Information provision device, information provision method, and information provision program

Abstract

To provide an information provision device and others, which enable provision of necessary guidance in an intuitively recognizable manner even when it is mainly voice or sound guidance.SOLUTION: When a route destination is being searched, a voice guidance with information showing a distance to the destination is provided when the distance to the destination is equal to or less than a given distance, and a voice guidance with address information showing an address of the destination is provided when the destination is further away than the given distance (step S28, S30, S17).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the technical field of information providing apparatuses, information providing methods, and information providing programs. More specifically, it belongs to the technical field of information providing apparatuses and information providing methods for providing information related to the movement of a moving body such as a vehicle, and programs for the information providing apparatuses.

Background Art

[0002] As a navigation device for providing information related to the movement of the above-mentioned moving body, a mobile-mounted navigation device has been widely generalized conventionally. As a document disclosing the prior art related to such a conventional navigation device, for example, the following Patent Document 1 can be cited. In the prior art disclosed in this Patent Document 1, it is configured to display an outline of a route for each destination to facilitate the selection of the user's destination.

[0003] On the other hand, in recent years, in addition to the above-mentioned mobile-mounted navigation device, research and development on navigation systems that utilize portable terminal devices such as smartphones have been actively carried out.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Here, when utilizing the above portable terminal device, due to limitations such as the size of the display provided therein, guidance using sounds including guidance voices becomes important. Regarding this point, for example, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, the distance to the destination and the address information of the destination etc. are both displayed using a map, and the destination could be confirmed using these. However, when mainly considering guidance using the above sounds (in other words, guidance without using the display of an image including a map), it is required to provide necessary information including information such as whether the destination is the destination desired by the person receiving the guidance in a more intuitive and easily recognizable manner.

[0006] Therefore, the present application is made in view of the above requirements, and an example of its problem is to provide an information providing device, an information providing method, and a program for the information providing device that can provide necessary guidance information in a more intuitive and easily recognizable manner even mainly by voice or sound guidance.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 includes a guidance area information acquisition means for acquiring guidance area information indicating a guidance area for which guidance information is to be provided, and when the position of the guidance area indicated by the acquired guidance area information is within a preset distance from the position of the recipient who receives the provision of the guidance area information, the guidance information including distance information indicating the distance between the position of the recipient and the position of the guidance area is provided to the recipient by sound, and when the position of the guidance area is farther than the preset distance, the guidance information including address information indicating the address of the guidance area is provided to the recipient by sound, and a providing means.

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, an information providing method executed in an information providing apparatus including an acquisition unit and a provision unit includes: an acquisition step of acquiring, by the acquisition unit, guidance area information indicating a guidance area for which guidance information is to be provided; and a provision step of, when the position of the guidance area indicated by the acquired guidance area information is within a preset distance from the position of a recipient who receives the provision of the guidance area information, providing, by the provision unit, the guidance information including distance information indicating the distance between the position of the recipient and the position of the guidance area, to the recipient by sound, and when the position of the guidance area is farther than the preset distance, providing, by the provision unit, the guidance information including address information indicating the address of the guidance area, to the recipient by sound.

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 7 causes a computer to function as an acquisition unit that acquires guidance area information indicating a guidance area for which guidance information is to be provided, and a provision unit that, when the position of the guidance area indicated by the acquired guidance area information is within a preset distance from the position of a recipient who receives the provision of the guidance area information, provides, by sound, the guidance information including distance information indicating the distance between the position of the recipient and the position of the guidance area, to the recipient, and when the position of the guidance area is farther than the preset distance, provides, by sound, the guidance information including address information indicating the address of the guidance area, to the recipient.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Next, the embodiment for carrying out the present application will be described with reference to FIG. 1. Note that FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the information providing apparatus of the embodiment.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing apparatus S according to the embodiment includes an acquisition unit 1 and a provision unit 2.

[0013] In this configuration, the acquisition unit 1 acquires guide area information indicating a guide area for which guidance information is to be provided.

[0014] Then, when the position of the guide area indicated by the guide area information acquired by the acquisition unit 1 is within a preset distance from the position of the recipient who receives the provision of the guide area information, the provision unit 2 provides the recipient with guidance information including distance information indicating the distance between the position of the recipient and the position of the guide area by sound, and when the position of the guide area is farther than the preset distance, the provision unit 2 provides the recipient with guidance information including address information indicating the address of the guide area by sound.

