Information processing apparatus, information output method, program, and storage medium

Abstract

To present information requested by a driver according to the state of driving.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus provides information related to the travel of a movable body. A receiving unit receives an information request. A load determination unit determines the load on a driver related to the driving of the movable body. A voice output unit outputs basic information when the load is larger than the information request, and outputs by voice additional information in addition to the basic information when the load is smaller.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to route guidance by voice.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a navigation device that provides route guidance to a destination by voice has been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an audio navigation system that notifies the approximate distance and direction from the current location to the destination by increasing the spread of the sound field as the distance from the current location to the destination decreases and localizing the sound output from the speaker so that the sound can be heard from the direction of the destination with respect to the user's head.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a voice navigation device that provides route guidance by voice, since the guidance route is not basically displayed, the driver becomes anxious about whether they are driving correctly according to the guidance route, and it is assumed that the driver will ask questions about the guidance route. In this case, the voice navigation device is required to present the information requested by the driver according to the driving situation.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a main object thereof is to provide an information processing device capable of presenting the information requested by the driver according to the driving situation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The invention according to the claims is an information processing apparatus that provides information regarding the movement of a moving body, comprising a reception unit that receives an information request, a load determination unit that determines the load on a driver related to the operation of the moving body, and a voice output unit that outputs basic information when the load is large in response to the information request, and outputs additional information by voice in addition to the basic information when the load is small.

[0007] Further, the invention according to the claims is an information output method executed by an information processing apparatus that provides information regarding the movement of a moving body, comprising a reception step of receiving an information request, a load determination step of determining the load on a driver related to the operation of the moving body, and a voice output step of outputting basic information when the load is large in response to the information request, and outputting additional information by voice in addition to the basic information when the load is small.

[0008] Further, the invention according to the claims is a program executed by an information processing apparatus including a computer, which provides information regarding the movement of a moving body, and causes the computer to function as a reception unit that receives an information request, a load determination unit that determines the load on a driver related to the operation of the moving body, and a voice output unit that outputs basic information when the load is large in response to the information request, and outputs additional information by voice in addition to the basic information when the load is small.

[0009] Further, the invention according to the claims is an information processing apparatus that provides information regarding the movement of a moving body, comprising a reception unit that receives an information request, and a voice output unit that outputs information on the next guidance point during the running of the moving body and when the moving body is located within an intersection in response to the information request, and outputs information on the next guidance point and the second guidance point when the moving body is stopped outside the intersection.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, an information processing apparatus that provides information regarding the movement of a moving body includes a reception unit that receives an information request, a load determination unit that determines the load on a driver regarding the operation of the moving body, and a voice output unit that outputs basic information when the load is large in response to the information request and outputs additional information by voice in addition to the basic information when the load is small.

[0012] The above information processing apparatus provides information regarding the movement of a moving body. The reception unit receives an information request. The load determination unit determines the load on a driver regarding the operation of the moving body. The voice output unit outputs basic information when the load is large in response to the information request and outputs additional information by voice in addition to the basic information when the load is small. Thereby, appropriate information output according to the driver's load can be performed in response to the information request.

[0013] In one aspect of the above information processing apparatus, the load determination unit determines that the load is large while the moving body is traveling and when the moving body is located within an intersection, and determines that the load is small when the moving body is stopped outside the intersection.

[0014] In another aspect of the above information processing apparatus, the information request relates to the next action to be taken regarding the travel of the moving body, and the voice output unit outputs information on the next guidance point as the basic information while the moving body is traveling, outputs the next guidance point as the basic information when the moving body is stopped outside the intersection, and outputs information on the second guidance point as the additional information.

[0015] In another aspect of the above information processing apparatus, the information request relates to the next action to be taken regarding the travel of the moving body, and when the moving body is located within an intersection, the voice output unit outputs information on the next guiding point of the intersection as the basic information.

