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

Abstract

To appropriately perform continuous guidance when route guidance is provided mainly by voice.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes a voice guidance unit that guides a straight lane you should be in for a lane guidance area that guides the straight lane you should be in, and guides you to change a way for a way change guidance area, based on a route. The voice guidance unit determines whether to guide the lane guidance area and the way change guidance area separately or consecutively at one time depending on the order and distance of the lane guidance area and the way guidance area, when the lane guidance area and the way change guidance area are consecutive.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to audio route guidance. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a navigation device that is mounted on a vehicle or the like and provides route guidance to a destination. Patent Document 1 describes that when consecutive guidance points are close to each other and guidance overlaps, continuous guidance is provided in which voice guidance for a second guidance point is added to voice guidance for a first guidance point and output. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-202147 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A typical navigation device provides route guidance to a destination by displaying a detailed map of the area around the vehicle and a guided route on a display unit. However, there are also known navigation devices (hereinafter referred to as "voice navigation devices") that do not display a map or a guided route, but instead provide route guidance to a destination solely by voice output. In the case of a voice navigation device, the content of the voice guidance differs from that of a typical navigation device, and therefore the method of continuous guidance also differs from that of a typical navigation device.

[0005] For example, even if a general navigation device does not provide guidance for a point where the driver should only go straight, a voice navigation device may determine that guidance is necessary when caution is required for lane changes, etc. In such cases, if continuous guidance is provided under the same conditions as a general navigation device, it is conceivable that the timing of informing the driver of how to turn after going straight will be too late.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its main object is to provide an information processing device that can appropriately perform continuous guidance when route guidance is provided primarily by voice. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The claimed invention is an information processing device that provides information regarding vehicle movement, and is equipped with a voice guidance unit that guides the user to the straight lane in which to drive at lane guidance points that guide the user to the straight lane in which to drive based on a route, and guides the user to change course at route change guidance points, and when the lane guidance point and the route change guidance point are consecutive, the voice guidance unit determines whether to guide the user to the lane guidance point and the route change guidance point individually or to guide the user to the lane guidance point and the route change guidance point consecutively at one time, depending on the order and distance of the lane guidance point and the route change guidance point.

[0008] The claimed invention is an information output method executed by an information processing device that provides information regarding vehicle movement, and includes a voice guidance process that provides guidance on the straight lane in which to drive at lane guidance points that guide the driver in the straight lane in which to drive based on a route, and provides guidance on lane changes at lane change guidance points, and when the lane guidance point and the lane change guidance point are consecutive, the voice guidance process determines whether to provide guidance on the lane guidance point and the lane change guidance point individually or consecutively at one time, depending on the order and distance of the lane guidance point and the lane change guidance point.

[0009] The claimed invention is a program that is executed by an information processing device having a computer and provides information regarding vehicle movement, and causes the computer to function as a voice guidance unit that guides the user in which straight lane to drive at lane guidance points that guide the user in which straight lane to drive based on a route, and that guides the user to change course at lane change guidance points, and when the lane guidance point and the lane change guidance point are consecutive, the voice guidance unit determines whether to guide the user to the lane guidance point and the lane change guidance point individually or consecutively at one time, depending on the order and distance of the lane guidance point and the lane change guidance point. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 shows an example of the configuration of a voice guidance system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 shows an example of a schematic configuration of a voice guidance device. [Figure 3] Examples of turn guidance and lane guidance locations are shown below. [Figure 4] This indicates the criteria for determining whether or not to provide continuous guidance. [Figure 5] An example of a guide route is shown below. [Figure 6] Another example of a guide route is shown. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart of a route guidance process. [Figure 8] 10 is a configuration example of a voice guidance system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 shows an example of a schematic configuration of a server device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, an information processing device that provides information regarding vehicle movement includes a voice guidance unit that guides the user in which straight lane to drive at lane guidance points that guide the user in which straight lane to drive based on a route, and that guides the user to change course at route change guidance points, and when the lane guidance point and the route change guidance point are consecutive, the voice guidance unit determines whether to provide guidance for the lane guidance point and the route change guidance point individually or consecutively at one time, depending on the order and distance of the lane guidance point and the route change guidance point.

