Voice guidance apparatus and method for voice guidance

Abstract

To optimize voice guidance of guidance information.SOLUTION: A second memory (33) of a voice guidance apparatus (20) stores a plurality of pieces of guidance information in association with a plurality of traveling areas. A CPU (31) of the voice guidance apparatus (20) adjusts the manner of guidance of guidance information associated with a second traveling area when a vehicle (10) is located in the second traveling area, on the basis of the execution state of guidance of guidance information associated with a first traveling area among the plurality of traveling areas.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a voice guidance device and a voice guidance method for providing guidance information to vehicle occupants by voice. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation device as an example of a voice guidance device. The navigation device of Patent Document 1 is configured to be able to link with a traffic environment notification system installed on a road. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-232097 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There are voice guidance devices that provide voice guidance to vehicle occupants about information that is not directly related to vehicle operation, such as information about sightseeing spots and information about vehicle functions. It is desirable for such voice guidance devices to provide voice guidance of information appropriately. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The voice guidance device for solving the above problem is a device that provides predetermined guidance information to vehicle occupants by voice. The voice guidance device includes a processing circuit and a storage device. The storage device stores a plurality of pieces of guidance information and a plurality of driving areas in which the vehicle travels, in association with each other. The processing circuit adjusts the guidance mode of the guidance information associated with a second driving area when the vehicle is located in a second driving area of ​​the plurality of driving areas, based on the guidance execution state of the guidance information associated with a first driving area of ​​the plurality of driving areas.

[0006] A voice guidance method for solving the above problem is a method for providing predetermined guidance information to a vehicle occupant by voice. A storage device stores a plurality of pieces of guidance information and a plurality of driving areas in which the vehicle travels, each piece of the guidance information being associated with another piece of the driving area. The voice guidance method includes a processing circuit that, when the vehicle is located in a first driving area of ​​the plurality of driving areas, outputs the guidance information associated with the first driving area to the occupant from a speaker on the condition that an utterance condition for the guidance information associated with the first driving area is satisfied, and, when the vehicle reaches a second driving area of ​​the plurality of driving areas after passing the first driving area, adjusts the mode of guidance of the guidance information associated with the second driving area based on the execution state of the guidance of the guidance information associated with the first driving area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] To optimize the audio guidance of information. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle equipped with a voice guidance device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a road on which a vehicle travels is divided into a plurality of travel areas. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table stored in a storage device included in the voice guidance device of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the first half of a series of processes executed by a processing circuit included in the voice guidance device of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the latter half of a series of processes executed by the processing circuit included in the voice guidance device of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a voice guidance device and a voice guidance method will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 shows a vehicle 10 equipped with a voice guidance device 20. The vehicle 10 is equipped with a position acquisition device 11 and an electronic control device 13. Hereinafter, the electronic control device 13 installed in the vehicle 10 will be referred to as an "on-vehicle ECU 13."

[0010] The position acquisition device 11 acquires the current position of the vehicle 10 by receiving radio waves transmitted from a satellite outside the vehicle. The position acquisition device 11 transmits vehicle position data, which is data related to the acquired current position of the vehicle 10, to the voice guidance device 20. An example of the position acquisition device 11 is the GNSS. GNSS is an abbreviation for "Global Navigation Satellite System."

[0011] The in-vehicle ECU 13 transmits driving-related data, which is data related to the driving state of the vehicle 10, to the voice guidance device 20. For example, the in-vehicle ECU 13 transmits data related to the vehicle speed SP, which is the driving speed of the vehicle 10, to the voice guidance device 20 as driving-related data.

[0012] <Voice guidance device> The voice guidance device 20 provides guidance information by voice to the occupants of the vehicle 10. The voice guidance device 20 includes a speaker 21 and an electronic control device 30. Hereinafter, the electronic control device 30 included in the voice guidance device 20 will be referred to as the "guide ECU 30."