[0016] In another aspect of the above information processing apparatus, the information request relates to the scheduled arrival at the destination of the moving body. During the travel of the moving body, the voice output unit outputs at least one of the remaining distance to the destination and the scheduled arrival time as the basic information. When the moving body stops outside an intersection, in addition to at least one of the remaining distance to the destination and the scheduled arrival time as the basic information, information regarding the use of a toll road is output as the additional information.

[0017] In another aspect of the above information processing apparatus, the load determination unit determines the load based on at least one of the shape of the road on which the moving body travels, the necessity of lane change of the moving body, the traffic conditions around the moving body, and the biometric information of the driver.

[0018] In another embodiment of the present invention, an information output method executed by an information processing apparatus that provides information regarding the movement of a moving body includes a reception step of receiving an information request, a load determination step of determining the load on a driver regarding the driving of the moving body, and a voice output step of outputting basic information when the load is large in response to the information request and voice-outputting additional information in addition to the basic information when the load is small. Thereby, appropriate information output according to the driver's load can be performed in response to the information request.

[0019] In still another embodiment of the present invention, a program executed by an information processing apparatus including a computer and providing information related to the movement of a moving body causes the computer to function as a reception unit that receives an information request, a load determination unit that determines the driver's load related to the operation of the moving body, and a voice output unit that outputs basic information when the load is large in response to the information request and outputs additional information in addition to the basic information by voice when the load is small. By executing this program on a computer, the above information processing apparatus can be realized. This program can be stored in a storage medium and used.

[0020] In still another embodiment of the present invention, an information processing apparatus that provides information related to the movement of a moving body includes a reception unit that receives an information request, and a voice output unit that outputs information on the next guidance point during the running of the moving body and when the moving body is located within an intersection in response to the information request, and outputs information on the next guidance point and the second guidance point when the moving body is stopped outside the intersection.

[0021] The above information processing apparatus provides information related to the movement of a moving body. The reception unit receives an information request. The voice output unit outputs information on the next guidance point during the running of the moving body and when the moving body is located within an intersection in response to the information request, and outputs information on the next guidance point and the second guidance point when the moving body is stopped outside the intersection.

Example

[0022] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> [System Configuration] FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a voice guidance system according to a first embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention. The voice guidance system includes a vehicle Ve and a voice guidance apparatus 1.

[0023] The voice guidance device 1 moves together with the vehicle Ve and performs route guidance mainly by voice so that the vehicle Ve travels along a route to be guided (also referred to as a "guidance route"). Note that "route guidance mainly by voice" refers to route guidance in which the user can grasp at least by voice alone the information necessary for driving the vehicle Ve along the guidance route, and does not exclude the voice guidance device 1 from additionally displaying a map around the current position. In this embodiment, the voice guidance device 1 outputs at least by voice information regarding points on the route that require guidance (also referred to as "guidance points"). Here, the guidance points correspond to, for example, intersections where the vehicle Ve turns right or left, and other important passing points for the vehicle Ve to travel along the guidance route. The voice guidance device 1 performs voice guidance regarding the guidance points, such as the distance from the vehicle Ve to the next guidance point and the traveling direction at the guidance point. Hereinafter, the voice regarding the guidance for the guidance route is also referred to as "route voice guidance".

[0024] Note that the voice guidance device 1 may be an in-vehicle device installed or attached to the vehicle Ve, or may be a portable terminal brought into the vehicle, such as a smartphone, and used. In yet another example, the voice guidance device 1 may be incorporated into the vehicle Ve. The voice guidance device 1 is an example of an "information processing device". Also, the vehicle Ve is an example of a "moving body".

[0025] [Device Configuration] FIG. 2 shows an example of the schematic configuration of the voice guidance device 1. The voice guidance device 1 mainly includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, an input unit 13, a control unit 14, a sensor group 15, a display unit 16, and a voice output unit 17. Each element in the voice guidance device 1 is interconnected via a bus line 10.

[0026] The communication unit 11 performs data communication with other terminals based on the control of the control unit 14. The communication unit 11 may receive, for example, map data for updating a map DB (DataBase) 4 described later from a map management server (not shown).

