 33 collects sounds around the guidance terminal G under the control of the processing unit 30, and outputs sound data corresponding to the collected sounds to the processing unit 30. The camera 34 outputs image data corresponding to the imaging results of the surroundings of the guidance terminal G to the processing unit 30 under the control of the processing unit 30.

[0043] Meanwhile, the display 36 displays images or maps, etc., required for the above functions to be performed by the guidance terminal G under the control of the processing unit 30. Furthermore, the interface 38 controls the exchange of information or data required for the above functions to be performed by the guidance terminal G with the server SV via the network NW under the control of the processing unit 30. Furthermore, when an instruction operation is performed on the guidance terminal G by a visually impaired person carrying it, the operation unit 32 generates an operation signal corresponding to the instruction operation and outputs it to the processing unit 30. In this way, the processing unit 30 controls the performance of the above functions to be performed by the guidance terminal G while controlling each of the components constituting the guidance terminal G, such as the sensor unit 35, speaker 37, and interface 38.

[0044] Here, the function of the guidance processing as the route generation / guidance system of the embodiment, which is executed mainly by the guidance terminal G and the route generation unit 4 of the server SV, will be explained using FIG. 5(b) as an example in which the guidance point data PT recorded using the guidance point data recording system of the embodiment is shown in FIG. 4(b), and a visually impaired person carrying the guidance terminal G walks to the destination GL via the intersections CX1 and CX2 shown in FIG. 3(b).

[0045] That is, suppose that a visually impaired person carrying a guidance device G is at a starting point ST as illustrated in Fig. 5(b) and requests walking guidance from the starting point ST to the destination GL (as a visually impaired person) by operating the operation unit 32 of the guidance terminal G at that location. In this case, the guidance control unit 30B generates a transmission request for the above-mentioned route data from the starting point ST to the destination GL, and transmits the request to the server SV via the interface 38 and the network NW after attaching identification information for identifying the guidance terminal G from other guidance terminals G. As a result, the route generation unit 4 (see Fig. 4(a)) of the server SV refers to the guidance point data PT illustrated in Fig. 4(b) and generates route data indicating a route R (see Fig. 5(b)) passing through road R1 (starting point ST) → intersection CX1 → road R2 → intersection CX2 → road R3 → destination GL as illustrated in Fig. 3(b). The route data at this time includes position data and characteristic data (see FIG. 4(b)) corresponding to the intersection CX1, the road R2, the intersection CX2, and the road R3. The route data is then transmitted by the processing unit 10 to the guidance device G via the interface 1 and the network NW, using the identification information of the guidance terminal G that has transmitted the transmission request as a clue.

[0046] Next, the guidance control unit 30B and the voice guidance unit 30A of the guidance terminal G, which receive the above route data via the network NW and the interface 38, guide the walking movement of the visually impaired person carrying the guidance terminal G based on the route data, using the above bakery BK, road R2, convenience store CS, and road R3 as guidance points, respectively.

[0047] More specifically, first, the guidance control unit 30B causes the voice guidance unit 30A to emit a guidance voice such as "Turn left at the intersection ahead where there is a bakery" through the speaker 37 at the timing when the visually impaired person carrying the guidance terminal G approaches the intersection CX1 (i.e., the timing when the visually impaired person starts to smell bread) based on the above detection data from the sensor unit 35. After the visually impaired person turns left at the intersection CX1 in accordance with the guidance voice, the guidance control unit 30B then causes the voice guidance unit 30A to emit a guidance voice such as "Go straight on the gravel road for a while" through the speaker 37 at the timing when the visually impaired person carrying the guidance terminal G starts walking along the road R2 (i.e., the timing when the visually impaired person gets the sense that it is a gravel road) based on the above detection data from the sensor unit 35. Next, when the visually impaired person walks along road R2 according to the guidance voice and approaches intersection CX2 (i.e., when the visually impaired person starts to hear the sound from convenience store CS), the voice guidance unit 30A emits a guidance voice such as "Turn right at the intersection ahead where the convenience store is located" through the speaker 37. When the visually impaired person turns right at intersection CX2 according to the guidance voice, the guidance control unit 30B finally causes the voice guidance unit 30A to emit a guidance voice such as "Go up the slope to reach your destination" through the speaker 37 based on the above detection data from the sensor unit 35 at the timing when the visually impaired person carrying the guidance terminal G starts walking along road R3 (i.e., when the visually impaired person gets the sense that it is a slope). Through the above series of guidance voices, the visually impaired person carrying the guidance terminal G can receive guidance for walking along route R, with a feature that is easy for the visually impaired person to recognize as a guidance point.

[0048] Here, a comparison is made between a case where a visually impaired person is guided on foot from a starting point to a destination using a navigation system SS of an embodiment including a guidance point data recording system of an embodiment and a route generation / guidance system of an embodiment, and a case where a visually impaired person is guided on a similar journey from a starting point to a destination, with reference to an example shown in FIG. 6.