[0013] The guidance ECU 30 has a CPU 31, a first memory 32, and a second memory 33. The CPU 31 corresponds to the "processing circuit." The first memory 32 stores a control program executed by the CPU 31. The second memory 33 stores a plurality of pieces of guidance information and a plurality of traveling areas N in association with each other. For example, the second memory 33 stores a table TL as shown in FIG. 3. That is, the second memory 33 corresponds to the "storage device." The CPU 31 executes the control program in the first memory 32 and references the table TL in the second memory 33, thereby enabling the guidance ECU 30 to provide the guidance information to the occupants of the vehicle 10 by voice. "Providing the guidance information by voice" means "outputting the guidance information from the speaker 21."

[0014] The guidance ECU 30 is configured to be able to acquire traffic data and weather data in addition to the vehicle position data and driving-related data. The traffic data is data related to road traffic. The weather data is data related to weather.

[0015] <Guide Information> The guidance information provided to the passenger by voice guidance device 20 is information that is not directly related to vehicle travel. Information that is directly related to vehicle travel includes, for example, information guiding the route to the destination, and information about accidents and construction on the road.

[0016] Examples of the guidance information include information about sightseeing and information introducing the functions of the vehicle 10. The information about sightseeing includes, for example, information introducing tourist spots and detailed information about driving routes to the tourist spots. The information introducing the functions of the vehicle 10 includes information about operating the switches equipped on the vehicle 10 and information about the effects obtained by operating the switches. The time required to provide such guidance information by voice tends to be longer than the time required to provide information directly related to vehicle driving by voice.

[0017] <Driving area> The plurality of travel areas N will be described with reference to FIG. The driving area N is an area in which the vehicle 10 drives. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, a road 100 on which the vehicle 10 drives is divided into a plurality of driving areas N101, N102, N103, N104, . . .

[0018] Based on the vehicle position data received from the position acquisition device 11, the guidance ECU 30 can ascertain the travel area N in which the vehicle 10 is traveling. 2, the driving areas N are set contiguously, but this is not limiting. That is, the multiple driving areas N do not have to be contiguous with each other. For example, the driving area N102 may be set at a position away from the driving areas N101 and N103.

[0019] The table TL stored in the second memory 33 will be described with reference to FIG. In table TL, guidance numbers C and traveling areas N are associated with each other. The guidance number C is a number assigned to each piece of guidance information. For example, among the multiple traveling areas N, the traveling area N104 is associated with the guidance information assigned with the guidance number C060. This means that when the vehicle 10 is located in the traveling area N104, the guidance information assigned with the guidance number C060 can be announced to the occupant by voice.

[0020] Among the multiple pieces of guidance information, there is some guidance information for which an utterance condition is set. The utterance condition is one of the conditions for allowing guidance of the guidance information. In the example shown in FIG. 3, no utterance condition is set for the guidance information assigned with guidance number C060. On the other hand, an utterance condition is set for the guidance information assigned with guidance number C070. In this case, when the vehicle 10 is located in the driving area N104, the guidance information assigned with guidance number C060 is announced to the occupant by voice. When the vehicle 10 is located in the driving area N116, the guidance information assigned with guidance number C070 is announced to the occupant by voice, provided that the utterance condition is met. On the other hand, even if the vehicle 10 is located in the driving area N116, if the utterance condition is not met, the guidance information assigned with guidance number C070 is not announced to the occupant by voice.

[0021] 3, the utterance condition is that the vehicle 10 is stopped. That is, when the vehicle 10 stops in the driving area N116, the guidance information assigned with the guidance number C070 is announced to the occupant by voice. On the other hand, when the vehicle 10 does not stop in the driving area N116, the guidance information assigned with the guidance number C070 is not announced to the occupant by voice.