[0027] The storage unit 12 is composed of various memories such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and non-volatile memory (including hard disk drives, flash memories, etc.). The storage unit 12 stores a program for the voice guidance device 1 to execute predetermined processing. The above-mentioned program may include an application program for performing route guidance by voice, an application program for playing music, an application program for outputting content other than music (such as a TV), etc. In addition, the storage unit 12 is used as a working memory for the control unit 14. Note that the program executed by the voice guidance device 1 may be stored in a storage medium other than the storage unit 12.

[0028] In addition, the storage unit 12 stores a map DB (DataBase) 4. Various data necessary for route guidance are recorded in the map DB 4. The map DB 4 is, for example, a database including road data representing a road network as a combination of nodes and links, and facility data indicating facilities that are candidates for destinations, waypoints, or landmarks. The map DB 4 may be updated based on the map information received by the communication unit 11 from the map management server under the control of the control unit 14.

[0029] The input unit 13 is a button, touch panel, remote controller, voice input device, etc. for the user to operate. The display unit 16 is a display or the like that performs display based on the control of the control unit 14. The voice output unit 17 is a speaker or the like that outputs sound based on the control of the control unit 14.

[0030] The sensor group 15 includes an external sensor 18 and an internal sensor 19. The external sensor 18 is one or more sensors for recognizing the surrounding environment of the vehicle Ve, such as a camera, lidar, radar, ultrasonic sensor, infrared sensor, sonar, etc. The internal sensor 19 is a sensor for positioning the vehicle Ve, and is, for example, a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver, gyro sensor, IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), vehicle speed sensor, or a combination thereof. Note that the sensor group 15 only needs to have sensors from which the control unit 14 can directly or indirectly (i.e., by performing estimation processing) derive the position of the vehicle Ve from the output of the sensor group 15.

[0031] The control unit 14 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc., and controls the entire voice guidance device 1. For example, the control unit 14 estimates the position of the vehicle Ve (including the direction of travel) based on the output of one or more sensors of the sensor group 15. Further, when the destination is specified by the input unit 13, the control unit 14 generates route information indicating a guidance route, which is the route to the destination, and performs route guidance based on the route information, the estimated position information of the vehicle Ve, and the map DB4. In this case, the control unit 14 controls the voice output unit 17 to output route voice guidance to the voice output unit 17. Also, the control unit 14 controls the display unit 16 to display information on the music being played, video content, or a map of the vicinity of the current position.

[0032] In the above configuration, the input unit 13 is an example of a reception unit, and the control unit 14 is an example of a load determination unit.

[0033] Note that the processing executed by the control unit 14 is not limited to being realized by software according to a program, and may be realized by any combination of hardware, firmware, and software, etc. Further, the processing executed by the control unit 14 may be realized using a user-programmable integrated circuit such as, for example, an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or a microcomputer. In this case, the program executed by the control unit 14 in this embodiment may be realized using this integrated circuit. Thus, the control unit 14 may be realized by hardware other than a processor.

[0034] The configuration of the voice guidance device 1 shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and various changes may be made to the configuration shown in FIG. 2. For example, instead of the storage unit 12 storing the map DB4, the control unit 14 may receive information necessary for route guidance from a map management server (not shown) via the communication unit 11. In another example, instead of including the voice output unit 17, the voice guidance device 1 may be electrically or connected by known communication means to a voice output unit 17 configured separately from the voice guidance device 1 to cause the voice output unit 17 to output voice. In this case, the voice output unit 17 may be a speaker provided in the vehicle Ve. In yet another example, the voice guidance device 1 may not include the display unit 16. In this case, the voice guidance device 1 may not perform any control related to display, and may be electrically connected to a display unit provided in the vehicle Ve or the like by wire or wirelessly to cause the display unit to execute a predetermined display. Similarly, instead of including the sensor group 15, the voice guidance device 1 may acquire information output from sensors provided in the vehicle Ve based on a communication protocol such as CAN (Controller Area Network) from the vehicle Ve.