[0015] As described above, according to the operation of the information providing apparatus S of the embodiment, when the guide area is within a preset distance from the position of the recipient, guidance information including distance information indicating the distance between the position of the recipient and the position of the guide area is provided by sound, and when the position of the guide area is farther than the distance, guidance information including address information indicating the address of the guide area is provided by sound. Therefore, even in the case of providing guidance information by sound, necessary guidance information can be provided in an intuitive and easy-to-recognize manner. Note that the “guidance” in the present embodiment does not include, for example, the guidance itself along a route (the provision of information such as “turn left” or “turn right” during the guidance), but includes guiding (providing) information regarding a point or facility that can be a destination or a transit point of the guidance.

Examples

[0016] Next, specific examples corresponding to the above-described embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. The examples described below are examples when the present application is applied to route guidance using sound (voice) in a navigation system including a terminal device and a server that are connected to be able to exchange data with each other via a network such as the Internet.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the navigation system of the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the terminal device and the like of the embodiment, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the whole navigation process of the embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the details of the navigation process. At this time, in FIG. 3, for the component members of the example corresponding to each component member in the information providing device S according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the same member numbers as those of the component members in the information providing device S are used.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the navigation system SS of the embodiment includes one or a plurality of terminal devices T1, T2, T3,..., Tn (n is a natural number) each used in the vehicle by a passenger of the vehicle (more specifically, the driver or a passenger of the vehicle), a server SV, the terminal devices T1, T2, T3,..., Tn, the server SV, and a network NW such as the Internet that connects them to enable data exchange. In the following description, when describing the common configuration and the like of the terminal devices T1 to Tn, these are collectively referred to as "terminal device T". At this time, the terminal device T is specifically realized as, for example, a so-called smartphone or a tablet-type terminal device. Further, in the following description, an example will be described in the case where the passenger using the terminal device T is riding in a vehicle as an example of a moving body.

[0019] In this configuration, each terminal device T separately exchanges various data with the server SV via the network NW, and provides guidance on information related to the movement of the passengers using each terminal device T. At this time, the data exchanged includes search data for searching for the route along which the vehicle should travel, route data indicating the searched route, and guidance data for providing guidance after starting the movement along the route.

[0020] Here, due to limitations in the size of the display provided in the terminal device T, processing load limitations, or to avoid screen gazing, etc., the search for the above route and the guidance on information related to the movement of the passengers in the navigation system SS are mainly performed using voice or sound. For this reason, the above search data exchanged between each terminal device T and the server SV includes search request voice data and destination voice data of the example transmitted from each terminal device T to the server SV, and response voice data and destination confirmation voice data of the example transmitted from the server SV to each terminal device T. At this time, the search request voice data of the example is voice data corresponding to a search request voice for requesting a search for a candidate destination point or the like. Also, the destination voice data of the example is voice data corresponding to a destination voice indicating a point or the like that is finally used as the destination of the above movement, uttered by the passenger using the terminal device T. On the other hand, the response voice data of the example is voice data corresponding to a response voice for answering a passenger using the terminal device T that transmitted the above search request voice data, with a search result including a destination or the like searched in the server SV in response to the search request by the above search request voice data. Furthermore, the destination confirmation voice data of the example is voice data for confirming a point or the like that is finally used as the destination of the above route.

[0021] On the other hand, since voice or sound is mainly used for the guidance on information related to the above movement, the above guidance data transmitted from the server SV to each terminal device T includes guidance voice data by the above voice or sound. In the following description, the guidance voice data is simply referred to as "guidance voice data".

[0022] Next, the configurations and operations of each terminal device T and the server SV will be described with reference to FIG. 3. First, as shown in FIG. 3(a), each of the terminal devices T in the embodiment includes an interface 5, a processing unit 6 composed of a CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc., a memory 7 including a volatile area and a non-volatile area, an operation unit 8 composed of a touch panel and operation buttons, etc., a speaker 9, a sensor unit 10 composed of a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor and / or an autonomous sensor, etc., a display 11 composed of a liquid crystal or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, etc., and a microphone 12. Further, the processing unit 6 includes a route search unit 6a and a guidance voice output control unit 6b. At this time, the route setting unit 6a and the guidance voice output control unit 6b may be realized by a hardware logic circuit including the above CPU, etc., which constitutes the processing unit 6, or may be realized software-wise by the CPU, etc. reading and executing a program corresponding to a flowchart showing the processing as the terminal device T among the navigation processes of the embodiment described later.