[0012] The information processing device includes a voice guidance unit that guides the driver in the straight lane to drive in at lane guidance points that guide the driver in the straight lane to drive in based on the route, and that guides the driver to change course at lane change guidance points. When a lane guidance point and a lane change guidance point are consecutive, the voice guidance unit determines whether to provide guidance for the lane guidance point and the lane change guidance point individually or consecutively at one time, depending on the order and distance of the lane guidance point and the lane change guidance point. This allows appropriate consecutive guidance to be provided depending on the order and distance of the lane guidance point and the lane change guidance point.

[0013] In one aspect of the above information processing device, when the lane guidance location is located next to the route change guidance location, the voice guidance unit provides continuous guidance on both the route change guidance location and the lane guidance location at once if the distance between the route change guidance location and the lane guidance location is equal to or less than a first distance, and when the lane guidance location is located next to the route change guidance location, the voice guidance unit provides continuous guidance on both the route change guidance location and the lane guidance location at once if the distance between the lane guidance location and the route change guidance location is equal to or less than a second distance that is longer than the first distance.

[0014] In another aspect of the above-mentioned information processing device, when two lane guidance locations are consecutive, the voice guidance unit provides guidance on the two lane guidance locations consecutively at one time if the distance between the two lane guidance locations is equal to or less than the first distance, and when two route change guidance locations are consecutive, the voice guidance unit provides guidance on the two route change guidance locations consecutively at one time if the distance between the two route change guidance locations is equal to or less than the first distance.

[0015] In another aspect of the information processing device, when providing guidance to two guide locations at once, the voice guidance unit outputs a voice guidance for the first guide location followed by a voice guidance for the second guide location.

[0016] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an information output method executed by an information processing device that provides information regarding vehicle movement includes a voice guidance step of providing guidance on which straight lane to travel in a lane guidance location that guides the user in which straight lane to travel in, based on a route, and providing guidance on a lane change in a lane change guidance location, wherein, when the lane guidance location and the lane change guidance location are adjacent to each other, the voice guidance step determines whether to provide guidance on the lane guidance location and the lane change guidance location individually or consecutively at one time, depending on the order and distance between the lane guidance location and the lane change guidance location. As a result, appropriate continuous guidance is provided depending on the order and distance between the lane guidance location and the lane change guidance location.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a program executed by an information processing device including a computer and providing information regarding vehicle movement causes the computer to function as a voice guidance unit that guides the user to the lane in which to stay straight at lane guidance points that guide the user to the lane in which to stay straight, and guides the user to change lanes at lane change guidance points, based on the route. When the lane guidance point and the lane change guidance point are adjacent to each other, the voice guidance unit determines whether to provide guidance for the lane guidance point and the lane change guidance point individually or consecutively at one time, depending on the order and distance between the lane guidance point and the lane change guidance point. The above-mentioned information processing device can be realized by executing this program on a computer. This program can be stored in a storage medium and used. [Example]

[0018] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. <First Example> [System Configuration] 1 shows an example of the configuration of a voice guidance system according to a first embodiment of an information processing device of the present invention. The voice guidance system includes a vehicle Ve and a voice guidance device 1.

[0019] The voice guidance device 1 moves together with the vehicle Ve and provides route guidance primarily through voice so that the vehicle Ve travels along a route to be guided (also referred to as a "guidance route"). Note that "route guidance primarily through voice" refers to route guidance that allows the user to grasp information necessary to drive the vehicle Ve along the guidance route at least through voice alone, and does not exclude the voice guidance device 1 displaying a map or the like around the current location as an auxiliary display. In this embodiment, the voice guidance device 1 outputs, by voice, at least information related to points on the route where guidance is required (also referred to as "guidance points"). Hereinafter, guidance points correspond to, for example, intersections where the vehicle Ve must turn right or left, and other important passing points for the vehicle Ve to travel along the guidance route. The voice guidance device 1 provides voice guidance related to the guidance points, such as the distance from the vehicle Ve to the next guidance point and the direction of travel at that guidance point. Hereinafter, the voice guidance related to the guidance route will also be referred to as "route voice guidance."

[0020] The voice guidance device 1 may be an in-vehicle device provided or attached to the vehicle Ve, or may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone that is brought into the vehicle and used. In 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."

[0021] [Device configuration] 2 shows an example of a 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. The elements in the voice guidance device 1 are connected to each other via a bus line 10.

[0022] The communication unit 11 performs data communication with other terminals under the control of the control unit 14. For example, the communication unit 11 may receive map data for updating a map DB (DataBase) 4 (described later) from a map management server (not shown).