[0035] [Information Request] In this embodiment, the user operates the input unit 13 to make an information request regarding the guidance route. For example, after the user presses a button constituting the input unit 13, the user makes an information request by voice input. Here, the "user" may be the driver of the vehicle Ve or a passenger. The information request is for information regarding the guidance route, and specifically includes information regarding "the next action to be taken", "the scheduled arrival at the destination", and "the location of the destination". Note that information requests other than these may also be made.

[0036] The voice guidance device 1 responds to the above information request by outputting guidance information from the voice output unit 17 as voice. Here, in this embodiment, the voice guidance device 1 changes the amount of guidance information to be output according to the driving load of the driver at the time when the information request is made. Specifically, when the driving load of the driver is large, the voice guidance device 1 outputs only basic information (hereinafter referred to as "basic information"), and when the driving load of the driver is small, the voice guidance device 1 outputs additional information in addition to the basic information. This is to minimize the amount of information so as not to impair the driver's attention when the driving load is large, while providing additional information because the driver has a margin when the driving load is small. Note that the contents of the basic information and the additional information depend on the content of the information request by the user.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows an example of guidance information for a user's information request. As shown in the figure, the guidance information is prepared for each type of information request and according to the driving state of the vehicle. Hereinafter, it will be described for each type of information request.

[0038] (1) The next action to be taken The user's information requests regarding the actions to be taken next are, for example, "Where should I turn next?" When the driving load is high, such as when the vehicle is in motion, the voice guidance device 1 outputs only the information of the next guidance point as basic information and does not output additional information. On the other hand, when the driving load is low, such as when the vehicle is parked or stopped outside an intersection, the voice guidance device 1 outputs the information of the next guidance point as basic information and further outputs the information of the guidance point after that (the second one) as additional information. Note that when the vehicle is entering the intersection of the guidance point during the period when the driving load is high, the voice guidance device 1 outputs the information of the guidance point after that (the second one) as basic information. That is, when the vehicle has already entered the intersection of the guidance point, it is meaningless to output the information of that guidance point, so the voice guidance device 1 outputs the information of the next guidance point as basic information.

[0039] (2) Estimated time of arrival at the destination The user's information requests regarding the estimated time of arrival at the destination are, for example, "How much longer until arrival?" When the driving load is high, such as when the vehicle is in motion, the voice guidance device 1 outputs only at least one of the remaining distance to the destination and the arrival time as basic information and does not output additional information. On the other hand, when the driving load is low, such as when the vehicle is parked or stopped outside an intersection, the voice guidance device 1 outputs at least one of the remaining distance to the destination and the arrival time as basic information and further outputs, as additional information, whether there is a toll road to be used and the information of the next interchange (IC) to be used.

[0040] (3) Location of the destination The user's information requests regarding the location of the destination are, for example, "Which direction is the destination?" In this case, since there is no particular need for additional information about the information requested by the user, the voice guidance device 1 outputs the direction of the destination as basic information regardless of the driving load.

[0041] As described above, in this embodiment, the amount of information output is changed according to the driving load of the driver in response to the user's information request. Thereby, it becomes possible to provide the requested information according to the driving state.

[0042] [Information Output Processing] Figure 4 is a flowchart of the information output processing according to the first embodiment. When the voice guidance device 1 acquires a user's information request through the input unit 13 (step S11), it determines whether the information request is related to the destination location (step S12). If the information request is related to the destination location (step S12: Yes), the voice guidance device 1 outputs basic information indicating the direction of the destination (step S17) and ends the process.

[0043] On the other hand, if the information request is not related to the destination location (step S12: No), the voice guidance device 1 determines whether the information request is related to the action to be taken next or the arrival schedule at the destination (step S13). If the information request is not related to the action to be taken next or the arrival schedule at the destination (step S13: No), the voice guidance device 1 ends the process.