[0023] With the above configuration, the interface 5 controls the exchange of data with the server SV via the network NW under the control of the processing unit 6. On the other hand, the sensor unit 10 uses the above GPS sensor and / or autonomous sensor, etc., to generate sensor data indicating the current position, moving speed, moving direction, etc. of the terminal device T (in other words, the current position, moving speed, moving direction, etc. of the passenger using the terminal device T or the vehicle in which the passenger is riding), and outputs it to the processing unit 6. The microphone 12 collects the voice of the passenger using the terminal device T and the sound inside the vehicle in which the terminal device T is used, and outputs the collection result to the processing unit 6. At this time, the voice of the passenger collected includes the above search request voice and the above destination voice.

[0024] On the other hand, under the control of the processing unit 6, the route search unit 6a transmits the search request voice data (i.e., the search request voice data for requesting a search for a candidate destination point where the vehicle in which the passenger using the terminal device T is riding should arrive), the destination voice data (i.e., the destination voice data indicating the point finally used as the destination), and the sensor data to the server SV as search data via the interface 5 and the network NW. Note that the destination data indicating the final destination may be input from the operation unit 8 and transmitted to the server SV together with the sensor data. Thereafter, the route search unit 6a acquires route data indicating the search result of the route from the current position indicated by the sensor data to the destination indicated by the destination voice data or the destination data from the server SV via the network NW and the interface 5.

[0025] Thereafter, the processing unit 6 uses the acquired route data to exchange the guidance data (including the sensor data and the guidance voice data at that time) with the server SV while guiding information regarding the movement of the vehicle along the searched route. At this time, the guidance voice output control unit 6b outputs (plays) the guidance voice corresponding to the guidance voice data acquired from the server SV via the network NW and the interface 5 to the passenger via the speaker 9.

[0026] In parallel with these, when an input operation of data necessary for guiding the vehicle is performed on the operation unit 8 in addition to the destination data, the operation unit 8 generates an operation signal corresponding to the input operation and transmits it to the processing unit 6. Thereby, the processing unit 6 controls the route setting unit 6a and the guidance voice output control unit 6b while executing the processing as the terminal device T in the navigation processing of the embodiment. At this time, the processing unit 6 executes the processing while temporarily or non-volatilely storing the data necessary for the processing in the memory 7. Further, a guidance image or the like as the execution result of the processing is displayed on the display 11.

[0027] On the one hand, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the server SV of the embodiment includes an interface 20, a processing unit 21 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, etc., and a recording unit 22 composed of an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), etc. Further, the processing unit 21 includes a route setting unit 1 and a guidance voice generation unit 2. At this time, the route setting unit 1 and the guidance voice generation unit 2 may be realized by a hardware logic circuit including the above CPU, etc. that constitutes the processing unit 21, or may be realized software-wise by the CPU, etc. reading and executing a program corresponding to a flowchart showing the processing as the server SV in the navigation processing of the embodiment. And the above route search unit 1 corresponds to an example of the acquisition means 1 of the embodiment, and the above guidance voice generation unit 2 corresponds to an example of the provision means 2 of the embodiment. Also, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 3(b), the above route search unit 1 and the guidance voice generation unit 2 constitute an example of the information providing device S of the embodiment.

[0028] In the above configuration, the recording unit 22 stores non-volatile map data 23 necessary for guiding information on the movement of each vehicle in which a passenger using each terminal device T connected to the server SV via the network NW is riding. At this time, the map data 23 includes road data, point data such as facilities, and intersection data used for route search and route guidance, respectively.

[0029] On the one hand, under the control of the processing unit 21, the interface 20 controls the transfer of data between each terminal device T via the network NW. Also, under the control of the processing unit 21, the route setting unit 1 uses the map data 23 to search for a location or the like that is a candidate for the destination indicated by the search request voice data, the destination voice data, and the sensor data acquired from any one of the terminal devices T, and searches for the route to the destination indicated by the destination voice data. The route data indicating the search result is transmitted to the terminal device T that has transmitted the search request voice data, the destination voice data, and the sensor data. As a result, the terminal device T provides route guidance based on the route data.