[0023] The storage unit 12 is configured with various types of memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and non-volatile memory (including hard disk drive, flash memory, etc.). The storage unit 12 stores programs for the voice guidance device 1 to execute predetermined processes. The above-mentioned programs may include an application program for providing route guidance by voice, an application program for playing music, an application program for outputting content other than music (such as television), etc. The storage unit 12 is also used as a working memory for the control unit 14. The programs executed by the voice guidance device 1 may be stored in a storage medium other than the storage unit 12.

[0024] The storage unit 12 also stores a map DB (DataBase) 4. The map DB 4 stores various data necessary for route guidance. The map DB 4 is a database that includes, for example, road data that represents a road network using a combination of nodes and links, and facility data that indicates facilities that are candidates for destinations, stop-off points, or landmarks. The map DB 4 may be updated based on map information that the communication unit 11 receives from a map management server under the control of the control unit 14.

[0025] The input unit 13 is a button, a touch panel, a remote controller, an audio input device, etc. that the user operates. The display unit 16 is a display or the like that displays information based on the control of the control unit 14. The audio output unit 17 is a speaker or the like that outputs sound based on the control of the control unit 14.

[0026] 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, or sonar. The internal sensor 19 is a sensor for measuring the position of the vehicle Ve, such as a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, a gyro sensor, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a vehicle speed sensor, or a combination thereof. Note that the sensor group 15 may include any sensor that allows the control unit 14 to directly or indirectly (i.e., by performing estimation processing) derive the position of the vehicle Ve from the output of the sensor group 15.

[0027] The control unit 14 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc., and controls the entire voice guidance device 1. For example, the control unit 14 estimates the position (including the direction of travel) of the vehicle Ve based on the output of one or more sensors in the sensor group 15. When a destination is specified by the input unit 13, the control unit 14 generates route information indicating a guidance route to the destination, and provides route guidance based on the route information, the estimated position information of the vehicle Ve, and the map DB 4. In this case, the control unit 14 controls the audio output unit 17 to output route audio guidance. The control unit 14 also controls the display unit 16 to display information on the music being played, video content, a map of the area around the current location, etc. The control unit 14 and the audio output unit 17 are examples of an audio guidance unit.

[0028] The processing performed by the control unit 14 is not limited to being realized by software programs, but may be realized by any combination of hardware, firmware, and software. The processing performed by the control unit 14 may also be realized by a user-programmable integrated circuit, such as 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 by using this integrated circuit. Thus, the control unit 14 may be realized by hardware other than a processor.

[0029] The configuration of the voice guidance device 1 shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and various modifications may be made to the configuration shown in FIG. 2. For example, instead of storing the map DB4 in the memory unit 12, 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 connected to the voice output unit 17 configured separately from the voice guidance device 1 or by a known communication means, and 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 control the display at all, and may be electrically connected to a display unit provided in the vehicle Ve or the like via a wired or wireless connection, and cause the display unit to display a predetermined message. Similarly, instead of including the sensor group 15, the voice guidance device 1 may acquire information output by a sensor provided in the vehicle Ve from the vehicle Ve based on a communication protocol such as CAN (Controller Area Network).

[0030] [Lane guide location] Next, lane guidance by the voice guidance device 1 will be described. In a typical navigation device, a map and a guided route are displayed on the display unit, so voice guidance is basically given at points where the vehicle must change course. This voice guidance is called "route change guidance," and points such as intersections where route change guidance is given are called "route change guidance points." Figure 3(A) shows an example of a route change guidance point. When a vehicle Ve is traveling along a guided route R and should turn right at intersection A according to the guided route, a voice guidance urging the vehicle to turn right at intersection A is output, such as "Turn right at intersection A."

[0031] In contrast, the voice guidance device 1 provides voice guidance indicating the straight lane in which the vehicle should travel, even at points where the vehicle does not need to change course. This voice guidance is called "lane guidance," and points such as intersections where lane guidance is provided are called "lane guidance points." FIG. 3(B) shows an example of a lane guidance point. When a vehicle Ve is traveling along a guidance route R and should go straight through intersection A, but intersection A has a right-turn lane, the voice guidance device 1 provides guidance such as, "Go straight through intersection A. Please stay in the left lane." As shown in the example of FIG. 3(B), a lane guidance point is set at an intersection that has a right-turn-only lane or a left-turn-only lane. A lane guidance point is also set when indicating the lane in which to travel in preparation for a lane change at the next course change guidance point. For example, if the guidance route indicates a right turn at intersection B, which is the next intersection after intersection A, voice guidance is provided to drive in the straight lane on the right, with intersection A as the lane guidance point, to make it easier to turn right at the next intersection B. In this way, lane guidance is performed to inform the user of the lane in which to proceed straight, without changing course at intersections, etc. In this way, the voice guidance device 1 performs lane guidance and course change guidance at necessary points along the guidance route.