[0044] On the other hand, if the information request is related to the action to be taken next or the arrival schedule at the destination (step S13: Yes), the voice guidance device 1 determines the driving load based on the driving state of the vehicle Ve (step S14). Specifically, the voice guidance device 1 determines the driving load according to the driving state according to the example shown in FIG. 4. Then, the voice guidance device 1 determines whether the driving load is large (step S15). If the driving load is large (step S15: Yes), the voice guidance device 1 outputs only the basic information (step S17). That is, if the information request is related to the action to be taken next, the voice guidance device 1 outputs only the next guidance point. However, when the vehicle enters the intersection to be guided, the voice guidance device 1 outputs only the next (second) guidance point. Also, if the information request is related to the arrival schedule at the destination, the voice guidance device 1 outputs only the remaining distance to the destination and the arrival time.

[0045] On the other hand, when the driving load is small (step S15: No), the voice guidance device 1 outputs additional information in addition to the basic information (step S16). That is, when the information request is related to the action to be taken next, the voice guidance device 1 outputs the next guidance point (the second one) in addition to the next guidance point. Further, when the information request is related to the scheduled arrival at the destination, the voice guidance device 1 outputs the remaining distance to the destination and the arrival time, in addition to the presence or absence of toll road usage and the next IC to be used. Then, the process ends.

[0046] <Second Embodiment> FIG. 5 is a configuration example of the voice guidance system according to the second embodiment. The voice guidance system according to the second embodiment mainly includes a vehicle Ve, a voice guidance device 1A, and a server device 2. Note that, for the same components as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the components of the first embodiment are appropriately assigned, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0047] The voice guidance device 1A has the same configuration (see FIG. 2) as the voice guidance device 1 described in the above-described first embodiment. In the second embodiment, since the server device 2 performs the route search process and the route guidance process based on the map DB4, the voice guidance device 1A does not necessarily have the map DB4. Then, when the input unit 13 detects an input for designating a destination or the like by the user, the voice guidance device 1A transmits an upload signal "S1" including the position information of the vehicle Ve output by the sensor group 15 and information regarding the designated destination to the server device 2. Further, when the user makes an information request, the voice guidance device 1A supplies an upload signal S1 including information indicating the content or type of the information request and information regarding the traveling state of the vehicle Ve to the server device 2. Further, when the voice guidance device 1A receives a control signal "S2" regarding voice output from the server device 2 during the traveling of the vehicle Ve, the voice guidance device 1A performs voice output by the voice output unit 17 based on the control signal S2. In this case, the voice guidance device 1A outputs information in response to the user's information request based on the control signal S2.

[0048] Based on the upload signal S1 including the destination and the like received from the voice guidance device 1A, the server device 2 generates route information indicating the guidance route along which the vehicle Ve should travel. Then, based on the information request of the user indicated by the upload signal S1 transmitted by the voice guidance device 1A and the driving state of the vehicle Ve thereafter, the server device 2 generates a control signal S2 regarding the information output for the information request of the user. Then, the server device 2 transmits the generated control signal S2 to the voice guidance device 1A.

[0049] FIG. 6 shows an example of the schematic configuration of the server device 2. The server device 2 mainly includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 24. Each element in the server device 2 is interconnected via a bus line 20.

[0050] The communication unit 21 performs data communication with external devices such as the voice guidance device 1A based on the control of the control unit 24. The storage unit 22 is composed of various memories such as a RAM, a ROM, and a non-volatile memory (including a hard disk drive, a flash memory, etc.). The storage unit 22 stores a program for the server device 2 to execute a predetermined process. Further, the storage unit 22 includes a map DB4. The control unit 24 includes a CPU, a GPU, etc., and controls the entire server device 2. Also, the control unit 24 executes at least a part of the processing of the voice guidance device 1 described in the above embodiment by executing the program stored in the storage unit 22. For example, based on the upload signal S1 received from the voice guidance device 1A via the communication unit 21, the control unit 24 generates route information indicating the guidance route and generates a control signal S2 regarding the information output for the information request of the user. Then, the control unit 24 transmits the generated control signal S2 to the voice guidance device 1A via the communication unit 21.