[0030] Then, during the guidance, the guidance voice generation unit 2 generates the guidance voice data in accordance with the guidance timing on the route, and transmits it to the terminal device T used by the passenger of the vehicle to be guided via the interface 20 and the network NW. As a result, the guidance voice corresponding to the guidance voice data is output (played) to the passenger via the speaker 9 of the terminal device T.

[0031] Next, the navigation processing of the embodiment executed in the navigation system of the embodiment having the above-described configuration and functions will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0032] The navigation process of the embodiment starts when, for example, a guidance instruction operation or the like indicating that guidance for movement along the route of the vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as the "target vehicle") to which the information on movement is to be provided should be given is executed on the operation unit 8 of the terminal device T of the embodiment used by a passenger boarding the target vehicle. In the following description, the terminal device T is appropriately referred to as the "target terminal device T". As shown in FIG. 4 for the entire corresponding flowchart, when the guidance instruction operation is performed on the operation unit 8 of the target terminal device T, the route search unit 6a of the processing unit 6 of the terminal device T exchanges the search request voice data, the response voice data, the destination voice data, the destination confirmation voice data, and the search data including the sensor data and the route data with the route search unit 1 of the server SV, and searches for the route along which the target vehicle should move (step S1). At this time, the route search unit 1 of the server SV always waits for the transmission of the search data from any of the terminal devices T connected to the server SV via the network NW at that time. When the search data is transmitted from the target terminal device T, the route search unit 1 performs a route search based on the search request voice data and the destination voice data included in the search data, and transmits the route data and the destination confirmation voice data as the search result to the target terminal device T via the network NW (step S10). The route search of the embodiment including step S1 and step S10 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 5.

[0033] Thereafter, when the guidance for movement along the route is started by an operation such as starting movement on the operation unit 8 of the target terminal device T, the processing unit 6 of the target terminal device T and the processing unit 21 of the server SV exchange the guidance data including the sensor data at that time via the network NW, and start the guidance along the route searched in step S1 and step S10 (step S2, step S11).

[0034] On the other hand, during the guidance of the route started in step S11 (i.e., during the movement of the vehicle in which the passenger using the target terminal device T is riding), the guidance voice generation unit 2 of the server SV monitors whether there is a guidance point (e.g., an intersection where one should turn on the route, etc.) on the set route (step S12). In the monitoring of step S12, if there is no guidance point (step S12: NO), the processing unit 21 proceeds to step S14 described later. On the other hand, in the monitoring of step S12, if there is a guidance point (step S12: YES), then the guidance voice generation unit 2 generates guidance voice data having the content to be guided about the guidance point (e.g., "Turn left at the next XX intersection.", etc.) at the timing when the guidance about the guidance point should be made by voice, and transmits the generated guidance voice data to the target terminal device T via the network NW (step S13).

[0035] Thereafter, the processing unit 21 determines whether to end the route guidance as the navigation processing of the embodiment due to reasons such as the target vehicle reaching its destination (step S14). In the determination of step S14, if the route guidance is not ended (step S14: NO), the processing unit 21 returns to step S12 above and continues the route guidance. On the other hand, in the determination of step S14, if the route guidance is to be ended (step S14: YES), the processing unit 21 ends the route guidance as it is.

[0036] On the other hand, the guidance voice output control unit 6b of the target terminal device T waits for the transmission of the above guidance voice data from the server SV after the guidance is started in step S2 above (step S3). If the guidance voice data is not transmitted during the waiting in step S3 (step S3: NO), the processing unit 6 of the target terminal device T proceeds to step S5 described later.

[0037] On the other hand, when the guidance voice data from the server SV is received during the standby in step S3 (step S3: YES), the guidance voice output control unit 6b of the target terminal device T outputs (plays) the guidance voice corresponding to the received guidance voice data via the speaker 9 (step S4). Then, the processing unit 6 of the target terminal device T determines whether to end the route guidance as the navigation processing of the embodiment for the same reason as in step S14 above, for example (step S5). In the determination of step S5, if the route guidance is not ended (step S5: NO), the processing unit 6 returns to step S3 above and continues the route guidance. On the other hand, in the determination of step S5, if the route guidance is to be ended (step S5: NO), the processing unit 6 ends the route guidance as it is.