[0032] [Continuous announcement] If the distance between two consecutive guidance locations on the guidance route is close, continuous guidance is performed. Here, whether or not continuous guidance is performed is determined based on the distance between the two consecutive guidance locations. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4(A), if there are consecutive guidance locations 1 and 2 on the guidance route R, the voice guidance device 1 compares the distance D between the two guidance locations with a predetermined continuous guidance determination distance Dt. Then, if the distance D between the two guidance locations is longer than the continuous guidance determination distance Dt, the voice guidance device 1 does not perform continuous guidance and provides guidance for the two guidance locations individually. On the other hand, if the distance D between the two guidance locations is equal to or shorter than the continuous guidance determination distance Dt, the voice guidance device 1 performs continuous guidance.

[0033] Here, since the guidance locations for which voice guidance is provided in the voice guidance device 1 include lane guidance locations and route change guidance locations, the continuous guidance determination distance Dt is set according to the combination of these two consecutive guidance locations and the distance D between them. FIG. 4(B) shows an example of setting the continuous guidance determination distance. Now, as shown in FIG. 4(A), assume that there are two consecutive guidance locations on the guidance route R, namely, guidance location 1 and guidance location 2. Each guidance location is either a lane guidance location or a route change guidance location, so the combinations are classified into four cases as shown in FIG. 4(B). Each case will be explained below.

[0034] An example of Case 1 is shown in FIG. 5(A). In Case 1, both guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 are route-change guidance locations. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the continuous guidance determination distance Dt is set to a first distance (350 m). When the distance D between guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 is longer than 350 m, the voice guidance device 1 provides route-change guidance for guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 individually. For example, the voice guidance device 1 provides guidance at guidance location 1, saying, "Turn right at guidance location 1," and at guidance location 2, saying, "Turn left at guidance location 2." On the other hand, when the distance D between guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 is 350 m or less, the voice guidance device 1 provides continuous guidance. For example, the voice guidance device 1 provides guidance at guidance location 1, saying, "Turn right at guidance location 1. Turn left at guidance location 2 beyond that." Note that, when continuous guidance is provided at guidance location 1, guidance at guidance location 2 may be omitted, or guidance for guidance location 2 alone may be provided.

[0035] An example of Case 2 is shown in FIG. 5(B). In Case 2, guidance location 1 is a route-change guidance location, and guidance location 2 is a lane guidance location. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the continuous guidance determination distance Dt is set to a first distance (350 m). When the distance D between guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 is longer than 350 m, the voice guidance device 1 performs route-change guidance at guidance location 1 and lane guidance at guidance location 2. For example, the voice guidance device 1 provides guidance at guidance location 1, saying, "Turn right at guidance location 1," and at guidance location 2, saying, "Keep in the left lane at guidance location 2." On the other hand, when the distance D between guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 is 350 m or less, the voice guidance device 1 provides continuous guidance. For example, the voice guidance device 1 provides guidance at guidance location 1, saying, "Turn right at guidance location 1. Keep in the left lane at guidance location 2."

[0036] An example of Case 3 is shown in FIG. 6(A). In Case 3, guidance location 1 is a lane guidance location, and guidance location 2 is a route change guidance location. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the continuous guidance determination distance Dt is set to a second distance (700 m), which is longer than the first distance (350 m). This is to provide guidance information for guidance location 2 to the user earlier. If the continuous guidance determination distance Dt for Case 3 were set to the first distance as in the other cases, continuous guidance would not be provided unless the distance D between guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 was 350 m or less. However, in Case 3, guidance location 1 is a lane guidance location. Therefore, if continuous guidance is not provided, after guidance is given on the straight lane in which to travel at guidance location 1, the user would not understand why they should travel in that lane until the vehicle approaches guidance location 2, and this is expected to cause anxiety. Furthermore, as mentioned above, lane guidance often provides guidance on the straight lane that should be traveled in preparation for a lane change at the next guidance location, so if the next guidance location is a route change guidance location, it is thought that the user will be able to understand the route that should be traveled if guidance is provided in combination with it. Therefore, when a route change guidance location comes after a lane guidance location, the continuous guidance determination distance Dt is made longer than in other cases, making it easier for continuous guidance to be provided.