[0051] Here, the server device 2 executes the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 based on the upload signal S1 and the map DB4. In this case, the server device 2 performs the processing of steps S12 to S17 based on the upload signal S1 including information regarding the user's information request and the driving state of the vehicle, generates a control signal S2 regarding the information output for the user's information request, and transmits it to the voice guidance device 1A.

[0052] Thus, even when the server device 2 substantially controls the voice guidance device 1A regarding route guidance, the voice guidance system can output an appropriate amount of information according to the driving load in response to the user's information request, similar to the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the server device 2 is an example of the "information processing device".

[0053] <Modification Example> Hereinafter, modification examples of the above embodiments will be described. The following modification examples can be implemented in appropriate combinations. (Modification Example 1) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the voice guidance device 1 or 1A outputs only basic information or basic information and additional information in response to the user's information request according to the driving load. Instead of preparing the information to be output in this way by dividing it into basic information and additional information, information with a small amount and information with a large amount may be prepared, and one of them may be selected and output according to the driving load. Specifically, information including only the content of the basic information shown in FIG. 3 is prepared as information with a small amount, and information including the content of the basic information and the additional information shown in FIG. 3 is prepared as information with a large amount. Then, the voice guidance device 1 or 1A may output information with a small amount when the driving load is large, and output information with a large amount when the driving load is small.

[0054] (Modification Example 2) In the above-described embodiment, the voice guidance device 1 determines the driving load mainly based on whether the vehicle Ve is in motion or parked. Instead, the voice guidance device 1 may determine the driving load based on the shape of the road on which the vehicle Ve travels. In this case, the voice guidance device 1 may determine that the driving load is large if the shape of the road being traveled is complex, and determine that the driving load is small if the road shape is simple. Also, the voice guidance device 1 may determine the driving load based on the necessity of lane change of the vehicle Ve. In this case, the voice guidance device 1 may determine that the driving load is large when a lane change is necessary, and determine that the driving load is small when a lane change is unnecessary. Further, the voice guidance device 1 may determine the driving load based on the traffic conditions around the vehicle Ve. In this case, the voice guidance device 1 may determine that the driving load is large if the area around the vehicle Ve is congested, and determine that the driving load is small if the area is clear. Additionally, the voice guidance device 1 may determine the driving load based on the biometric information of the driver. In this case, the voice guidance device 1 may detect the driver's heart rate, sweating state, etc. from the steering wheel or the like, and determine that the driving load is large when the driver is in an excited state, and determine that the driving load is small when the driver is calm.

[0055] (Modification Example 3) In the above-described embodiment, the information request was made by voice input, but it may be made, for example, by a pre-set hardware or software information request button.

[0056] In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, the program can be stored using various types of non-transitory computer readable media and supplied to a control unit or the like that is a computer. The non-transitory computer readable media include various types of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic storage media (e.g., flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto-optical storage media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), CD-ROM (Read Only Memory), CD-R, CD-R / W, and semiconductor memories (e.g., mask ROM, PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM (Random Access Memory)).

[0057] As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention. That is, the present invention naturally includes various modifications and corrections that those skilled in the art could make in accordance with the entire disclosure including the claims and the technical idea. Also, each disclosure of the above-cited patent documents and the like is incorporated herein by reference.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0058] 1 Voice guidance device 2 Server device 4 Map DB 11, 21 Communication unit 12, 22 Storage unit 13 Input unit 14, 24 Control unit 15 Sensor group 16 Display unit 17 Voice output unit

Claims

[Claim 1] An information processing device that provides information regarding movement of a moving object, A reception unit that receives an information request; A load determination unit that determines a load on a driver related to driving the moving object; a voice output unit that outputs basic information in response to the information request when the load is large, and outputs additional information in addition to the basic information in response to the information request when the load is small; An information processing device comprising:

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