[0038] Next, the route search of the embodiment (see steps S1 and S10 in FIG. 4) executed by the target terminal device T and the server SV will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. 5.

[0039] As shown in the corresponding flowchart in FIG. 5, in the route search of the embodiment, in the target terminal device T, when a search request voice indicating that the route search should be performed and requesting a search for a candidate point of the destination of movement or the like is uttered by the passenger, the search request voice is detected by the microphone 12, and further, search request voice data corresponding to the search request voice is generated by the route search unit 6a of the target terminal device T. Then, the generated search request voice data is transmitted to the server SV via the network NW together with the sensor data corresponding to that time (step S15). Here, examples of the search request voice include a voice including a specific name of the destination such as "○○ Stadium", and a voice indicating a name of a place or the like including a term related to distance such as "nearby ×× convenience store" (in this example, "nearby" corresponds). Also, in FIG. 5, the search request voice data and the sensor data are collectively shown as "search request voice data etc.".

[0040] On the other hand, as route search in step S10 of FIG. 4, the server SV waits for transmission of the above search request voice data etc. from the target terminal device T (step S25, step S25: NO). In the waiting in step S25, when the above search request voice data etc. is transmitted from the target terminal device T (step S25: YES), the route search unit 1 of the server SV refers to the map data 23 and searches for a point etc. that is a candidate for the destination indicated by the received search request voice data (step S26). Next, the route search unit 1 determines whether a term related to the above distance is included in the search request voice corresponding to the above search request voice data (step S27). In the determination in step S27, when a term related to the above distance is included in the search request voice (step S27: YES), the route search unit 1 refers to the sensor data received in step S25, and includes the distance from the current position of the target terminal device T to the searched point etc., and generates answer voice data corresponding to an answer voice indicating the point etc., and transmits it to the target terminal device T via the network NW (step S30). After that, the server SV proceeds to step S31 described later.

[0041] Here, as the answer voice corresponding to the answer voice data generated and transmitted in step S30, when the above search request voice is, for example, "nearby XX convenience store", the voice is something like "There is an XX convenience store at △△ meters from the current position." At this time, the distance included in the answer voice may be the straight-line distance from the current position of the target terminal device T to the point etc. searched in step S26, or may be the distance on the route when taking the shortest route.

[0042] On the other hand, in the determination of step S27, if the search request voice does not contain a term related to the above distance and specifically contains, for example, the detailed name of the destination (step S27: NO), the route search unit 1 refers to the sensor data received in step S25 and determines whether the distance from the current position of the target terminal device T to the searched location or the like is equal to or less than a preset threshold distance (step S28). Here, the threshold distance is a distance that can be recognized as a short distance when moving by vehicle, such as 5 kilometers or 10 kilometers, for example. In addition, as the navigation process of the embodiment, when guiding information related to the movement when a person moving on foot or by bicycle uses the target terminal device T, the threshold distance is, for example, about several hundred meters or 1 kilometer. At this time, the fact that the movement is by walking or by bicycle can be determined, for example, by the server SV receiving the voice uttered by the person using the target terminal device T together with the search request voice as well as the search request voice data. Thus, it is preferable to configure the system to distinguish whether the movement is by vehicle or by walking or by bicycle and switch the threshold distance. Note that the distance to be determined in step S28 (including the above threshold distance) may be the straight-line distance from the current position of the target terminal device T to the location searched in step S26 or the distance on the route when passing through the shortest route. Also, the means of movement (for example, either walking or cycling) may be selected by the user or automatically determined from the past movement distance and speed (for example, within several hours).

[0043] In the determination of step S28, when the distance from the current position of the target terminal device T to the location or the like searched in step S26 is equal to or less than the threshold distance (step S28: YES), the route search unit 1 proceeds to step S30 above, generates response voice data corresponding to the response voice including the distance from the current position of the target terminal device T, and transmits it. Note that, even in the determination of step S27, when the search request voice includes a term related to the distance (see step S27: YES), if the location or the like searched in step S26 does not exist within the threshold distance (see step S28), it may be configured to generate and transmit response voice data corresponding to a voice such as "There is no XX convenience store nearby. The nearest XX convenience store is XX kilometers away."