[0022] In the table TL shown in FIG. 3, there is a guidance number C in which the speech condition column is blank, such as the guidance information assigned with guidance number C060. Such guidance information assigned with guidance number C corresponds to guidance information for which no speech condition is set. For guidance information for which no speech condition is set, if other conditions are met, the guidance information is announced to the occupant by voice. For example, when the vehicle 10 is located in the driving area N104, the guidance information assigned with guidance number C060 is permitted to be announced even if the vehicle 10 does not stop.

[0023] Among the multiple pieces of guidance information, there is some guidance information for which prerequisites are set. The prerequisites indicate that there is information that is prerequisite for providing the guidance information. In this embodiment, the prerequisites include a cooperative condition and an exclusive condition. When a cooperative condition is set, the guidance information is permitted to be provided on the condition that the prerequisite guidance information for providing the guidance information is provided. On the other hand, when an exclusive condition is set, the guidance information is permitted to be provided on the condition that the prerequisite guidance information for providing the guidance information is not provided. Hereinafter, "prerequisite guidance information" may also be referred to as "prerequisite guidance information."

[0024] In the example shown in FIG. 3, a precondition is set for each of the pieces of guidance information assigned guidance numbers C100, C440, C450, and C460. A cooperation condition is set for the guidance information assigned with guidance number C100, but an exclusion condition is not set. The cooperation condition for the guidance information assigned with guidance number C100 is that the guidance information assigned with guidance number C090 has been provided to the occupant. In this case, the guidance information assigned with guidance number C090 corresponds to the prerequisite guidance information. Therefore, if the vehicle 10 reaches the driving area N145 after the guidance information assigned with guidance number C090 has been provided to the occupant, the guidance information assigned with guidance number C100 is permitted to be provided to the occupant. On the other hand, if the vehicle 10 reaches the driving area N145 without the guidance information assigned with guidance number C090 being provided to the occupant, the guidance information assigned with guidance number C100 is not permitted to be provided to the occupant.

[0025] For each of the pieces of guidance information assigned guidance numbers C440 and C460, a cooperation condition is set, but an exclusion condition is not set. In contrast, an exclusion condition is set for the guidance information assigned with guidance number C450, but no cooperation condition is set. The exclusion condition for the guidance information assigned with guidance number C450 is that the guidance information assigned with guidance number C420 has been provided to the occupant. In this case, the guidance information assigned with guidance number C420 corresponds to the prerequisite guidance information. Therefore, if the vehicle 10 reaches the traveling area N201 after the guidance information assigned with guidance number C420 has been provided to the occupant, it is not permitted to provide the guidance information assigned with guidance number C450 to the occupant. On the other hand, if the vehicle 10 reaches the traveling area N201 without the guidance information assigned with guidance number C420 being provided to the occupant, it is permitted to provide the guidance information assigned with guidance number C450 to the occupant.

[0026] Some of the guidance information is grouped. For example, the guidance information assigned with guidance numbers C090, C091, and C120 is included in a first group GR1. Only one of the multiple pieces of guidance information included in the first group GR1 needs to be announced to the occupant by voice. In other words, if, for example, the guidance information assigned with guidance number C090 is announced among the multiple pieces of guidance information, the other pieces of guidance information assigned with guidance numbers C091 and C120 will not be announced to the occupant.

[0027] The guidance information assigned guidance numbers C420 and C431 is included in the second group GR2. In other words, it is sufficient to provide the occupant with audio guidance for only one of the pieces of guidance information included in the second group GR2.

[0028] 4 and 5, a series of processes executed by the CPU 31 when providing guidance information to the occupant by voice will be described. The CPU 31 repeatedly executes the series of processes at predetermined control intervals.

[0029] In step S11, the CPU 31 acquires the current traveling area N in which the vehicle 10 is located, based on the current position of the vehicle 10 indicated by the vehicle position data. In the following step S13, the CPU 31 determines whether or not there is guidance information associated with the current traveling area N in the table TL stored in the second memory 33. If the CPU 31 determines that there is guidance information associated with the current traveling area N in the table TL (S13: YES), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S15. If the CPU 31 determines that there is no guidance information associated with the traveling area N in the table TL (S13: NO), the CPU 31 temporarily ends the series of processes.