[0037] Specifically, when the distance D between guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 is longer than 700 m, the voice guidance device 1 provides lane guidance at guidance location 1 and route change guidance at guidance location 2. For example, the voice guidance device 1 provides guidance at guidance location 1, saying, "Keep in the right lane at guidance location 1," and provides guidance at guidance location 2, saying, "Turn right at guidance location 2." On the other hand, when the distance D between guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 is 700 m or less, the voice guidance device 1 provides continuous guidance. For example, the voice guidance device 1 provides guidance at guidance location 1, saying, "Keep in the right lane at guidance location 1. Turn right at guidance location 2 beyond."

[0038] An example of Case 4 is shown in FIG. 6(B). In Case 4, both guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 are lane guidance locations. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the continuous guidance determination distance Dt is set to a first distance (350 m). When the distance D between guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 is 350 m or more, the voice guidance device 1 provides lane guidance for guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 individually. For example, the voice guidance device 1 provides guidance at guidance location 1, saying, "Please use the left lane for guidance location 1," and at guidance location 2, saying, "Please use the left lane for guidance location 2." On the other hand, when the distance D between guidance location 1 and guidance location 2 is 350 m or less, the voice guidance device 1 provides continuous guidance. For example, the voice guidance device 1 provides guidance at guidance location 1, saying, "Please use the left lane for guidance location 1. Please use the left lane for guidance location 2 beyond."

[0039] [Route guidance processing] 7 is a flowchart of the route guidance process including the above-mentioned continuous guidance. When the user sets a destination and starts route guidance, the voice guidance device 1 acquires information on two guidance locations (first and second guidance locations) from the current position of the vehicle (step S11). Next, the voice guidance device 1 determines whether the two guidance locations are in the order of a lane guidance location and a route change guidance location, i.e., whether the above-mentioned case 3 applies (step S12).

[0040] If the order of the two guidance locations is not lane guidance location and route change guidance location (step S12: No), the voice guidance device 1 determines whether to provide continuous guidance using the first distance (300 m) (step S13).On the other hand, if the order of the two guidance locations is lane guidance location and route change guidance location (step S12: Yes), the voice guidance device 1 determines whether to provide continuous guidance using a second distance (700 m) that is longer than the first distance (300 m) (step S14).

[0041] Next, the voice guidance device 1 determines whether the timing for providing guidance for the first guidance location has arrived (step S15). If the timing for providing guidance for the first guidance location has not arrived (step S15: No), the voice guidance device 1 waits for the timing for providing guidance. On the other hand, if the timing for providing guidance for the first guidance location has arrived (step S15: Yes), the voice guidance device 1 provides voice guidance (step S16). At this time, if it is determined in step S13 or S14 that continuous guidance should be provided, the voice guidance device 1 provides guidance for the first guidance location and the second guidance location as continuous guidance. On the other hand, if it is not determined that continuous guidance should be provided, the voice guidance device 1 only provides guidance for the first guidance location.

[0042] Next, the voice guidance device 1 determines whether the vehicle has arrived at the destination (step S17). If the vehicle has not arrived at the destination (step S17: No), the process returns to step S11. Here, if only the first guidance location has been guided in step S16, the voice guidance device 1 acquires information on the next two guidance locations (second and third guidance locations) for which guidance has not been provided in step S11. On the other hand, if continuous guidance has been provided in step S16, the voice guidance device 1 acquires information on the next two guidance locations (third and fourth guidance locations) for which guidance has not been provided in step S11. On the other hand, if the vehicle has arrived at the destination (step S17: Yes), the route guidance process ends.