[0044] On the other hand, in the determination of step S28, when the location or the like searched in step S26 is farther from the current position of the target terminal device T than the threshold distance (step S28: NO), the route search unit 1 generates response voice data corresponding to the response voice indicating the location or the like including the address of the searched location or the like, and transmits it to the target terminal device T via the network NW (step S29). Here, the response voice including the address is, for example, a voice such as "There is an XX park in XX town, XX city." At this time, more detailed address information may be included as the address.

[0045] On the one hand, after transmitting the search request voice data or the like in step S15, the route search unit 6a of the target terminal device T monitors whether the response voice data is transmitted from the server SV (step S16, step S16: NO). In the monitoring of step S16, when the response voice data is transmitted (step S16: YES), the guidance voice output control unit 6b of the target terminal device T outputs (plays) the response voice corresponding to the response voice data via the speaker 9 (step S17). Then, when the name of the destination or the like is uttered by the passenger as the destination voice in response to the response voice, the destination voice is detected by the microphone 12, and further, the destination voice data corresponding to the destination voice is generated by the route search unit 6a (step S18). The destination voice detected at this time includes the name of a more detailed (or more specific) destination as a response to the response voice. Thereafter, the route search unit 6a transmits the destination voice data to the server SV via the network NW (step S18).

[0046] On the other hand, after generating and transmitting the response voice data in step S29 or step S30, the route search unit 1 of the server SV monitors the reception of the destination voice data from the target terminal device T (step S31. Step S31: NO.). In the monitoring of step S31, when the destination voice data is received (step S31: YES), the route search unit 1 refers to the map data 23 and the sensor data received in step S25, and searches for a route from the current position of the target terminal device T to the destination indicated by the destination voice data by, for example, the same method as in the prior art (step S32). Then, the route search unit 1 generates route data indicating the searched route and destination confirmation voice data for confirming the destination and the like currently used as the destination of the route, and transmits them to the target terminal device T via the network NW (step S33). Thereafter, the server SV proceeds to step S11 shown in FIG. 4.

[0047] On the other hand, the route search unit 6a of the terminal device T that is the target of transmitting the destination voice data in step S18 monitors whether the route data and the destination confirmation voice data have been transmitted from the server SV corresponding to the destination voice data (step S19. Step S19: NO). In the monitoring of step S19, when the route data and the destination confirmation voice data have been transmitted (step S19: YES), the guidance voice output control unit 6b of the target terminal device T outputs (plays) the destination confirmation voice corresponding to the received destination confirmation voice data to the passenger via the speaker 9 (step S20). The destination confirmation voice in this case is, for example, a voice such as "Heading to the nearby XX convenience store." or "Heading to XX Park in XX City, XX Town." Thereafter, the target terminal device T proceeds to step S2 shown in FIG. 4.

[0048] As described above, according to the navigation process according to the embodiment, when the candidate for the destination is within a predetermined threshold distance from the position of the target terminal device T, an answer voice including information indicating the distance between the position of the target terminal device T and the position of the candidate is output (played) (see steps S30 and S17 in FIG. 5). When the position of the candidate is farther than the threshold distance, an answer voice including information indicating the address of the candidate is output (played) (see steps S29 and S17 in FIG. 5). Therefore, even in the case of voice or sound guidance, information regarding the guidance can be provided to the passenger in an intuitively recognizable manner.

[0049] At this time, when the distance between the position of the target terminal device T and the position of the candidate and the threshold distance are the straight-line distances from the position of the target terminal device T, even in the case of voice or sound guidance, information regarding the guidance can be provided in a more intuitively recognizable manner.

[0050] On the other hand, when the distance between the position of the target terminal device T and the position of the candidate and the threshold distance are the distances along the movement route (road) from the position of the target terminal device T, even in the case of voice or sound guidance, information regarding the guidance can be provided in a manner that is easy to recognize using the actual movement distance.

[0051] Also, for example, when a term related to distance such as "nearby" is included in the search request voice (see FIG. 5, step S27: YES), regardless of the relationship with the above threshold distance, an answer voice including information indicating the distance between the position of the candidate destination and the position of the target terminal device T is output (played) (see FIG. 5, steps S30 and S17). When terms other than the terms related to the above distance are included in the voice, an answer voice including information indicating the address of the candidate destination is output (played) (see FIG. 5, steps S29 and S17). Therefore, even in the case of voice or sound guidance, information related to guidance can be provided to the passenger in an intuitively recognizable manner.