[0030] In step S15, the CPU 31 refers to the table TL to acquire the guide number C assigned to the guide information associated with the current traveling area N. In the next step S17, the CPU 31 refers to the table TL to acquire the utterance condition for the guide number C acquired in step S15.

[0031] In the following step S19, the CPU 31 refers to the table TL and determines whether or not a cooperation condition is set for the guidance information assigned the guidance number C acquired in step S15. If the CPU 31 determines that a cooperation condition is set (S19: YES), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S21. If the CPU 31 determines that a cooperation condition is not set (S19: NO), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S23.

[0032] In step S21, the CPU 31 determines whether the prerequisite guidance information for the guidance information assigned the guidance number C acquired in step S15 has already been provided to the occupant. If the CPU 31 determines that the prerequisite guidance information has already been provided (S21: YES), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S27. If the CPU 31 determines that the prerequisite guidance information has not yet been provided (S21: NO), the CPU 31 temporarily ends the series of processes.

[0033] In step S23, the CPU 31 refers to the table TL and determines whether or not an exclusion condition is set for the guidance information assigned the guidance number C acquired in step S15. If the CPU 31 determines that an exclusion condition is set (S23: YES), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S25. If the CPU 31 determines that an exclusion condition is not set (S23: NO), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S27.

[0034] In step S25, the CPU 31 determines whether the prerequisite guidance information for the guidance information assigned the guidance number C acquired in step S15 has already been provided to the occupant. If the CPU 31 determines that the prerequisite guidance information has already been provided (S25: YES), the CPU 31 temporarily ends the series of processes. If the CPU 31 determines that the prerequisite guidance information has not yet been provided (S25: NO), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S27.

[0035] In step S27, the CPU 31 refers to the table TL and determines whether the guidance information assigned with the guidance number C acquired in step S15 is included in any of the multiple groups GR. If the CPU 31 determines that the guidance information is included in any of the multiple groups GR (S27: YES), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S29. If the CPU 31 determines that the guidance information is not included in any of the multiple groups GR (S27: NO), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S30.

[0036] In step S29, the CPU 31 determines whether any of the guidance information has already been presented in the group GR including the guidance information with the guidance number C acquired in step S15. If the CPU 31 determines that any of the plurality of pieces of guidance information included in the group GR has already been presented (S29: YES), the CPU 31 temporarily ends the series of processes. If the CPU 31 determines that none of the plurality of pieces of guidance information included in the group GR has yet been presented (S29: NO), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S30.

[0037] In step S30, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a speech condition is set for the guidance information assigned the guidance number C acquired in step S15. If the CPU 31 determines that a speech condition is set (S30: YES), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S31. If the CPU 31 determines that a speech condition is not set (S30: NO), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S33.

[0038] In step S31, the CPU 31 determines whether the utterance condition for the guidance information assigned the guidance number C acquired in step S15 is met. In this embodiment, the CPU 31 determines whether the vehicle is stopped based on the vehicle speed SP acquired from the in-vehicle ECU 13. If the CPU 31 determines that the vehicle is stopped, it determines that the utterance condition is met (S31: YES). In this case, the CPU 31 shifts the process to step S33. If the CPU 31 determines that the vehicle is not stopped, it determines that the utterance condition is not met (S31: NO). In this case, the CPU 31 temporarily ends the series of processes.

[0039] In step S33, the CPU 31 executes a guidance process for providing the occupant with voice guidance information assigned with the guidance number C acquired in step S15. In the guidance process, the CPU 31 outputs the guidance information from the speaker 21. When the CPU 31 has completed providing the guidance information, it temporarily ends the series of processes.