[0043] In this way, according to this embodiment, when two consecutive guidance locations on the guidance route arrive in the order of a lane guidance location and a route change guidance location, the consecutive guidance determination distance is made longer than in other cases. This makes it easier for information about the next route change guidance location to be simultaneously output as audio at the lane guidance location, allowing the user to drive while being aware of the next route change. <Second Example> Fig. 8 shows an example of the configuration of a 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 components similar to those in the first embodiment are appropriately assigned the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0044] The voice guidance device 1A has the same configuration as the voice guidance device 1 described in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). In this modification, the server device 2 performs the route search process and the route guidance process based on the map DB 4, so the voice guidance device 1A does not need to have the map DB 4. When the input unit 13 detects an input specifying a destination or the like by a 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 about the specified destination to the server device 2. When the vehicle Ve travels, the voice guidance device 1A supplies the upload signal S1 including the position information of the vehicle Ve to the server device 2. When the voice guidance device 1A receives a control signal “S2” related to voice output from the server device 2 while the vehicle Ve is traveling, the voice guidance device 1A outputs voice from the voice output unit 17 based on the control signal S2. In this case, the voice guidance device 1A outputs information related to route voice guidance based on the control signal S2.

[0045] The server device 2 generates route information indicating a guidance route that the vehicle Ve should travel based on the upload signal S1 including the destination and the like received from the voice guidance device 1A. Then, the server device 2 generates a control signal S2 related to the output of route voice guidance based on the position information of the vehicle Ve indicated in the upload signal S1 transmitted thereafter by the voice guidance device 1A and the route information held by the server device 2. The server device 2 determines whether to provide continuous guidance based on the types of the two consecutive guidance locations (lane guidance location or lane change guidance location) and the distance between them. Then, the server device 2 transmits the generated control signal S2 to the voice guidance device 1A.

[0046] 9 shows an example of a 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. The elements within the server device 2 are connected to each other via a bus line 20.

[0047] The communication unit 21 performs data communication with external devices such as the voice guidance device 1A under the control of the control unit 24. The storage unit 22 is composed of various types of memory such as RAM, ROM, and non-volatile memory (including a hard disk drive, a flash memory, etc.). The storage unit 22 stores programs for the server device 2 to execute predetermined processes. The storage unit 22 also includes a map DB4. The control unit 24 includes a CPU, a GPU, etc., and controls the entire server device 2. The control unit 24 also executes at least a part of the processes of the voice guidance device 1 described in the above embodiment by executing the programs stored in the storage unit 22. For example, the control unit 24 generates route information indicating a guide route and generates a control signal S2 related to the output of route voice guidance based on an upload signal S1 received from the voice guidance device 1A via the communication unit 21. The control unit 24 then transmits the generated control signal S2 to the voice guidance device 1A via the communication unit 21.

[0048] The server device 2 executes the process of the flowchart shown in Fig. 7 based on the upload signal S1 and the map DB 4. In this case, the server device 2 generates route information based on the upload signal S1 including information on the destination and the output of the sensor group 15. The server device 2 also generates or acquires position information of the vehicle Ve based on the upload signal S1 related to the output of the sensor group 15 transmitted from the voice guidance device 1A. Then, the server device 2 generates a control signal S2 for outputting voice guidance, including the case of providing continuous guidance, based on the guidance route and the position information of the vehicle Ve, and transmits the control signal S2 to the voice guidance device 1A.

[0049] In this way, even when the server device 2 substantially controls the voice guidance device 1A regarding route guidance, the voice guidance system can suitably notify the user that the vehicle Ve has proceeded to the guidance point according to the route voice guidance, as in the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the server device 2 is an example of an "information processing device."

[0050] 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. 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-ROMs (Read Only Memory), CD-Rs, CD-R / Ws, and semiconductor memories (e.g., mask ROMs, PROMs (Programmable ROMs), EPROMs (Erasable PROMs), flash ROMs, and RAMs (Random Access Memory)).

[0051] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications within the scope of the present invention that would be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention. In other words, the present invention naturally includes various modifications and alterations that would be possible for those skilled in the art based on the entire disclosure, including the claims, and the technical ideas. Furthermore, the disclosures of the above-cited patent documents and other documents are incorporated herein by reference. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Voice guidance device 2. Server device 4 Map DB 11, 21 Communications Department 12, 22 Storage section 13 Input section 14, 24 Control unit 15 Sensors 16 Display section 17 Audio output section

Claims

[Claim 1] An information processing device that provides information about vehicle movement, a voice guidance unit that provides guidance on the straight lane in which the vehicle should travel at a lane guidance area that provides guidance on the straight lane in which the vehicle should travel, and provides guidance on a lane change at a lane change guidance area, based on the route; The voice guidance unit is an information processing device that, when the lane guidance location and the route change guidance location are consecutive, determines whether to provide guidance on the lane guidance location and the route change guidance location individually or consecutively at one time, depending on the order and distance of the lane guidance location and the route change guidance location.

Images