[0049] That is, when a visually impaired person walks from the starting point ST to the destination GL as illustrated in Fig. 6, for example, a guidance process is executed along the shortest route R' illustrated by the dashed line in Fig. 6. In contrast, when a visually impaired person walks from the same starting point ST to the destination GL using the navigation system SS of the above embodiment, the visually impaired person is guided along the route R illustrated by the dashed line in Fig. 6 (i.e., a route R that is slightly longer than the shortest route R' but is safe for the visually impaired person) that passes through a bakery BK that smells of bread, an intersection with a traffic light SG that has a voice assistance function, and a convenience store CS that makes a unique sound, which are easy for the visually impaired person to recognize (see the white arrow in Fig. 6).

[0050] As described above, according to the navigation system SS of the embodiment including the guide point data recording system of the embodiment and the route generation / guidance system of the embodiment, guide point data PT for visually impaired persons is recorded in the map data MP based on the sound data indicating guide points recognizable by visually impaired persons and the position data indicating the positions of the guide points. Then, in response to a request for transmission of route data to the destination GL, a route including guide points for visually impaired persons is generated, and route data indicating the generated route is transmitted to the guidance terminal G that is the source of the transmission request. Thus, a route including guide points recognizable even by visually impaired persons can be shared among multiple persons, and the visually impaired person can be safely guided using the route.

[0051] Furthermore, the guide point data PT is based on sound data corresponding to the contents of speech by a visually impaired person or a visually unimpaired person (i.e., the above-mentioned carrier) about the guide point, and information (characteristics) indicating the contents of the guide point is recorded in the map data MP in association with the position data. Therefore, information indicating the guide point for the visually impaired can be recorded in the map data MP simply by the carrier of the point information transmitting terminal T speaking about a guide point that can be recognized by the visually impaired.

[0052] Furthermore, if the facility or other facility that is the guidance point indicated by the guidance point data PT is a facility or other facility that emits at least one of a sound or smell to the outside that can be recognized by visually impaired persons, information indicating the guidance point that is easy for visually impaired persons to recognize can be recorded in the map data MP.

[0053] Furthermore, since the location data acquired together with the sound data corresponding to the guidance point is location data indicating the location of the user at the time of speaking about the guidance point (see Figure 3(b)), the guidance point for visually impaired persons can be accurately recorded in the map data MP based on the location of the speaker who actually visited the location of the guidance point for visually impaired persons.

[0054] Furthermore, if the carrier of the location information transmitting terminal T is visually impaired, guide locations that are truly useful for visually impaired people, based on the carrier's experience, can be recorded in the map data MP and shared.

[0055] Furthermore, according to the guide point data recording system of the embodiment, guide point data PT for visually impaired people is recorded in map data MP based on sound data indicating guide points recognizable by visually impaired people and position data indicating the positions of the guide points. Therefore, map data MP can be recorded so that a route including guide points recognizable even by visually impaired people can be shared by multiple people.

[0056] Furthermore, according to the route generation / guidance system of the embodiment, a route including guidance points for visually impaired people recorded in map data MP is generated based on sound data indicating guidance points recognizable by visually impaired people and position data indicating the positions of the guidance points, and route data indicating the generated route is transmitted to the guidance terminal G which is the source of the route data transmission request. Therefore, a route including guidance points recognizable even by visually impaired people can be shared among multiple people, and visually impaired people can be safely guided using the route.

[0057] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the degree of visual impairment of the visually impaired person is not taken into consideration. However, when transmitting sound data and detection data from the point information transmitting terminal T, the data may be configured to be transmitted with a distinction of the applicable degree of visual impairment (for example, distinction between weak vision and blindness). In this case, the guide point data recorded in the server SV corresponds to the degree of visual impairment, and therefore, a route including guide points corresponding to the degree of visual impairment can be shared by multiple people, and safe guidance according to the degree of visual impairment can be provided using the route.

[0058] In addition, a program corresponding to each of the functions of the guidance point data recording system of the embodiment and the route generation / guidance system of the embodiment can be recorded on a recording medium such as an optical disk or a hard disk, or obtained via a network such as the Internet, and then read out and executed on a general-purpose microcomputer or the like, thereby causing the microcomputer to function as processing unit 10, processing unit 20 or processing unit 30 of the embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1. Data acquisition method (interface) 2 Recording means (recording control section) 3 Request acquisition means 4. Generation means (route generation unit) 5. Transmission Method T, T1, T2, Tn Location information transmission terminal G, G1, G2, Gm Information terminal PT Guidance Point Data SS Navigation System SV Server BK Bakery CS Convenience Store R1, R2, R3 roads ST Departure point GL destination

Claims

[Claim 1] A data acquisition means for acquiring feature data indicating features recognizable by visually impaired persons and position data indicating the positions of the features; a recording means for recording guide points for visually impaired persons in map data based on the acquired feature data and position data; A request acquisition means for acquiring a request for transmission of route data indicating a route to a destination; a generating means for generating a route corresponding to the acquired transmission request and including the guidance point for visually impaired persons; a transmission means for transmitting the route data indicating the generated route to a source of the transmission request; A route data processing device comprising:

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