[0052] Note that in the answer voice including the distance from the current position of the target terminal device T (see FIG. 5, step S30), the direction of the candidate destination as seen from the current position may be configured to be output by voice together. In this case, even in the case of voice or sound guidance, information related to guidance can be provided in an even more intuitively recognizable manner.

[0053] In the navigation process of the above-described embodiment, the search for candidate destinations (see FIG. 5, step S26) and the generation of answer voice data (see FIG. 5, step S29 or step S30) are performed in the processing unit 21 of the server SV. However, in addition to this, the search for candidate destinations and the generation of answer voice data may be configured to be performed in the terminal device T. In this case, the processing after the route search based on the above destination voice data may be executed in the server SV. Also, the search for candidate destinations, the generation of answer voice data, the route search, and the generation of guidance voice data may be performed by the terminal device without using a server, or a server may be used dispersedly for some of the processes.

[0054] Furthermore, regarding the guidance based on the current position, as described above, the guidance of the route itself is not essential, and it may be used simply to notify the passenger of the positional relationship with the search point.

[0055] Furthermore, although it does not exclude performing point display on a map, since the display is not essential, it is also possible to apply the embodiment to a smart speaker or the like that does not have a display unit.

[0056] Also, a program corresponding to each flowchart shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is recorded in a recording medium such as an optical disk or a hard disk, or acquired via a network such as the Internet, and these are read out and executed by a general-purpose microcomputer or the like, so that the microcomputer or the like functions as the processing unit 6 or the processing unit 21 according to the embodiment.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0057] 1 Acquisition means (route search unit) 2 Provision means (guidance voice generation unit) 6, 21 Processing unit 6a Route search unit 6b Guidance voice output control unit 9 Speaker 23 Map data S Information providing device T, T1, T2, T3, Tn Terminal device SV Server SS Navigation system

Claims

1. A guide area information acquisition means for acquiring guide area information indicating a guide area for which guidance information is to be provided; When the position of the guide area indicated by the acquired guide area information is within a preset distance from the position of a recipient who receives the guide area information, the guidance information including distance information indicating the distance between the position of the recipient and the position of the guide area is provided to the recipient by sound, and when the position of the guide area is farther than the preset distance, the guidance information including address information indicating the address of the guide area is provided to the recipient by sound; a providing means; An information providing apparatus, characterized by comprising the above.

2. In the information providing apparatus according to Claim 1, each of the distances is a straight-line distance from the position of the recipient, characterized by the information providing apparatus.

3. In the information providing apparatus according to Claim 1, each of the distances is a distance along a movement path from the position of the recipient, characterized by the information providing apparatus.

4. In the information providing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, when the position of the guide area is within the preset distance from the position of the recipient, the providing means provides the guidance information including the distance information and direction information indicating the direction of the position of the guide area as seen from the position of the recipient to the recipient by sound, characterized by the information providing apparatus.

5. In the information providing apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a voice acquisition means for acquiring the voice of the recipient indicating the guide area for which the provision of the guidance information is requested, the guide area information acquisition means acquires the guide area information based on the acquired voice, the providing means provides the guidance information including the distance information to the recipient by sound when a term related to distance is included in the acquired voice, characterized by the information providing apparatus.

6. An information providing method executed in an information providing apparatus comprising an acquisition means and a providing means, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring, by the acquisition means, guide area information indicating a guide area for which guidance information is to be provided; When the position of the guidance area indicated by the acquired guidance area information is within a preset distance from the position of the recipient who receives the guidance area information, the guidance information including distance information indicating the distance between the position of the recipient and the position of the guidance area is provided to the recipient by sound by the providing means; when the position of the guidance area is farther than the preset distance, the guidance information including address information indicating the address of the guidance area is provided to the recipient by sound by the providing means; a providing step; An information providing method characterized by including the above.

7. A computer, an acquiring means for acquiring guidance area information indicating a guidance area for which guidance information is to be provided, and when the position of the guidance area indicated by the acquired guidance area information is within a preset distance from the position of the recipient who receives the guidance area information, the guidance information including distance information indicating the distance between the position of the recipient and the position of the guidance area is provided to the recipient by sound, and when the position of the guidance area is farther than the preset distance, the guidance information including address information indicating the address of the guidance area is provided to the recipient by sound; a providing means; An information providing program characterized by causing the computer to function as the above.

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