[0040] <Voice guidance method> The voice guidance method of this embodiment includes a plurality of processes shown in FIGS. The voice guidance method causes the CPU 31 to determine whether or not an utterance condition for guidance information associated with the first traveling area is met when the vehicle 10 is located in a first traveling area among a plurality of traveling areas N (S31). Then, the voice guidance method causes the CPU 31 to output the guidance information associated with the first traveling area to the occupant from the speaker 21 on the condition that the utterance condition is met (S31: YES) (S33).

[0041] The voice guidance method causes the CPU 31 to adjust the manner of guidance of the guidance information associated with the second traveling area based on the manner of execution of guidance of the guidance information associated with the first traveling area when the vehicle 10 reaches a second traveling area among a plurality of traveling areas N after passing through a first traveling area.

[0042] A case where a cooperation condition is set for the guidance information associated with the second traveling area will be described. The cooperation condition is assumed to be that the guidance information associated with the first traveling area has been provided. In this case, the voice guidance method causes the CPU 31 to determine that a cooperation condition is set for the guidance information associated with the second traveling area (S19: YES). Then, in the voice guidance method, if the guidance information associated with the first traveling area has already been provided (S21: YES), and on the condition that the utterance condition is met (S31: YES), the CPU 31 causes the CPU 31 to output the guidance information associated with the second traveling area to the occupant from the speaker 21 (S33). If the guidance information associated with the first traveling area has not been provided (S21: NO), the CPU 31 does not cause the speaker 21 to output the guidance information associated with the second traveling area.

[0043] A case where an exclusion condition is set for the guidance information associated with the second traveling area will be described. Assume that the exclusion condition is that the guidance information associated with the first traveling area has been provided. In this case, the voice guidance method causes the CPU 31 to determine that an exclusion condition is set for the guidance information associated with the second traveling area (S23: YES). Then, in the voice guidance method, if the guidance information associated with the first traveling area has not been provided (S25: NO), and the speech condition is met (S31: YES), the CPU 31 causes the CPU 31 to output the guidance information associated with the second traveling area to the occupant from the speaker 21 (S33). If the guidance information associated with the first traveling area has already been provided (S25: YES), the CPU 31 does not cause the speaker 21 to output the guidance information associated with the second traveling area.

[0044] A case will be described in which guidance information associated with a first travel area and guidance information associated with a second travel area are grouped. A group including the guidance information associated with the first travel area and the guidance information associated with the second travel area is referred to as a "predetermined group GRN." In this case, the voice guidance method causes the CPU 31 to determine the guidance mode of the remaining guidance information among the plurality of guidance information based on the guidance execution mode of one of the plurality of guidance information included in the predetermined group GRN. For example, if the guidance information associated with the second travel area is included in the predetermined group GRN among the plurality of groups GR (S27: YES), the voice guidance method causes the CPU 31 to determine whether one of the plurality of guidance information included in the predetermined group GRN has already been provided (S29). Then, if one of the plurality of guidance information included in the predetermined group GRN has already been provided (S29: YES), the CPU 31 does not cause the speaker 21 to output the guidance information associated with the second travel area. If none of the multiple pieces of guidance information included in the specified group GRN are being provided (S29: NO), and the speech condition is met (S31: YES), the CPU 31 outputs guidance information associated with the second driving area to the occupant from the speaker 21 (S33).

[0045] <Actions and Effects of This Embodiment> (1) When the vehicle 10 is located in a second traveling area, the CPU 31 adjusts the manner of guidance of the guidance information associated with the second traveling area based on the execution state of guidance of the guidance information associated with a first traveling area among the multiple traveling areas N. Here, the guidance information associated with the first traveling area is referred to as the "first guidance information." The guidance information associated with the second traveling area is referred to as the "second guidance information."

[0046] Here, the second guidance notification is assumed to be information that is provided on the assumption that the first guidance notification has been provided to the occupant. Consider a comparative example in which the first guidance notification has not been provided to the occupant when the vehicle 10 is located in the first driving area, and the second guidance notification is provided to the occupant when the vehicle 10 reaches the second driving area. In this comparative example, even if the second guidance notification is provided to an occupant who is not familiar with the content of the first guidance notification, the occupant, who is listening to the second guidance notification, will not be able to understand the content of the second guidance notification, and this may lead to the occupant developing distrust in voice guidance services that use a voice guidance device.

[0047] In this regard, the voice guidance device 20 of this embodiment adjusts the manner in which the second guide notification is given based on the manner in which the first guide notification is given. In other words, the voice guidance device 20 can generate a causal relationship between the manner in which the second guide notification is given and the manner in which the first guide notification is given. This allows the voice guidance device 20 to provide appropriate voice guidance.

[0048] (2) As described above, it takes a relatively long time to provide the guidance information. The longer the time required for the guidance, the more likely it is that the driver, who is listening to the guidance, will lose attention. The voice guidance device 20 of this embodiment can refrain from providing the second guidance message if it is determined that the occupant may experience the above-mentioned discomfort. Therefore, the voice guidance device 20 can appropriately provide voice guidance information while preventing the driver's attention from decreasing.

[0049] (3) The condition for uttering some of the guidance information pieces is set to be that the vehicle 10 is stopped. The CPU 31 provides such guidance information to the occupant by voice on the condition that the vehicle 10 is stopped. As a result, the voice guidance device 20 can suppress a decrease in the driver's attention due to the guidance information being provided by providing the guidance information to the occupant when the vehicle 10 is stopped.

[0050] (4) The multiple pieces of guidance information include information with similar content. If the passenger is repeatedly provided with the same information, the passenger may feel uncomfortable with the voice guidance service using the voice guidance device.

[0051] In this regard, the CPU 31 of the voice guidance device 20 of this embodiment determines the guidance mode of the remaining guidance information among the plurality of guidance information included in a certain group based on the guidance execution status of one of the plurality of guidance information. For example, when the CPU 31 has provided the occupant with one of the plurality of guidance information included in a certain group, the CPU 31 does not provide the occupant with the remaining guidance information. In other words, the voice guidance device 20 can prevent the same guidance information from being provided multiple times.

[0052] <Example of change> The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0053] The utterance condition may include a condition other than the vehicle 10 being stopped. For example, the utterance condition may include at least one of the following conditions: (A1) The day on which the vehicle 10 runs is a specified day.

[0054] (A2) The time period during which the vehicle 10 is traveling is a specified time period. (A3) The weather is the specified weather. "Specified weather" means sunny or rainy. (A4) The lane in which the vehicle 10 is traveling is a designated lane. A "designated lane" refers to a driving lane or an overtaking lane.

[0055] (A5) The vehicle speed SP is within a predetermined speed range. (A6) The duration of the vehicle 10's travel is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. (A7) The number of occupants of the vehicle 10 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, or the number of occupants is equal to or less than a predetermined number.

[0056] For example, when (A1) is set as the speech condition, the CPU 31 can adjust the manner of providing guidance information to the occupant depending on the day of the week. For example, when (A2) is set as the speech condition, the CPU 31 can adjust the manner of providing guidance information to the occupant depending on the time of day.

[0057] The utterance condition may include conditions other than those that can be determined whether they are met based on information based on the detection results of the sensors and information received through communication. For example, the utterance condition may include conditions that can be determined whether they are met based on information obtained by the operation of the terminal by the occupant.

[0058] The voice guidance device may set speech conditions according to the occupant composition and physical condition of the occupants in the vehicle 10. The voice guidance device 20 does not necessarily group some of the plurality of pieces of guidance information.

[0059] Two or more pieces of guidance information may be prepared as the guidance information associated with the second traveling area. In this case, when the vehicle 10 is located in the second traveling area, the CPU 31 may select and provide the guidance information to the occupant based on whether the occupant has been provided with the guidance information associated with the first traveling area.

[0060] The voice guidance device 20 may be an in-vehicle device or a device brought into the vehicle by an occupant of the vehicle 10. When the voice guidance device 20 is an in-vehicle device, a navigation device may be configured to function as the voice guidance device 20.

[0061] An information terminal carried by an occupant of the vehicle 10 may be configured to function as the voice guidance device 20. Examples of the information terminal include a smartphone and a tablet terminal. In this case, the processing circuit of the information terminal executes a plurality of processes constituting the voice guidance method.

[0062] The guidance ECU 30 may be configured to include multiple processing circuits. In this case, some of the processes constituting the voice guidance method may be executed by a first processing circuit of the multiple processing circuits, and other processes may be executed by a second processing circuit of the multiple processing circuits.

[0063] The guidance ECU 30 is not limited to a system that includes a CPU and a ROM and executes software processing. That is, the guidance ECU 30 may have any one of the following configurations (a), (b), and (c).

[0064] (a) The guidance ECU 30 includes one or more processors that execute various processes according to a computer program. The processor includes a CPU and memory such as RAM and ROM. The memory stores program code or instructions that cause the CPU to execute processes. The memory, i.e., computer-readable medium, includes any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0065] (b) The guidance ECU 30 includes one or more dedicated hardware circuits that perform various processes. Examples of the dedicated hardware circuits include application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and FPGAs. ASIC stands for "Application Specific Integrated Circuit," and FPGA stands for "Field Programmable Gate Array."

[0066] (c) The guidance ECU 30 includes one or more processors that execute some of the various processes in accordance with a computer program, and one or more dedicated hardware circuits that execute the remaining processes among the various processes.

[0067] The expression "at least one" used herein means "one or more" of the desired options. As an example, the expression "at least one" used herein means "only one option" or "both of two options" if the number of options is two. As another example, the expression "at least one" used herein means "only one option" or "any combination of two or more options" if the number of options is three or more. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 10...vehicle, 20...voice guidance device, 21...speaker, 30...guidance ECU, 31...CPU, 32...first memory, 33...second memory.

Claims

1. A voice guidance device that provides predetermined guidance information to a vehicle occupant by voice, a processing circuit and a storage device; the storage device stores a plurality of pieces of guidance information and a plurality of travel areas in which the vehicle travels in association with each other; The processing circuitry and adjusting a guidance mode of the guidance information associated with a second traveling area when the vehicle is located in the second traveling area based on an execution state of the guidance information associated with the first traveling area among the plurality of traveling areas. Voice guidance device.

2. the storage device stores, for each piece of guidance information, an utterance condition that is a condition for determining whether or not to execute voice guidance for the guidance information; the utterance condition for the guidance information associated with the first traveling area includes the vehicle being stopped; The processing circuitry When the vehicle is located in the first traveling area, on condition that the vehicle is stopped in the first traveling area, the guidance information associated with the first traveling area is provided by voice; When the vehicle is located in the second traveling area, it is determined whether or not to provide the occupant with the guidance information associated with the second traveling area based on whether or not the occupant has been provided with the guidance information associated with the first traveling area. The voice guidance device according to claim 1.

3. Some of the guidance information stored in the storage device is grouped, The processing circuit determines a guidance mode for the remaining guidance information of the part of the guidance information based on a guidance execution state of one of the part of the guidance information that has been grouped. The voice guidance device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A voice guidance method for providing predetermined guidance information to a vehicle occupant by voice, comprising: a storage device stores a plurality of pieces of guidance information and a plurality of travel areas in which the vehicle travels in association with each other; The processing circuit When the vehicle is located in a first traveling area among the plurality of traveling areas, outputting the guidance information to the occupant from a speaker on the condition that an utterance condition for the guidance information associated with the first traveling area is satisfied; and when the vehicle reaches a second traveling area among the plurality of traveling areas after passing through the first traveling area, adjusting a mode of guidance in the guidance information associated with the second traveling area based on an execution state of guidance in the guidance information associated with the first traveling area. Audio guidance method.

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